2013 Gabriele Lodi SP/CSAR

This 2013 Gabriele Lodi is a classical guitar from Carpi, Italy, with a 30-year-old flamed spruce top and CSA rosewood back and sides, based on a 1922 Santos Hernández – guitar No. 1 under his own label, and the guitar that introduced him in the USA.

Based on a 1922 Santos Hernández

This particular instrument is based on a 1922 Santos Hernández guitar in construction and tone, although the aesthetic design is entirely Gabriele's own. It features a 30-year-old "flamed" spruce soundboard and exceptionally dramatic CSA rosewood for the back and sides. The brass tuners are handmade by Alessi and patterned after Madrid machines of the 1920s.

Tone, Playability and Guitar No. 1

The tone is equally full of old-world charm, with a lovely balance between firm, round basses and clear, ringing trebles, and easy action and comfortable playability round out this exceptional, world-class guitar. Although Gabriele is a seasoned veteran of guitar making, he chose to use his own label (instead of the standard family label) for this guitar, so we were happy to introduce him in the USA with "guitar #1".

Photos of this guitar during construction

Orfeo Magazine #13 – Lodi, Bottelli, Coriani, Peruffo

A Family of Guitar Makers

Italian luthier Gabriele Lodi (born 1976) comes from a family of classical guitar makers. His father was a luthier and player, and Gabriele happily spent most of his childhood in his father's workshop in Carpi, near Modena. From the age of 13 he was helping out at the bench, and by 20 he had made guitar making his profession. He still works in that same family workshop today.

From Historical Guitars to the Spanish School

The historical instruments that came through the shop for repair sparked a lasting fascination with old guitars, and because of it many of his own guitars are strongly rooted in traditional design and aesthetic. After studying the Romantic guitars of the 19th century, he turned to the Spanish school from Torres on, traveling regularly to Buenos Aires from 2004 to study great Spanish guitars. Besides his Torres models, he builds guitars inspired by the Madrid school – Manuel Ramírez, Santos Hernández and Domingo Esteso – and by the Barcelona school of Enrique García.

Carrying the Torres Tradition Forward

In the last many years, the great Antonio de Torres has become a primary driving force in Gabriele's work as a restorer, historian and, of course, as a builder. He has restored several important original Torres instruments, and along the way captured insights from the hand of Torres that have led him to explore his own ideas to carry the Torres tradition forward into the modern day. He is also a co-author of the book Antonio de Torres – Lo Stradivari della chitarra moderna. His Torres guitars carry the words "My Torres Interpretation" on the label: they are never literal copies, but combine his favorite elements of various Torres instruments with details that answer the needs of today's players.

Gabriele Lodi and GSI

Gabriele has used his own label (instead of the family label) since 2013, and in 2021 his guitar No. 100 launched his "Expo Series" of guitars made for Roma Expo Guitars (REG). His workshop has become a meeting place for players and collectors, and GSI is his only dealer in the United States.