11/04/2026
🎸 I recently visited Porto and stopped by Casa da Guitarra — a shop, workshop, and private collection run by luthier Alfredo Teixeira, entirely dedicated to traditional Portuguese string instruments.
We've chatted about the craft. They shared something that really struck me — Porto luthiers never wrote down their techniques. I was asking about books or literature on Portuguese guitar building or something similar. Everything was passed on in person, from master to apprentice, generation after generation. That’s why there are no luthier books about Portuguese guitars — the knowledge exists only in the hands of the makers. As well as traditional music playing... Everything is by-ear or hands-on.
As someone who builds guitars, this made me think about how important it is to document and share the process. That’s exactly why I show what I do in the workshop here — every step, every decision, every mistake. Because the craft deserves to outlive us. 🇵🇹🇧🇬
