Lorenzo Pimentel | N.M. guitar-maker, 82

Lorenzo Pimentel, 82, whose handmade guitars are played by professionals around the world, died Monday from prostate cancer.

Mr. Pimentel, who moved to Albuquerque, N.M., in 1963 with a few hand tools, founded Pimentel & Sons Guitar Makers Inc.

Mr. Pimentel's handmade classical guitars gained an international reputation after the music magazine Frets featured his work in 1965 and guitarist and music publisher Mel Bay published photos of his work on the covers of his guitar method books.

His reputation for quality endured because he resisted mass-producing guitars, said son Rick Pimentel, president of Pimentel & Sons. Today, the company builds just 40 instruments a month ranging from $1,200 student models to concert instruments costing up to $15,000. - AP