Becker-Cumpiano Puerto Rican Cuatros
| My partner for thirty years, Harry Becker,
is a meticulous instrument craftsman. He's taken on the challenge of producing several
series (six instruments) per year of the enchanting Puerto Rican Cuatro, and has succeeded
in keeping the price of individual instruments down to the $750 mark, even though they are
made with high grade materials and boast superb tone, action, intonation and workmanship.
This is quite rare in the Cuatro world, since they are usually rustic folk instruments,
usually made very hurriedly and out of poorly seasoned materials which warp and crack when
they are transferred to the United States. Only two or three luthiers on the island make
concert-quality cuatros, and they often cost $1000 to $2000 each. We currently have 2 Becker and Cumpiano cuatro on hand, with a cedar top. The total
cost of the instrument, with a form-fitted hardshell case comes to $850 plus shipping and
handling. |