David Rubio (born David Joseph Spinks; 17 September 1934 – 21 October 2000) was an English maker of stringed musical instruments.
Biography
David Rubio was born on 17 September 1934 in
London, England. He acquired his new surname in his twenties while professionally playing
flamenco guitar, which he had learned studying in
Seville with, among others, the guitarist Pepe Martínez. In the early 1960s he traveled from
Spain to New York as accompanist for the Rafael de Cordoba
flamenco dance company. While in New York, Rubio abandoned playing in favor of the construction of guitars and established his first workshop on Carmine Street in New York's Greenwich Village. Eventually he returned to
England and set up a workshop in
Duns Tew near
Oxford, later relocating it to
Cambridge. Over time he expanded his repertoire to include the various other instruments mentioned above. Rubio investigated many aspects of the technology of instrument-making, in his attempt to re-create the classical sound and appearance of the old
Cremona instruments. Some of this work was published in
Nature, following a collaboration with Professor
Ralph Raphael and other Cambridge University scientists: they identified components used in the surface treatment of the wood of instruments made by
Stradivarius and showed that a version of these substances could be used to improve the tone of modern instruments.
During his 40-year career Rubio created over a thousand instruments, which are coveted by players and collectors throughout the world. He also shared his expertise and knowledge with younger guitar makers. His creations included , , , , , , , and finally also , and . His instruments were prized during his lifetime by many fine musicians, including the English lutenist and guitarist Julian Bream. The Rubio Quartet named themselves in his honour.
He died in Cambridge on 21 October 2000 aged 66.
See also
External links
