Lorenzo Frignani is an Italian luthier in Modena who has worked independently since 1986, building guitars, lutes and violins. Besides his own concert models he is known for replicas of historic guitars from his collection, above all the 1910 Manuel Ramírez, and with his son Eugenio he runs Liuteria Frignani.
At a Glance
- Workshop: Modena, Italy
- Independent since: 1986
- Builds: Classical guitars, lutes and violins
- Known for: His own concert model and replicas of historic guitars, such as the 1910 Manuel Ramírez
- Award: "Luthier of the year", Fiuggi, July 2011
- Publisher: Founder of LF Edizioni (2007)
Guitars, Lutes and Violins
Lorenzo Frignani lives and works in the charming city of Modena, Italy. Established as an independent luthier in 1986, he has been building a variety of instruments ever since – guitars, lutes and violins. In addition to his own concert guitar models, he makes a unique replica of a 1910 Manuel Ramírez guitar (Lorenzo owns the original and has studied it extensively) and gives it an aged, distressed look built into each new guitar – a technique common in the violin world that he has adopted for this model. He has won many awards for his guitars and lutes in Italy and around the world, including his nomination in July 2011 as "luthier of the year" by the town of Fiuggi, in Lazio.
Juries, Teaching and Apprentices
Beyond his own work he is deeply involved in the wider musical community. He has been a member of international juries at guitar competitions, he has taught regularly – including violin-making courses for the Arts and Crafts School of Centopievese – and he collaborates with the city council of Pieve di Cento (Bologna) as artistic consultant for its schools' lutherie activities. Over the years he has also taken on several private apprentices.
Research and Publishing
Lorenzo is dedicated to researching and preserving the history of these instruments. He collaborated on "Ricercare – Sull'arte liutaria" (Finale Emilia, 1987, and Medolla, 1989), wrote a chapter of "Il Salotto Musicale" (Bologna, Forni, 1992) on the instruments of the classical period (ca. 1780–1820), and with the town council of Pieve di Cento and its arts and crafts school published "Chitarre e Mandolini – piccola raccolta di strumenti a pizzico italiani del 18° e 19° secolo". In 2005 he published "Marino Capicchioni and Mario Capicchioni, liutai", and in 2007 he founded the publishing house LF Edizioni, which, with Sauro Malagoli, translates foreign books on lutherie into Italian and publishes its own.
Expert and Collector
His expertise is widely sought: he is technical advisor on musical instruments to the law court in Modena, where he has served as arbitrator for the Arturo Toscanini Foundation, and he works as an instrument expert for the insurers Assimusica (Cremona) and AXA ART. He has been Vice President of A.L.I. Professional (the Italian Association of Professional Luthiers) and a member of A.L.A.D.F.I., the French association of violin and bow makers. A collector too, he enjoys making instruments available to the public: he has held exhibitions in Parma, Finale Emilia, Medolla, Pieve di Cento, Spezzano and Rome, and abroad in Beijing, Geneva and Mittenwald, and in 2002 he organized the antique instrument exhibition "Musica a Corte e in collezione" in Modena.
Liuteria Frignani
In 2024 his son Eugenio Frignani joined the workshop, and together they launched Liuteria Frignani, a parallel line of guitars based on historic models from Lorenzo's collection.
Lorenzo Frignani in Orfeo Magazine
Orfeo Magazine No. 6 – Tacchi, Frignani and Locatto
The Autumn 2015 issue visits the workshops of Andrea Tacchi, Luigi Locatto and Lorenzo Frignani, with interviews and splendid photographs.
Lorenzo Frignani Guitars at GSI
Many Lorenzo Frignani guitars have passed through our doors over the 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
Who is Lorenzo Frignani?
An Italian luthier in Modena, independent since 1986, who builds guitars, lutes and violins and is known for his replicas of historic guitars.
What is the Frignani "1910 Manuel Ramírez"?
A replica, in sound and look, of the 1910 Manuel Ramírez guitar in Lorenzo Frignani's collection, with an aged finish in the violin-making tradition.
