Welcome to the Thomas Beltran Guitars
workshop on the web!
Since 1976, I have been building acoustic
guitars. During that time, I have had
the privilege of many excellent teachers
over the years. Probably the most
influence, and longest relationship, was
with Richard Schneider. I studied with
him in the summer of 1983, but maintained
frequent contact with him until his death.
Since 1986, I have focused on classical
guitars in the Ramirez tradition, as
produced in the mid-1960s. The woods I
use are primarily Brazilian Rosewood for
the backs and sides, and Western Red Cedar
for tops. I am also comfortable using
Redwood and Spruce for topwood, and
Cocobolo for the backs and sides. I also
build Kasha Model guitars and a Modela
Alemán
model, after a 1943 Hauser Sr. guitar.
Please contact me for information about
commissioning your own Beltran classical
guitar.
The photograph at right is a Kasha
model cut-away classical guitar, named “Angelita,”
which I built modeling the rosette on one
of
Maestro Schneider's guitars. These
guitars are called “Kasha” models because
the basic design originated with Dr.
Michael Kasha, a molecular biophysicist
from the University of Florida, at
Tallahassee, who collaborated with Maestro
Schneider in the development of the
guitar. It has a redwood top and
Brazilian rosewood back and sides.
Recently, I got an email from the current
owner. If you have one of my guitars,
please feel free to
contact me.
