My Instruments

My first concert guitar was a José Ramirez III, an instrument that fascinated me with its rich tonal quality, although it had some mechanical issues that sometimes affected the stability and accuracy of the tuning.

Later, I had the opportunity to play a Masharo Khono 30, an extremely well-balanced guitar with excellent projection. Despite its undeniable qualities, this instrument did not fully meet my expectations, especially in more intimate and delicate contexts.

The next step was the purchase of a guitar by luthier Luis Arban, which featured very beautiful tones and great projection. However, I found that it wasn’t perfectly suited for chamber music, where a more controlled and subtle sound is often crucial. Afterward, I played a Manuel Contreras "doble tapa" guitar extensively, which stands out for its wonderful basses.

Finally, the instrument that satisfied me for a long time was a guitar by the American Alan Wilcox (who resides in Italy, Tuscany). It was a guitar that responded optimally to my musical needs, finding perfect harmony with my playing style and the different chamber ensembles in which I perform.

My experience with these guitars has been very positive and has allowed me to appreciate both established instruments such as Ramirez, Khono, and Contreras, as well as high-quality luthiery instruments like those of Arban and Wilcox.

Currently, I play a hybrid guitar with a lattice-braced top by Luciano Maggi , and I am awaiting a new guitar from the young luthier Claudia Francesca D'Ammassa. The innovations introduced by these luthiers, along with the developments of the past 30 years — such as guitars with new bracing systems and double tops using innovative materials like Nomex — have brought instruments to highly advanced sonic and tonal levels.