Lunel: With La Guitarreria, Antonio Garcia is in perfect harmony with his passion

De l'Espagne à la France – aujourd'hui Lunel – jamais sans sa guitare. A. C.

His store dedicated to flamenco guitar opened its doors at the dawn of the end-of-year holidays at 131 rue de la Libération. Meeting a lover of music and the instrument.

He defines himself as "a real dunce". But if the wood of the school benches did not succeed in putting Antonio Garcia in tune, there are others who aroused in him an interest which has never ceased to move up the range. Those that guitars are made of.
Rosewood, cedar, spruce: the main species found in the stringed instrument. This is the one that Antonio Garcia decided to sell in the store he opened in mid-December in the heart of Lunel.

His first sales in a garage in Baillargues

One would almost dare to say that he took it like a “handle” so much to discover in this Ali Baba's cave with forty smells escaping from flamenco guitars – the specialty of the place – hanging on the displays of La Guitarreria Antonio de la Paca.

From the scratching beginner to the arpeggio super-pro, there is something for everyone. It must be said that it’s in his blood, Tonio. "I was born in Spain, in Lorca, 64 years ago, says the new merchant from Lunel. In our country, there is a guitar in every house. It’is an essential."

However, it was in Montpellier, where his parents emigrated when he was just 8 years old, that Antonio Garcia perfected his art of tremolos, slides and bars. &amp ;quot;At school, I had a lot of gypsy friends, remembers the child who arrived from “La ciudad del sol”. We started playing together after school. It was our playtime." He probably doesn't know it yet but his love for music will grow just as much as his love for music will grow. the guitar as an object.

In the American surplus and at Nicollin

But you have to live and eat well. Turning your passion into a profession is still several notes away from your ambitions and dreams. Antonio Garcia thus made a career, from the age of 16, first in the American surplus trade then at Nicollin.

2012 will be the year of change. Once his day as a recycling center guard is over, the “Loulou” devotes himself to the musical instrument. In agreement with himself, Antonio Garcia began trading flamenco guitars with the status of self-entrepreneur.

"I’had divided the garage of my house in Baillargues in two to make a sort of store" , relates the boss of La Guitarreria. The same “store” where Frank Janik, the current director of the culture, arts and entertainment department of Lunel town hall, buys a guitar like the flamenco enthusiast that he is.

Everyone does as they please

This is the signature of the luthier: each guitar headstock is shaped and sculpted according to the inspiration of its creator. This trademark then followed him throughout his life.

Like the famous “Media luna”, born in the 1950s in the workshops of the famous Conde Hermanos (Conde brothers). A “detail” which earned them an international reputation, notably thanks to the incomparable Paco de Lucía who only played on this type of guitar model.

Crafted jewels, some of which found refuge in Antonio Garcia's La Guitarreria alongside multiple concert tickets from the undisputed Spanish master of this musical style. "Paco de Lucía, he’s my mentor, “the” reference of the flamenco guitarist. It was, and will forever remain, the best", assures, glitter and memories in your eyes, Antonio Garcia.

"It's all his fault, says Antonio Garcia, smiling. If I'm here, I owe it to him. I had to sell my house in Baillargues and, with it, my small business. Frank Janik then said to me: “Why don't you come and settle in Lunel ?”. To be honest, I wasn't very keen, admits the seller and guitar player. I had experienced the heyday of the city, particularly during parties and at the counter of the L’Embarcadère bar. I also experienced its decline. But when I saw the place, I fell in love with it."

Belonging to the municipality, the commercial unit, located at 131 rue de la Libération, benefits from the city's metamorphosis program and the work and makeover that goes with it.

Ukuleles, cajons, accessories too…

Since Tuesday, December 19, its vaults have welcomed customers and house the sixty flamenco guitars chosen with love and precision by Antonio Garcia. La Guitarreria also offers the sale of cajons, ukuleles and all the accessories necessary for the stringed instrument, which can also be found in children's sizes.

A harmony without the slightest drawback for this mystical instrument which made Chopin, although a virtuoso pianist, say: « Nothing is more beautiful than a guitar, except maybe two. » If it's Frédéric who says it…

La Guitarreria Antonio de la Paca, 131 rue de la Libération in Lunel. Such. 06 17 10 16 78 and antoniodelapaca.com I subscribe to read more