2010 John Weissenrieder "Simplicio" SP/SW

John Weissenrieder built this "Simplicio" classical guitar in Florence in 2010, with a spruce soundboard and satinwood back and sides – a wood found on some of the most beautiful Simplicio guitars.

In the videos above, Alex Park plays Tárrega's "Lágrima" and "Recuerdos de la Alhambra", and Capital plays Guinga's "Perfume de Radamés" on this guitar; there is also a short film of John at work.

Satinwood, as Simplicio Used It

John's Simplicio model is a work of art, from the elegantly carved headstock to the perfectly executed inlays. The satinwood back and sides – a material on some of Simplicio's finest guitars – are beautiful to look at and add focus and clarity to the fundamental of every note. Alessi tuners.

Sound and Playability

It has the huge, deep bass and round, lyrical trebles of the Simplicio style, with plenty of power for any concert. The graceful neck and easy action make it very playable.

GSI Foundation

This guitar was sold through our non-profit charitable organization, the GSI Foundation. Guitar sales through the GSI Foundation raise money to directly benefit music education in public schools.

John Weissenrieder: From Champion Cyclist to Florentine Guitar Maker

John Weissenrieder (1964–2017) was an American guitar maker who built his guitars in Florence, Italy. Born in Pennsylvania and later based in Boulder, Colorado, he grew up around woodworking – his father was a gifted amateur woodworker and his grandfather, who had emigrated from Switzerland, a machinist and furniture maker. He took up road cycling at 14, rode for the US Junior National Team, and became a professional mountain-bike racer, retiring in 1996 at 32. He also studied architecture for two years, and built a bouzouki with George Diamesis on the Greek island of Poros.

Apprenticeship with Andrea Tacchi and His Homages to Garcia, Simplicio and Bouchet

In September 1998 he arrived in Florence and began working with Andrea Tacchi, who became his teacher and friend. Together they studied the great makers of the past – a 1999 visit to the Barcelona music museum with Stefano Grondona, Simplicio copies, wood-buying trips in the Alps – and after a few more years in Tacchi's workshop John opened his own in Florence. He became best known for his guitars in homage to Enrique García, Francisco Simplicio and, above all, Robert Bouchet: faithful in spirit to their models, yet with a sound and look of his own. He died in 2017; read Andrea Tacchi's memories of John on our blog.