C-878, Jose Marques (Portugal)

Description

New concert classical “Lattice” model

Year 2026

N-124

650mm scale with 52 mm nut width

Western red cedar top

Lattice braced with balsa & some carbon fiber

Brazilian rosewood back, sides & head stock veneer

Sides are laminated inside with mahogany

Spanish cedar elevated neck

Ebony fingerboard with 20th fret

Indian rosewood bridge

Ebony armrest

Barnett tuning machines with ebony knobs

Nitro mat lacquer finishing on top

Poly lacquer finishing for the rest of the guitar

Hiscox liteflite PROII case included

 

Guitars weight is 1.7 Kg / 3.747 lbs

Body length is 48 cm / 18.89 inches

Upper bout is 27.5 cm /10.82 inches

Lower bout is 36.5 cm / 14.37 inches

Depth of body is 9.8 cm/ 3 7/8 inches

 

About the Luthier

Born in Portugal, José Marques developed an early connection to both music and woodworking — two disciplines that would later define his vocation. After an initial career in fine carpentry, he turned his attention fully toward the art of lutherie, beginning his formal training under the respected Portuguese maker Daniel Luz.

Marques’s earliest instruments drew deeply from Portugal’s rich musical heritage, particularly the guitarra portuguesa and the viola campaniça. Over time, his focus evolved toward the classical guitar, where traditional craftsmanship and contemporary acoustic concepts could meet in a more personal and exploratory way.

Following periods of professional work in the United Kingdom, where he expanded his technical knowledge across various workshops and disciplines, Marques returned to Portugal and established his atelier in Cortiçois. There, he dedicates himself to the construction of concert classical guitars distinguished by their refined craftsmanship, responsiveness, and modern tonal architecture. His work reflects a thoughtful balance between tradition and innovation, with particular attention given to projection, playability, and the expressive potential of the instrument.

 

About the Guitar

Built in 2026, José Marques’s N-124 is a superb concert guitar that exemplifies the maker’s contemporary approach to classical guitar construction. Featuring a lattice-braced Western Red Cedar soundboard reinforced with ultra-light balsa and carbon-fibre elements, it combines remarkable power with exceptional sensitivity and efficiency. The result is an instrument of outstanding immediacy, capable of responding effortlessly to the player’s touch while maintaining stability, balance, and control across an expansive dynamic range. It is a true powerhouse, yet possesses a beautiful, lyrical singing voice.

The striking Brazilian rosewood back and sides contribute warmth, depth, and tonal complexity, perfectly complementing the quick response of the soundboard with a rich, sustaining resonance. The basses are full, articulate, and commanding, while the trebles offer exceptional clarity, focus, and projection. Across the entire fingerboard, the guitar maintains impressive tonal consistency, with seamless transitions between registers and a refined, well-controlled overtone spectrum.

In performance, the N-124 delivers outstanding projection and sustain, coupled with an unusually effortless responsiveness. It accommodates the most delicate nuances of expression as readily as a powerful concert approach, all without sacrificing clarity, balance, or tonal integrity.

Its lightweight construction further enhances playing comfort during extended sessions, adding to the instrument’s practicality and sophistication as a modern concert guitar.

José Marques’s 2026 N-124 stands as a compelling example of contemporary lutherie—an instrument that unites precision, power, and refinement in equal measure. Designed to meet the demands of today’s concert guitarist, it offers exceptional responsiveness, tonal balance, projection, and expressive versatility at the highest level.

We are honoured to represent José Marques guitars in North America, bringing these outstanding concert instruments to guitarists seeking the highest standards of contemporary lutherie.