Ibiza is preparing to say goodbye to one of its most distinctive musical artisans. Manolo Marín Cano, the self-taught luthier whose handmade guitars and basses have accompanied musicians across the island for nearly two decades, will leave his birthplace in early December and begin a new chapter in Galicia. His departure is not simply a professional or personal change: after living in the same family home in Sant Jordi for most of his life, he says the rising cost of housing and the loss of the family's long-standing tenancy have left him unable to find an affordable alternative in Ibiza.

Marín, born in Ibiza in 1972, has built more than 230 instruments since beginning his craft in 2008. Recognisable by the four-leaf clover engraved on their headstocks, his guitars and basses have become familiar on local stages and earned him a special place in the island's music community.

His departure has prompted an emotional farewell from fellow musicians, many of whom gathered at Can Jordi Blues Station on Sunday, 1 November, to thank him for his work and celebrate the instruments he has created.

A Farewell from Ibiza's Music Community

Dozens of musicians came together at Can Jordi Blues Station, bringing guitars and basses made by Marín. The gathering was organised by Sergio Gumbao, with the collaboration of Vicent Jordi, and included a group photograph outside the venue.

The instruments shared a recognisable detail: the four-leaf clover that has become Marín's signature.

The gathering was an opportunity to recognise not only his craftsmanship, but also the relationships he has built with musicians over the years. For many, he has been the person they trusted to create an instrument to their exact specifications, repair a damaged guitar or make the adjustments needed to keep it performing on stage.

In his latest count, Marín says he has built 230 instruments. That figure does not include the many additional jobs he has completed, from changing pickups and repairing breaks to cleaning, refinishing and adjusting instruments.

From an Airport Job to Building His Own Instruments

Marín did not follow a conventional route into instrument-making. Before becoming a luthier, he worked in several different professions, including a telephone installation business with his older brother Antonio, construction, car rental companies and deliveries for Exclusivas Miró.

His final three years as an employee were spent working at Ibiza Airport. During quiet periods on duty, he began experimenting with building a bass guitar himself.

He was entirely self-taught. What started as a personal project in 2008 gradually developed into a serious craft, and he eventually began working independently, making instrument-building and repair his main occupation.

His workshop was located in the family home in Sant Jordi. Over the years, musicians from Ibiza and beyond came to him for custom-made guitars and basses, as well as restoration and maintenance.

His instruments combine individual designs and personalised versions of classic models. The four-leaf clover on the headstock became the distinctive mark of his work.

Why Manolo Marín Is Leaving Ibiza

The decision to move is closely connected to the family's housing circumstances.

Marín explains in his interview with the Sant Josep Town Hall's Sant Josep és Música platform that he and his brothers have lived in the same country house in Sant Jordi under an old-rent tenancy for approximately 50 years.

Following their father's death, they lost the right to continue the tenancy. According to Marín, the law allowed a two-year period for the rental to be transferred, and that period ends in December 2026.

He says he spent that time searching for another home across Ibiza but could not find anything that suited their budget and way of life.

With the prospect of remaining on the island becoming increasingly difficult, he began looking elsewhere in Spain. He investigated properties in Castilla-La Mancha and Galicia, even travelling to view several houses.

Eventually, he found a property in Gomesende, a small locality in the Celanova area of Ourense. Built in the 1990s and ready to move into, it offered a more affordable opportunity to secure a home. He discussed the purchase with his brothers, and the three decided to buy it together.

For Marín, owning a home brings a sense of security that he says he could no longer find in Ibiza.

He describes the decision as a mixture of relief and sadness. In his own words, he has had to leave the place where he was born because speculation has left him with no other alternative.

Three Brothers, One New Home in Galicia

The move will affect three members of the Marín family, although their departures will take place at different times.

Pepe, who is already retired, has moved to Galicia. Manolo plans to leave Ibiza at the beginning of December. Their younger brother Dani, a well-known drummer on the island, expects to remain for another year or two because of work commitments.

Dani will also have to leave the family home and is planning to stay temporarily in a friend's house.

Their sister Dolores will remain in Ibiza, where she has her own home in Cas Serres.

The family's connection to the island goes back to 1966, when their parents arrived from La Puebla de Cazalla in Seville. Their father, Juan Marín, was a master builder and came to Ibiza after hearing that there was work available in the construction of hotels. María Cano followed with their three older children. Manolo was the first of the family to be born on the island.

He remembers Sant Jordi from a time when much of the land now occupied by roads, businesses and buildings was still countryside. Leaving the place where he grew up is therefore about much more than changing address.

His Workshop Will Have a Successor in Ibiza

Although Marín is leaving, his customers will still have someone to contact for instrument repairs and construction.

He has handed his customer portfolio to Víctor Sánchez, a friend who originally came to him as a client. Sánchez developed an interest in the craft and has since built several acoustic and electric guitars, particularly jazz-style instruments.

Marín says he trusts his abilities and believes he will serve the island's musicians well. He acknowledges that Sánchez may not yet have the same experience, but is confident he has the skills to establish himself.

This handover means the island will retain a local option for musicians who need instrument work, even as one of its best-known craftspeople departs.

A New Chapter, but No Immediate Plans to Build Again

Marín's new home in Galicia has land, basement space and a garage that could eventually become a workshop. However, he is not rushing to return to instrument-making.

After 18 years working continuously, he says he needs time to rest, settle into his new surroundings and look after his health. Transporting his existing machinery would be difficult and expensive, so he expects to sell much of it rather than move it all to Galicia.

He has not ruled out returning to the craft. He simply does not know yet whether he will continue professionally, and estimates that it could take a couple of years before he considers setting up another workshop.

For now, he wants to enjoy a quieter environment and the security of having a home of his own.

His musical life will also change. Marín has played bass in several island projects, including LCD Band and Tribal, and has been a member of LaCalle. The band has already arranged for Rafa Bonet, known for his work with The Metrallas and Little Pomegranate Honey, to take over his place. The two musicians have shared performances during the transition.

Marín expects to return to Ibiza regularly to see his sister, nephews, cousins and friends. He says he will not miss the island's summer, but will certainly miss its winter.

Leaving the Place He Has Always Called Home

The emotional weight of the move is clear in one of Marín's reflections on the family house. He arrived there when he was three years old and will leave at 54.

He describes the experience as bittersweet: there is excitement about the new home and the possibility of a more secure future, but also sadness at leaving behind family, friends, familiar places and a lifetime of memories.

He expects the day he closes the door for the final time to be particularly difficult.

For Ibiza's music community, his departure marks the end of an important chapter. More than 230 handmade instruments carry his work onto stages, while the four-leaf clover that identifies them will remain a reminder of the craftsman behind their sound.

Manolo Marín is leaving the island where he was born, but the instruments he created will continue to be part of its musical story.