Mario Grimaldi (born 1957) is an Italian classical guitar maker based in Ovada, near Alessandria. A pupil of Carlo Raspagni, he has built guitars in his own workshop since 1989, drawing on Robert Bouchet, Hermann Hauser I and the legacy of Pietro Gallinotti, and is known for his studies of historical guitars such as a 1920 Santos Hernández and Ida Presti's 1963 Daniel Friederich. GSI is Mario's exclusive dealer in the USA.
At a Glance
- Born: 1957, Filippa di Mesoraca (Crotone), Italy
- Nationality: Italian
- Workshop: Ovada (Alessandria), Italy
- Own workshop since: 1989
- Teacher: Carlo Raspagni
- Influences: Robert Bouchet, Hermann Hauser I, Pietro Gallinotti
- Books: "Pietro Gallinotti liutaio di Solero" (2006); "Il legno che canta" (2013)
- US dealer: GSI (exclusive)
From Ferrari Models to the Classical Guitar
Mario Grimaldi was born in Filippa di Mesoraca (Crotone) in 1957. He started working with wood at the early age of sixteen as a model maker at the Eligio Re Fraschini company, where the models for the Ferrari Formula 1 cars were made. In 1982 he enrolled at the civic music school in Milan, studying classical guitar and double bass for several years. In 1986 he attended the lutherie course of Carlo Raspagni, and in 1989 he opened his own workshop dedicated exclusively to guitar making. His workshop today is in Ovada, in the province of Alessandria.
Robert Bouchet, Hermann Hauser and Alirio Díaz
The guitars of Mario's early period were inspired largely by the work of Robert Bouchet. In 1996 he received an order from the great Maestro Alirio Díaz and built him a guitar with several customized features. Díaz also allowed Mario to measure and inspect his 1951 Hermann Hauser guitar, and since then Mario has integrated many of its design features into his own style, including a Hauser-style model.
The Gallinotti Legacy
In 2001 Mario met Carlo Gallinotti – the son and only assistant of the great Italian luthier Pietro Gallinotti (1885–1979), likely the original inventor of the cedar top. From Carlo, Mario came into possession of many items from the Gallinotti workshop, including the molds, woods, tools and other equipment. He then began experimenting with Gallinotti's construction method, which he later described in a book dedicated to Gallinotti, and which again shaped his own approach to guitar making.
Restoration, Historical Models and Books
An important part of Mario's work is the restoration of historical and vintage instruments. For many years he has looked after an important private collection of 20th-century guitars by the great Spanish and European makers, often finding inspiration there for his own work. Close study of historical guitars owned by friends has also led to models of his own: a bench copy of a 1920 Santos Hernández, and a series inspired by Ida Presti's 1963 Daniel Friederich for the 100th anniversary of her birth in 2024. Mario has also held conferences in various Italian conservatories on historical Italian violin making of the 20th century and has published the books "Pietro Gallinotti liutaio di Solero" (2006, written with Mario Dell'Ara) and "Il legno che canta" (Curci, 2013, written with Angelo Gilardino).
FAQ
Where is Mario Grimaldi's workshop?
In Ovada, in the province of Alessandria, Italy.
Who taught Mario Grimaldi?
He took the lutherie course of Carlo Raspagni in 1986 and opened his own workshop in 1989.
What is Mario Grimaldi's connection to Pietro Gallinotti?
In 2001 he befriended Gallinotti's son Carlo and inherited molds, woods and tools from the Gallinotti workshop; he co-wrote a book on Gallinotti.
Where can I buy a Mario Grimaldi guitar in the USA?
GSI is Mario's exclusive dealer in the USA.
Several of Mario's guitars 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.
