2024 Marco Bortolozzo SP/ZR

This 2024 Marco Bortolozzo is a torrefied spruce and ziricote classical guitar from Milan, Italy – the guitar Marco talks about in his GSI video and the one Francisco Luis plays in three GSI performance videos.

Segovia's 1937 Hauser as a Starting Point

Another unique masterpiece from this fine maker. Marco began from the plans of Andrés Segovia's famous 1937 Hermann Hauser, choosing a thick, darker "torrefied" spruce top which he graduated with a variable thickness pattern. He then worked to lower the guitar's pitch by adjusting its structure and overall weight, and fitted a low-depth tornavoz. The result: crystal-clear trebles with good sustain from the thicker top, and deep basses from the lowered resonance (around E) – all measured and adjusted with a microphone and frequency-monitoring software. A hidden, adjustable titanium rod in the neck adds stability.

Industrial Design Meets Tradition

Aesthetically the guitar is pure Bortolozzo, with an interlocking-circle rosette that takes its cue from a striking Vicente Arias design. Sharp, modern lines in the inlays and the headstock come from his industrial-design training, combined with traditional touches inspired by Milan's architecture, and the heel cap carries a friendly nod to fellow luthier Richard Reynoso.

Sound and Playability

Bold to look at and just as bold to hear: a powerful, explosive voice with deep, resonant basses and voice-like trebles, and an immediate, fast response that makes it incredibly easy to play, particularly for the right hand. There is a solid firmness to each note that recalls the lighter guitars of Hauser I and II, while the carefully nuanced top and very thin double sides add sustain, a wide range of colors and dynamics, extra bottom end and sparkling trebles. With its smooth neck and easy action it is a delight for both hands.

Photos of this guitar taken during construction

From Industrial Design to Lutherie

Marco Bortolozzo was born on April 5, 1983, in San Vito al Tagliamento, in the province of Pordenone in northeastern Italy, in the midst of vineyards, vegetable gardens and dismantled engines, and learned early in life from his father how to hold every type of tool in his hand. He played guitar and electric bass as a teenager – his first instrument was a bass he built himself – and later studied industrial design at university, where he learned about materials, production processes and design.

Inspired by Torres

Towards the end of his studies, Marco picked a luthier at random from the yellow pages and met Dario Pontiggia, who shared the story of Antonio de Torres. After an hour of conversation, Marco knew that being a luthier was what he wanted to do in life. He has been a professional guitar maker since 2010, and his guitars are easy to play, with correct intonation, deep basses, brilliant high frequencies and broad dynamic capabilities.

From Milan to Portogruaro

For many years Marco built his guitars in Milan, one of the great design capitals of the world, whose architecture still shapes much of his aesthetic. In 2026 he began moving his workshop to Portogruaro, near Venice – not far from the town where he was born. GSI represents Marco Bortolozzo in the USA.