2012 Lorenzo Frignani "1910 Manuel Ramírez" SP/IN

A 2012 "1910 Manuel Ramírez" classical guitar by Lorenzo Frignani, with a spruce top and Indian rosewood back and sides – his 200th guitar, and a replica of the 1910 Manuel Ramírez in his collection.

The 200th Frignani

Lorenzo's own label marks it as No. 200, "mod. Manuel Ramirez". Like the original, it has the look of age: Lorenzo borrows the violin maker's practice of a "distressed" finish, though for him the sound of the original always comes first and the look almost as an afterthought.

Played by Stefano Grondona Before It Shipped

Stefano Grondona, a renowned performer on old instruments, played this very guitar days before it was shipped to us and remarked that it does indeed capture the sound and feel of the Ramírez. It offers that style of guitar for much less than an original – and for touring without the risk to a priceless vintage instrument.

Photos taken during this guitar's construction, including photos of the original guitar

Read more: Orfeo Magazine No. 6 – Tacchi, Frignani and Locatto (with a feature on Lorenzo Frignani)

Lorenzo Frignani: Luthier, Scholar and Collector in Modena

Lorenzo Frignani is an Italian luthier who works in Modena. Independent since 1986, he builds guitars, lutes and violins, and alongside his own concert models he makes replicas of historic guitars from his own collection – above all a 1910 Manuel Ramírez – finished with the aged, "distressed" look that is common practice in the violin world. His guitars and lutes have won awards in Italy and abroad, and in July 2011 the town of Fiuggi named him "luthier of the year".

Teacher, Author and Expert

Lorenzo has served on international competition juries, taught violin making and taken private apprentices. He has written and published widely on the history of plucked instruments, founded the publishing house LF Edizioni in 2007, and is a technical advisor on musical instruments to the court in Modena. In 2024 his son Eugenio joined the workshop, and together they launched Liuteria Frignani. Lorenzo was featured with Andrea Tacchi and Luigi Locatto in Orfeo Magazine No. 6.