mark howard
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For sale - Ronroco - luthier built Pedro Quespe Torrez
NOW SOLD, THANKS FOR THE ENQUIRIES
For sale is a rare, I don’t use that word often as it’swell over used, but in this case I will, as Ronrocos are very rare and difficult to get in the Uk, you might be lucky and get one from Europe, but without doubt it will be a mass badly produced one, similar to the tourist instruments you can buy, this instrument is hand made by Pedro Quispe Torrez working in La Plaz in Bolivia,this particular Ronroco if your not up to speed on them, is known as a big charango, visually Itlooks scaled up, but the sound is very different and much nicer, there a fewtop makers of these instruments Pedro Quispe is one, the other is Pablo Richter, both these guys make custom builds,which is what this one is, scale length is 465mm I have strung this in several ways with the correct
Strings, it can be strung GCEAE, or DGBEB, AND also a tonelower CFADA.
To get an idea of the sound in the popular Argentinian tuning made famous by Gustavo Santaolalla, ( my one is also tuned as his DGBEB)
check the link below, he is film composer and musician famous for Broke back mountain, 21 grams, Motorcycle diaries, and aload of other films, and also the Sony game the last of us where he composed the music with the Ronroco playing the haunting theme, loads of players on youtube to see the tone, but Gustavo is king, Gustavo plays a Pablo Richter, another great maker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wYiXrzmRd0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9iQ0pcSVIM
I purchased this a year ago from a musician in spain, who had it custom built, pictures ( 8 is Pedro Quispe Torrez the luthier holding the actual Ronroco during the build, I have subsequently had a mahogany arm rest fitted this is permanent and very solid and keeps your arm off the top of the instrument, I also had the under saddle pick up replaced for a slightly better one although I have not used it with an amp, it works well with my son small Yamaha ac amp, bear in mind it is an under saddle pick up, so picks up the sound vibration from the saddle area, it also includes a built in tuner.
I have included a book on the Ronroco in the DGBEB tuning and 4 packs of strings, that’s 10x strings per pack, DGBEB these can also be tuned down 1 whole tone to CFADA these alone are £15 per pack, I can also letyou know the guy who always has them in stock in the Uk, he also has the GCEAE strings as well.
I have taken as many pics as I can to show the condition, it has a great finish and is well built, bridge is super strong and absolutely no movement or lifting, action is nice, frets are perfect, fret board is ebony the darker wood is Narajillo and from memory the lighter wood is Jacaranda, you can see the tool marks in the wood as you would expect from this type of instrument and how it’s built, , the grain is very pronounced which I have tried to show also includes a decent hard case
ONLY BAD BIT - AND TO BE UP FRONT AND HONEST
picture 7 - 1 small area on the back near heal where the varnish has been scratched, I carelessly had my large bunch of keys in the case and caught them against the ronroco near the heel, it's been touched up with a gloss varnish and the laquer hard finish Pedro uses it intact, and will last for years. the retouch area is about an a little over an 1 inch by 2/3mm, doesn't affect sound in any way
some info about the luthier Pedro Quispe Torrez below and a youtube video from some years back about the build, theres a few others on there as well - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8ISXib9wFo
Pedro Quispe Torrez spent about 10 years working in the Achá workshop, then started his own company the Ronrocos and charangos
manufactured by Pedro Quispe Torrez are recognized worldwide for their high quality and exceptional sound. their impeccable finish and carefully selected first quality materials make the Quispe Torrez ronrocos charangos the best choice to have a professional instrument with magnificent characteristics.
Now, after 18 years of experience, Pedro Quispe Torrez continues to perfect the manufacturing techniques by searching and innovating his procedures in order to satisfy the needs and demands of the musicians who have chosen the Quispe Torrez ronrocos and charangos all over the world.Without a doubt the Ronrocos and charangos of Pedro Quispe Torrez are the inheritance of an ancestral art made musical instrument.
I paid £850 total to purchase and get it to the Uk from Spain, If you were to order from Pedro direct, you'd be looking at the equivalent of £1150, of that £250 would be vat and duty to pay to HM tax office, then shipping to the UK from La plaz in Bolivia, not to mention the headache and stress, and something called ( CITES ) which basically gives UK customs the right to confiscate and impound any item that has or is made of Rosewood/ blackwood, from my research though Jacaranda ( fret board ) and Naranjillo ( main body ) are not on any endangered species list, so in theory shipping is possible, just need to find prices
Viewing and playing welcome, I’m based in west sussex, I can ship, please ask as many questions as you want, not a lot more I can say, but please ask, or throw in an offer, genuine reason for sale so it does have to go
NOW SOLD, THANKS FOR THE ENQUIRIES
For sale is a rare, I don’t use that word often as it’swell over used, but in this case I will, as Ronrocos are very rare and difficult to get in the Uk, you might be lucky and get one from Europe, but without doubt it will be a mass badly produced one, similar to the tourist instruments you can buy, this instrument is hand made by Pedro Quispe Torrez working in La Plaz in Bolivia,this particular Ronroco if your not up to speed on them, is known as a big charango, visually Itlooks scaled up, but the sound is very different and much nicer, there a fewtop makers of these instruments Pedro Quispe is one, the other is Pablo Richter, both these guys make custom builds,which is what this one is, scale length is 465mm I have strung this in several ways with the correct
Strings, it can be strung GCEAE, or DGBEB, AND also a tonelower CFADA.
To get an idea of the sound in the popular Argentinian tuning made famous by Gustavo Santaolalla, ( my one is also tuned as his DGBEB)
check the link below, he is film composer and musician famous for Broke back mountain, 21 grams, Motorcycle diaries, and aload of other films, and also the Sony game the last of us where he composed the music with the Ronroco playing the haunting theme, loads of players on youtube to see the tone, but Gustavo is king, Gustavo plays a Pablo Richter, another great maker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wYiXrzmRd0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9iQ0pcSVIM
I purchased this a year ago from a musician in spain, who had it custom built, pictures ( 8 is Pedro Quispe Torrez the luthier holding the actual Ronroco during the build, I have subsequently had a mahogany arm rest fitted this is permanent and very solid and keeps your arm off the top of the instrument, I also had the under saddle pick up replaced for a slightly better one although I have not used it with an amp, it works well with my son small Yamaha ac amp, bear in mind it is an under saddle pick up, so picks up the sound vibration from the saddle area, it also includes a built in tuner.
I have included a book on the Ronroco in the DGBEB tuning and 4 packs of strings, that’s 10x strings per pack, DGBEB these can also be tuned down 1 whole tone to CFADA these alone are £15 per pack, I can also letyou know the guy who always has them in stock in the Uk, he also has the GCEAE strings as well.
I have taken as many pics as I can to show the condition, it has a great finish and is well built, bridge is super strong and absolutely no movement or lifting, action is nice, frets are perfect, fret board is ebony the darker wood is Narajillo and from memory the lighter wood is Jacaranda, you can see the tool marks in the wood as you would expect from this type of instrument and how it’s built, , the grain is very pronounced which I have tried to show also includes a decent hard case
ONLY BAD BIT - AND TO BE UP FRONT AND HONEST
picture 7 - 1 small area on the back near heal where the varnish has been scratched, I carelessly had my large bunch of keys in the case and caught them against the ronroco near the heel, it's been touched up with a gloss varnish and the laquer hard finish Pedro uses it intact, and will last for years. the retouch area is about an a little over an 1 inch by 2/3mm, doesn't affect sound in any way
some info about the luthier Pedro Quispe Torrez below and a youtube video from some years back about the build, theres a few others on there as well - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8ISXib9wFo
Pedro Quispe Torrez spent about 10 years working in the Achá workshop, then started his own company the Ronrocos and charangos
manufactured by Pedro Quispe Torrez are recognized worldwide for their high quality and exceptional sound. their impeccable finish and carefully selected first quality materials make the Quispe Torrez ronrocos charangos the best choice to have a professional instrument with magnificent characteristics.
Now, after 18 years of experience, Pedro Quispe Torrez continues to perfect the manufacturing techniques by searching and innovating his procedures in order to satisfy the needs and demands of the musicians who have chosen the Quispe Torrez ronrocos and charangos all over the world.Without a doubt the Ronrocos and charangos of Pedro Quispe Torrez are the inheritance of an ancestral art made musical instrument.
I paid £850 total to purchase and get it to the Uk from Spain, If you were to order from Pedro direct, you'd be looking at the equivalent of £1150, of that £250 would be vat and duty to pay to HM tax office, then shipping to the UK from La plaz in Bolivia, not to mention the headache and stress, and something called ( CITES ) which basically gives UK customs the right to confiscate and impound any item that has or is made of Rosewood/ blackwood, from my research though Jacaranda ( fret board ) and Naranjillo ( main body ) are not on any endangered species list, so in theory shipping is possible, just need to find prices
Viewing and playing welcome, I’m based in west sussex, I can ship, please ask as many questions as you want, not a lot more I can say, but please ask, or throw in an offer, genuine reason for sale so it does have to go
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