Jose Marques - 2026 Lattice
Jose Marques - 2026 Lattice
Details
Details
Overview
Overview
Shipping important note
Shipping important note
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Details about GPSR
Details about GPSR
Video overview
More details about the guitar
About the luthier
José Marques was born in Portugal and came into contact with both wood and music at an early age. After an initial career as a carpenter, he decided to pursue guitar making and began his training with the Portuguese luthier Daniel Luz. His first instruments were rooted in traditional Portuguese forms such as the guitarra portuguesa and the viola campaniça before he turned his focus to the classical guitar. Following periods of work in the United Kingdom, where he broadened his practical experience in different workshops, Marques established his own workshop in Cortiçois, Portugal. There he dedicates himself to the construction of classical guitars, with a particular interest in contemporary building approaches and their practical implications for sound and playability.
About the guitar
This 2026 José Marques is a modern lattice braced concert guitar with a spruce top, Indian rosewood back and sides, a lacquered soundboard, and a French polished body. Built with a 650 mm scale and a nut width of 50.5 mm, it offers a familiar concert setup with a slightly narrower left hand feel. The guitar combines contemporary construction with a notably natural response, giving the player a clear sense of balance and control. Its sound has a gentle softness while remaining flexible in colour, moving easily between warmth and brilliance according to touch. The lattice design supports immediacy and projection, while the spruce top preserves clarity and elasticity in the voice. An armrest and elevated fingerboard add modern playing comfort, and Kris Barnett tuners complete the instrument with precise mechanical quality.
Regular care extends the life of the instrument
Even with careful use, a classical guitar may gradually change in appearance or respond to unstable storage conditions. Have a close look at your guitar regularly and be attentif to changes. If your instrument is suffering from its environement, it will let you know.
Protect Your Guitar: Handle with Care
Be mindful when touching your instrument with greasy or unwashed hands: any skin contact is a small attack on the varnish. Of course, a guitar is made to be played, but taking a few precautions helps preserve its beauty: wash your hands before playing, wear long sleeves, and avoid unnecessary direct skin contact with the body of the instrument.
Pro tip: Avoid playing with a button-up shirt, heavy jewelry, or a belt, as these can scratch the guitar. Also, make sure your guitar case is free of any objects that could damage the instrument during storage.
String care
A good habit to adopt is wiping down your strings briefly after each playing session. This small action significantly extends their lifespan and helps maintain a consistent, comfortable feel under your fingers.
Most importantly, clean strings are essential for keeping your instrument in tune. Corrosion, sweat, and dust can affect the uniformity of the strings and interfere with accurate tuning across the entire fingerboard.
Pro tip: If you're having trouble getting your guitar in tune, it might be time to change the strings. A useful test is to compare the pitch of the 12th fret harmonic with the fretted note at the 12th fret; if there's an unusually large gap between them, your strings may have lost their integrity and should be replaced.
Keep Your Shellac Finish Shining!
Got a guitar with a shellac (French polish) finish? Here's a simple trick: Take a clean microfiber cloth and gently breathe on the surface to create a light mist. Then, softly rub to remove fingerprints, sweat, and grease. That’s usually all it takes to keep it looking great, no products needed!
Pro tip: Every few years, treat your guitar to a check-up with a luthier to keep it in top shape.
Storing Your Guitar: Climate Matters
Your guitar can safely stay outside its case, as long as the surrounding environment maintains 42–55% humidity and a temperature between 18–25°C.
Keep in mind that humidity levels can still fluctuate inside the case, especially during seasonal changes.
- Too much humidity may cause overtightened strings and a dull tone.
- Too little humidity can lead to a bulging top, string buzz, or even cracks.
Avoid placing your guitar near radiators, air conditioners, or windows with direct sunlight.
Pro tip: Always close your guitar case while playing. This helps preserve a stable microclimate inside the case, so your instrument is protected the moment you put it back in.