Gao Yi - Classical & Flamenco Guitar Luthier From China
Description
This 2026 Gao Yi “Flamenco Negra” is a new flamenco guitar with a Fiemme Valley spruce top and Indian rosewood back and sides, built in China in the Granada tradition by the 2024 First Prize winner for flamenco guitar in Granada.
Gao Yi’s Traditional Flamenco Negra
Gao has been building for many years and is a seasoned and well-trained luthier building largely in the Granada style, having studied there with two of the city’s top names: Antonio Marín and René Baarslag. This is Gao’s 142nd guitar, built as a traditional, old-school flamenco negra. Unlike his classical model, which uses the Bouchet-inspired 5-fan with under-bridge brace, this flamenco uses a traditional 7-fan system that Gao learned from René Baarslag, and is otherwise very influenced by the Granada School in general.
A Very “Flamenco” Sound
The resulting sound is overwhelmingly and convincingly very “flamenco”, with a bullet-like attack, raspy voice and dry “bark” – this guitar could be used in solo or ensemble playing; it’s extremely versatile for any flamenco setting. It’s absolutely incredible how different in sound and feel this guitar is from his classical counterpart. This is truly a fantastic “Spanish” negra! For playability and maximal flamenco response, Gao has set a low string-to-soundboard distance, enabling guitarists to easily balance playing and tapping.
Fiemme Valley Spruce, Indian Rosewood and Snakewood
Materials selected for this guitar are incredibly well-sourced – the soundboard is made of high-quality spruce from the Fiemme Valley at an altitude of 1500 meters in the northern Alps, the same location that sourced the woods for Stradivari’s violins. The back and sides are a lovely set of high-grade Indian rosewood with some lovely figuring and texture in the grain patterns. Snakewood is used in the bindings and inlays throughout, including the central part of the back and the foot (where the sides come together at the bottom). Overall this produces a very unified look, very classy and tasteful all around.
Chinese, Japanese and Spanish Design
For the headstock shape, Gao takes inspiration from Antonio Marín and Antonio de Torres to create his own design. The striking rosette borrows from traditional geometric decorative patterns of Chinese window grilles and also integrates Japanese Hakone Yosegi Zaiku (marquetry wood mosaics) to create a distinctive, elegant and very unique look. His plantilla is his own – he seeks to produce a curvature that follows the waistline of the human body, both for the gentle aesthetic and for improved ergonomics when playing the guitar. Overall, this guitar beautifully combines the charm of Gao’s local Chinese influences, a dab of Japanese design and of course the modified but very traditional Spanish influences that make this a unique but very traditional Spanish guitar. All in, this is an exceptional instrument by any standard.
Photos of this guitar taken just after construction was completed
Background
Gao Yi: From Concert Guitarist to Guitar Maker
Gao Yi’s background with the classical guitar goes back many years, when his interest as a player earned him music degrees from both Jining University and the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. He also earned top prizes in several competitions, including first prize in the 2000 Chinese Guitar Competition, and as a player he has taught out of his own studio in Shanghai. His interest in guitar making was sparked in 2002 while working for Yamaha in the marketing division.
Trained in the Granada School
His experience playing the guitars of Antonio Marín Montero led him to embrace the Granada style. Indeed, he traveled several times to Granada to receive advice and support from Antonio Marín himself, and to study with René Baarslag in his workshop just outside Granada. Years before, he had also studied in Beijing with Juan Labella, another Granada luthier.
First Prize in Granada
After several years of working at his craft, Gao Yi was awarded first prize for his flamenco guitar at the prestigious VII Antonio Marín Montero Guitar Building Competition, held in Granada, Spain, in July/August 2024. His classical guitar also made it as a finalist. We are very pleased to have met this very fine maker, and look forward to seeing many more of his guitars in the future.
