Learning how to play guitar is one of my greatest frustration. I bought a guitar from Cebu a couple of years ago for me to be more inspired to take guitar lessons. Sad to say, I still don’t know how to play guitar till now.
When we visited Cebu to cover Pasigarbo sa Sugbo Festival a couple of weeks ago, I suggested that we include a Guitar Shop or Guitar Factory tour in our itinerary.
Cebu Guitars
Aside from the fact that Cebu is a popular source of locally hand-crafted guitars, I believe these local guitar makers needs to be promoted more since our local music shops are now full of cheap and mass produced China made guitars.
After visiting the Cebu Taoist Temple and having our bountiful lunch at CnT Lechon Cebu, We went straight to Mactan – Cebu’s hand-crafted Guitar Capital. Along Quezon National Highway, you will find several guitar shops but we decided to visit Guitar Master since this is where I bought my first guitar.
Cebu Souvenir
In this shop you will find guitars in different colors, designs and sizes. Depending on the kind of wood and other materials used, prices of Guitars at Guitar Master range from P1, 000.00 to P30, 000. They also sell made to order guitars for people who wants to own a personalized and intricately designed guitar. Right beside their guitar gallery, you can also check out their small guitar factory.
Back in the 80′s, Some Cebu-made guitars are being exported to Japan, United States and some parts of Europe but according to Ronie Pangatunan – a local guitar shop owner, Guitar sales went down when China started producing machine made guitars which is being sold at very low prices leaving the locally made guitars unnoticed.
Guitar Master Cebu
Ronie Pangatunan’s Guitar-making Business is a family tradition that is passed on from generation. He hopes that one day, Cebu Guitars will regain its old glory.
What makes Cebu made Guitar different?
Cebu made guitars are usually made of various local soft and hard woods. Common type of woods being used by local guitar makes are Langka (jackfruit), Narra (the Philippine National Tree) and the black wood “kamagong” (ebony).
Where to Buy Cebu Guitars?
Guitar Master
Quezon National Highway
Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu Philippines
Phone: +6332-495-2412
Mobile: +63920-224-3767
Contact: Ronie Pangatunan
hello! Can I ask what theme are you using in your blog? thanks!
Thnx for the information; by the way, If you have idea’s for where to shop what in cebu, watch out for Shopping-cebu.com…. coming soon…
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Excellent source of information you have here. Thank you for sharing.This will definately help me decide on my next guitar purchase. Keep rckin guys!
hi.
i came across an article, it was about a review on the guitar factories here in Cebu. it is indeed helpful for those who wants to buy a cebu handcrafted guitar.
this is the link: http://www.igougo.com/review-r1186426-Guitar_factories.html
“Alegre Guitar Factory has the most impressive looking guitar factory in Abuno.
For the serious music hobbyist, however, the best-sounding guitars (in our opinion) are made and sold by Susing’s Guitars, a few meters down the road from Alegre. Some of the guitars sounded at least as good as Yamahas, for half the price. A musician and one time OFW guitarist who seemed to be a friend of the owner even played several tunes for us, to our delight.”
So, the next time you are in Cebu to purchase a guitar, visit the Susing’s Guitar Factory!
hey there!
the guitars sold in stores near the Old Mactan Bridge are purchased by store owners from backyard guitar-makers. those who make guitars at the comfort of their own homes. the store owners then varnish the guitars.
i suggest that if you purchase a guitar, go to a guitar factory.
in lapu-lapu, i know of 2 big guitar factories and a small one.
you can see how the guitars are made which is amazing. you can see the craftsmanship and the skill.
Susing’s Guitar, Alegre Guitar and Ferrangeli Guitar – they have factories
Alegre Guitars and Ferrangeli Guitars have the same quality. The difference is the price. Alegre Guitars costs a lot. They have guitars at Php75,000 or more than $1000. That is a lot!
I like Susing’s Guitar better. They have really good guitars and they have very warm & accommodating personnel who would give you a factory tour. From step 1 to the finish product, amazing! When I was there, I noticed that they are doing a lot of ukuleles. I then learned that they have clients from Hawaii. The quality of materials used for export is what they also use in their guitars and other products.
I dont know how to play the guitar but after seeing their products, I bought one home with me. I now know how to play the guitar and after a long flight, guess what, no cracks or whatsoever.
I learned that it would take them a month to make a guitar from start to finish.
I do not regret getting a Susing’s Guitar! Quality and price wise…perfect!
awesome quality pictures.Pretty sure,you’re using an expensive high end camera.
Based on the pictures it looks like they have some nice guitars. Do you know if they make a travel guitar and what the model would be called. I see some rather small looking guitars in the photos.. Thanks.
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