Guitarrico

Guitarrico (Aragones)
The Guitarrico is the Spanish equivalent of the Portuguese Cavaquinho. It comes from the same root Lute like instruments, is the same size, has the same sort of 12 fret neck level with the soundboard, the same golpeador idea and are usually nylon/gut strung, (unlike the Cavaquinho). They originated in the Aragon region of Spain, hence it is sometimes called the Guitarrico Aragones), and are probably a root instrument for the Latin American Cuatros and Tiples

In the early 20th century Spain was famous for its acoustic "Spanish" Guitars and they were sold worldwide. It appears then that in the late 20's early 30's distributors, particularly from the UK, went to the suppliers of their "Spanish" Guitars and asked if they could make Ukuleles? The Suppliers looked at the Ukulele, looked at the Guitarricos they were already making and said "there you go", (or words to that effect). For this reason it is very difficult now to tell the difference between the instruments? Age is probably the biggest give away, if it was made before about 1925 it was made as a Guitarrico, (but unless there is a dated label on it this still doesn't help much and even then the difference is only history not structure).

Historically the Guitarrico had a number of tunings including the same G~C~E~A or A~D~F#~B tuning as a Ukulele, but it was never re-entrant.

They are not made much in Spain now, and the firms that do make them also make some pretty much identical Cavaquinhos, (apart from the strings), but if a Spanish, (or any other), luthier tells you its a Guitarrico, than its a Guitarrico... But as soon as you take it away, most people will still think its a Ukulele