The importance of understanding a project

When I talk with musicians or people just fascinated by guitars, I am often asked questions like:

• Which is the best wood for the construction of a guitar?
• Is rosewood higher quality than maple?
• Is a very thick or very thin soundboard better?

These questions have no universal answer.

What I think is that in a musical instrument it is not only the single element that matters, but rather the project in its entirety.

For example: for a very thin soundboard a certain structure is needed to support it, while for a thicker one to have the same structural balance the caracteristic of the box will be different;
Both options would lead to a unique, high quality instrument–each with completely different characteristics and sound.

What It Takes to Build a High Quality Guitar

My approach to the construction of the guitar starts from the study of the “great” instruments of the past: I analyze their sound and functioning, I replicate them and where it is possible I introduce innovations.

The 4 characteristics that I consider fundamental for a good guitar are: 

• ease of use
• correct intonation
• deep basses and brilliant high frequencies 
• wide dynamic range, from pianissimo to fortissimo

Designing a guitar means analyzing every single component and making the best structural and design choices in order to achieve the desired results for each of the 3 characteristics mentioned above. 
If a project is well thought out, even poor wood can guarantee excellent results.

My Materials

With the exception of tuners, keys, and strings, I do not use any semi-finished products. Only raw materials enter my workshop.

I start every project with simple wooden boards, and I transform them into finished guitar.

I build my guitars using both traditional tools and new technologies, almost always using templates and equipment that I’ve created myself.

I use materials, glues and paints that belong to traditional craftsmanship.