2019 Yulong Guo "Philharmonic" CD/IN

A 2019 "Philharmonic" double-top classical guitar by Yulong Guo, with a cedar top and Indian rosewood back and sides – our first "Philharmonic", his top-of-the-line concert double top.

In the video above, Giulia Ballare plays Leo Brouwer's "La Gran Sarabanda" on this guitar.

Antonius Müller Soundboard Design

The "Philharmonic" is based on the soundboard designs of Antonius Müller. Its look is bold: the head has a single slot that tapers continuously from the bass side to the treble side, and the rosette has a Romanillos-inspired motif of Moorish columns.

Power for Younger Players

Velvety, smooth and balanced, it is particularly powerful with a fast response, and the warm trebles and deep basses jump out at the slightest touch. A semi-raised fingerboard eases the left hand in the high positions – a style of guitar very popular with younger players.

Yulong Guo: Classical Guitar Maker in Guangzhou

Yulong Guo has been building guitars since 1983 and works in Guangzhou, in China's Guangdong province. He made his name with high-quality double-top guitars – student models as well as concert models such as the "Chamber Concert" and "Philharmonic", based on the soundboard designs of Antonius Müller.

Back to Tradition: The "Granada" Model

At the 2018 Musikmesse in Frankfurt he was able to examine an authentic Antonio de Torres guitar, and after playing a guitar by his friend Gabriele Lodi he returned to traditional building. His new "Granada" model won second prize at the 2nd Antonio Marín Montero Guitar Building Competition in Granada, Spain, in 2018 (see the results), and in 2025 he followed it with a model after the 1888 Torres SE 124.