Francesco De Gregorio is an Italian classical and flamenco guitar maker based in Lecco, Italy, best known for his guitars based on Antonio de Torres models, especially SE 111 of 1887. Trained at luthier school in Milan and with Mirko Migliorini, he has had his own workshop since 2016.
Francesco De Gregorio at a Glance
- Workshop: Lecco, Italy (since 2017; first workshop in Brivio, 2016)
- Training: luthier school in Milan (four years); apprenticeship with Mirko Migliorini, Lecco
- First guitar: 2008, self-taught
- Models: Torres FE 17 and SE 111; Julián Gómez Ramírez; Santos Hernández; his own Kohno-inspired model
- Guitars built: more than 120, most of them spruce/maple Torres models
From Self-Taught Hobbyist to Luthier School in Milan
Francesco De Gregorio started building guitars as a self-taught hobbyist in 2008. After completing his first 3 guitars he became convinced this was his calling, decided to take a more academic path and enrolled at luthier school in Milan. After 4 years he graduated and apprenticed with luthier Mirko Migliorini in Lecco. In 2016 he opened his own shop as an independent maker in Brivio, relocating in 2017 to Lecco, where he remains to this day.
Torres SE 111 and Stefano Grondona
Francesco's early interest was in building guitars based on various Torres models, including FE 17, and after 2019 on SE 111, which he sees as a perfect culmination of the mature phase of Torres at his peak. He is friends with the owner of SE 111, the great guitarist Stefano Grondona, and was able to personally evaluate the original guitar in 2019. SE 111 belongs to the group of Torres guitars with the "chainlink" motif in the rosette, which also includes SE 113, SE 114 (ex Tárrega) and SE 116 "La Italica".
Other Models: Gómez Ramírez, Santos Hernández and Kohno
He also works with other designs, including models based on Julián Gómez Ramírez and Santos Hernández for both classical and flamenco guitars, as well as a model of his own design, inspired mainly by the bracing systems found in Kohno guitars from the 1970s. To date he has built more than 120 guitars, the majority of them spruce/maple instruments on Torres designs.
Francesco De Gregorio Guitars at GSI
Francesco De Gregorio's Torres models have passed through our doors in recent years. You'll find guitars currently in stock by clicking the "Guitars In Stock" button in the header of this page as well as earlier examples in our Museum by clicking the "Guitars In Museum" button.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Francesco De Gregorio build his guitars?
In Lecco, Italy, where he has worked since 2017.
Which Torres guitars does Francesco De Gregorio copy?
Mainly SE 111 of 1887, which he examined in 2019, and earlier the FE 17.
Does Francesco De Gregorio build flamenco guitars?
Yes – his Santos Hernández and Gómez Ramírez models are made as both classical and flamenco guitars.
