2021 Claudio Meneghelli "Hommage to Jose Romanillos" SP/IN

This particular guitar is a beautifully made tribute to the late Jose Romanillos, a very strong influence to Claudio, who attended several Romanillos masterclasses in the early 2000's. Aesthetically it looks convincingly like a genuine Romanillos with the famous Moorish-arch themed rosette mosaic, thick herringbone purflings in the head veneer and foot (where the sides meet), v-joint at head/neck, use of Indian rosewood for the back and sides, with spruce top (wood combination most frequently seen in Romanillos guitars), and the thick half-herringbone inlays in the top purfling and on the inside/outside of the rosette. Structural features are also very close to a typical Romanillos, and the resulting sound is remarkably similar as a result - a dry, woody, almost "Hauser-like" quality of sound (a maker championed by Romanillos himself) with excellent clarity and balance. Condition is excellent with no cracks or damage, only a tiny amount of wear in the finish. Overall a lovely guitar for the price.

Swiss luthier Claudio Meneghelli's background in guitar began as a player, and his studies took him to conservatory in Lucern where he finished his degree in 1983. After some years as a guitarist and teacher, he was curious to try and make a classical guitar and so found a few books on the craft to help get him started as well as from seeking the advice of a local guitar maker. In 2001, he attended the famous guitar-making class by Jose Romanillos in Siguenza, Spain. This proved to be such an enriching experience that Claudio attended three more times each year until 2004. In 2002 he set up his own independent workshop in Geuensee, Switzerland and established himself as a professional guitar maker, where he remains to this day.