2019 Gabriele Lodi "1930 Esteso" SP/IN

This 2019 Gabriele Lodi "1930 Esteso" is a classical guitar from Carpi, Italy, with a spruce top and Indian rosewood back and sides – his tribute to an original 1930 Domingo Esteso and No. 74 of his "Master Series".

A Tribute to Domingo Esteso

This instrument is one of Gabriele's tributes to the great Domingo Esteso, who of course was one of the star workers in the famous Manuel Ramírez workshop in the early part of the 20th century. Esteso set up his own shop in 1915, and his lineage continues to this day with the Conde family.

A Modern Interpretation of a 1930 Esteso

Gabriele has many years of exhaustive research and restoration work on these old instruments, including Esteso's, and as a maker he is one of the most informed alive today about the minutest construction details of these early masters. Even though the label reads "Domingo Esteso 1930, copy", he strives to build "modern interpretations" of these old guitars rather than strict bench copies. In these tributes he seeks to bridge the "old world" (gut strings) and the modern era (nylon strings), producing a fully modern instrument that any contemporary player can appreciate and play.

Old-World Expressiveness with Concert Projection

The goal is a guitar with enough power and projection for the concert stage that still offers the subtlety, refinement of tone and maximal expressiveness of the old world. Gabriele works especially hard for a huge color palette and great dynamic range, much like the old Spanish guitars – in this case, an original 1930 Domingo Esteso. From the many guitars we've seen from Gabriele, he's done it: this one has the charm, spirit and musical expressivity that many modern instruments lack, yet still delivers the power that modern players have come to expect.

Esteso's Understated Aesthetics

As much as Gabriele focuses on the sonic and responsive qualities of the guitar, he also has a deep reverence for the aesthetic choices made by these makers of the past. For this model, he chose to respect the subtle and modest decoration of Esteso, from the head shape to the maple binding. This is an exquisitely built instrument with no detail overlooked, and although "used", it is in mint, like-new condition. Our congratulations to Gabriele on what can only be considered nothing short of yet another masterpiece!

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.