Manuel A. Delgado is the youngest child of Candelario “Candelas” Delgado, but the first to participate in the family guitar business. He was playing guitar by age 5, repairing guitars by age 7, and built his first guitar at the age of 12 to beat his father’s record of 14. Many clients over the years knew that Manuel would carry on the family tradition later in life. Manuel considered becoming a police officer, a desire he had when his father trained him in boxing and later involved him in the training of the L.A.P.D. boxing team. When his father was diagnosed with cancer, Manuel decided to withdraw from the Sheriff Academy process and return to the guitar shop for good. Unfortunately, the operation that would have saved his father’s life became unduly complicated. Manuel’s father died in 1996.
Manuel was instrumental in the shop’s further success and recognition after the death of his father. In 2002, Manuel was the sole creator of the “Unity Guitar” and its purpose to help the undocumented victims of 9/11. Manuel knows this project was inspired by God. He shares the credit for the project’s final outcome, as many friends offered their assistance. After all, he named it “The Unity Guitar” to represent unity and togetherness.
Manuel never thought he would want to build guitars if it wasn’t with his family’s business in California. Nevertheless, when he and his wife, Julie, moved to Nashville, TN to pursue her singing/songwriting, she encouraged him to return to making guitars. With his mother’s blessing and his sister’s support, the move was made, and “Delgado Guitars” was reborn.
Manuel chose to plow the road ahead with a new business in a new town. His belief in his own God-given talent was enough to build a business on integrity and honesty. Manuel’s faith in Jesus Christ gives him the strength to seek the truth and integrity in his daily business practices, as well as his future goals for Delgado Guitars.
Working multiple jobs and building instruments late into the night, weekends, or whenever possible, Manuel built his reputation in Nashville in a short period of time. “I was humbled by God and knew that anything worth having in life would be a fight, plus I could relate better to the musicians who are doing the very same thing for their passions and dreams.”
Highlighted in “The Fretboard Journal“, “Tennessee Crossroads“, “NPR“, and featured in a “BOSE” commercial, Manuel Delgado has proven he makes a product that consists of integrity and quality. He has been part of two exhibits at the Smithsonian and involved in countless other achievements. Manuel, along with his father, grandfather, and great-uncle, has a blessing for which he will always be grateful. He feels this gives him a responsibility to honor what was sacrificed on his behalf.
Before you make a decision to purchase a guitar somewhere else, give Manuel a call and you’ll see why they have built such a strong reputation on their achievements alone.
Does your guitar have a story?
Manuel is more than a luthier, he is an artist. The passion, talent and sensitivity that goes into his work explains the beauty you experience when you hear his instruments. He has a generous spirit and a reverence for his craft and the materials he uses. I have played several of his instruments and they all have a unique but equally rich, beautiful tonal quality; they are easy to play and they look great. Stunning.
— Marie McGilvray is an independent artist, guitarist, singer and songwriter who tours the U.S.
