Built by Croatian luthier Antonio Zwirn, this guitar is made with European spruce for the soundboard paired with a very dramatic set of cocobolo for the back and sides. This is THE actual award-winning classical guitar that Antonio showcased at the eighth Antonio Marin Montero Guitar Making Competition held in Granada, Spain in July/August, 2025 and we are extremely thrilled to have this guitar here. Especially since we have known Antonio for many years - visiting him in Frankfurt, Germany as well as in his hometown of Zagreb and have for many years wanted to offer his guitars here in the USA, now we finally have one, and it was definitely worth the wait!
Antonio's approach to guitar making has a firm foundation in the modern European school, strongly inspired and influenced especially by Daniel Friederich and Gernot Wagner - an unusal pair at first thought, however one can easily detect elements from both of these makers in this guitar, and they fuse elegantly: The bold and dark cathedral-like presence found in Friederich is matched by the big power and fast response found in Wagner. This is due in part to his interesting and flexible bracing system under the soundboard - 5 highly symmetrical fans that alternately pass under and over a central bar below the bridge. The two outer fans are extra long at either end, and extend through the slanted (in the treble direction) harmonic bar into the rosette support. This system creates added flexibility and potential energy in the top that gives it an explosive responsiveness with great agility for tonal coloration and dynamic range. This is almost more of a "musical" instrument than simply a guitar!
The craftshanship is also meticulous in design and perfectly executed. This has one of the most elegant rosettes we've seen in a very long time - a diamond motif in the mosaic flanked by long-grain bands of a greenish-colored wood called "Flamed Catalpa" (which came from a tree that Antonio and his father harvested 25 years ago in the middle of Zagreb) that sparkles with a 3-D relief effect when viewed at shifting angles of light. The headstock shape has a rosewood veneer with added ebony relief which beautifully match the black rollers and buttons on the Alessi tuning machines. It has a graceful and smooth "slightly" elevated fingerboard for improved left-hand access to the higher positions. Of note, it took some time for us to receive this guitar from Antonio after taking his prize in Granada as he did some additional reinforcing of the back and sides with Spanish cypress and some finish touch-up before sending to us. So although built in 2025 it was really "completed" in 2026! Also of note - Antonio has named this guitar "Aroma" - after the very fragrant Cocobolo and Spanish Cypress (interior) which, due to their strong scent, gave Antonio the feeling that this strong flavor was somehow transmitted to the sound... so, in essence, it also sounds "aromatic"! Overall a fabulous guitar by all measures, this will easily satisfy the needs and wishes of any profesional player.
Photos of this guitar taken during construction and while on display at the 2025 Antonio Marin Montero competition
