2024 Marco Bortolozzo SP/ZR

This is the latest creation from Marco Bortolozzo, yet another artistic masterpiece from this fine maker. As a starting point in developing this new model, Marco used the plans for Andres Segovia's iconic 1937 Hermann Hauser. He used a thick "torrefied" (hence the darker color) spruce top and thicknessed it with a variable pattern. At the same time, he tried to lower the pitch of the guitar by making adjustments to the structure and the general weight. He also added a low-depth tornavoz. The thicker soundboard gives the treble strings much clarity while retaining a good sustain. The lowered resonance pitch (around E) gives the guitar deep basses. All the adjustments and measurements were made with the help of a microphone and special software to monitor the frequencies. The guitar also has a hidden adjustable titanium rod inside the neck for stability. The aesthetic details of this guitar are (as usual) of Marco's individual style, although one can distinguish some inspiration in the rosette design from one of the more spectular rosettes of Vicente Arias featuring interlocking circles - meticulously and perfectly executed. Many of his aesthetic ideas are deeply connected with his background in industrial design. The hard "modern" edges and angles of the inlays and shapes of the guitar (look at the headstock for example) are fused with traditional elements that Marco draws from the architectural wonders of his residence (Milan), one of the great design capitals of the world. He even gives a "tip of the hat" to his good friend Richard Reynoso with similar style inlay work in the heel cap.

As bold as its appearance, it is equally matched in sound and playability. The lightweight and efficient build results in a powerful, explosive sound with deep resonant basses and singing, voice-like trebles. The guitar has immediate and fast response making it incredible easy to play, particularly for the right hand due to the quick attack. At the same time, there is a solid firmness to every note, reminiscent to us of the more lightweight guitars of Hauser I and II. Marco has nuanced the top to maximize sustain and also to control the overtones to help the guitar modulate easily with a variety of tonal colors and dynamic range. He also does very thin double sides which gives this guitar additional power, sustain and assists in giving the bottom-end some extra boost as well as to provide additional clarity and brilliance to the trebles. The guitar plays very comfortably with both hands thanks to the smooth neck shape, easy action and fast responsiveness. Absolutely delightful to play and hear, this is a fantastic guitar built on the most traditional of foundations, but with a unique and very tasteful aesthetic. We look forward to many more guitars from this excellent luthier and are proud to be his exlcusive representatives in the USA.

Photos of this guitar taken during construction.

Marco Bortolozzo was born in the early eighties in a small town in Italy in the midst of vineyards, vegetable gardens and dismantled engines. He comes from a family of hard workers and learned early in life from his father how to hold every type of tool in his hand. As a child he built wooden machines and disassembled (and reassembled) bicycles. At 14 years of age, music became an indispensable thing in his life and like many teenagers Marco studied guitar and started playing together with friends. Later, Marco enrolled in a university to study industrial design. These years had been fundamental for his training as a luthier, because he learned about production processes and design stages. Marco learned about the materials and processes that go into making a product. He lived for 5 years in a fantastic environment, surrounded by friends who were passionate about the most varied forms of creativity. Towards the end of Marco’s studies, he realized that guitars don’t just come out of factories, but that there are also craftsmen who manage to live building splendid musical instruments by hand. So Marco decided to go and meet one - he chose a luthier at random from the yellow pages and met Dario Pontiggia. Dario immediately proved to be very kind and introduced Marco to the story of Antonio De Torres. After an hour of conversation Marco Bortolozzo understood that being a luthier was what he wanted to do in life. Since 2010 Marco has been a professional luthier and guitars have become his life. He has built many guitars and has always made sure that his instruments are easy to use, have correct intonation, deep basses, brilliant high frequencies and broad dynamic capabilities. His guitars are the result of the passion and study of the great guitar makers of the past.