Andrea Tacchi - 2000 Coclea No. 235

About the luthier

Andrea Tacchi was born in Florence (Italy) in 1956 when the city was flourishing with artisan workshops and artists’ studios. This stimulating environment and meeting the South American guitar maker Ricardo Brané made him a luthier. He developed his craftmanship and artistic tastes in close contact with Robert Bouchet and Daniel Friederich during the 80s. Later, he kept learning from other important guitar makers, such as Ignacio Fleta, José Romanillos, and Robert Ruck, having travelled to the United States, England, and Spain. Andrea Tacchi’s absolute mastery was generously and legitimately rewarded. He received early on in 1985 the first prize in the prestigious international guitar-making competition, the “Concours International des Facteurs de Guitare”, organized by Robert Vidal of Radio France. From there on, global recognition by guitarists and collectors led him to make on of the most extensive waiting list in guitar history. As a result, the number of legendary guitarists, prestigious professors, and young generation concerts who play Andrea Tacchi guitars. To name a few: Carlo Marchione, Carlotta Dalia, Antigoni Goni, Renata Arlotti, Filomena Moretti, Flavio Cucchi, Robert Gruca, Colin Davin, Minoru Inagaki, and Marcelo Kayath.

About the guitar

The tone of this 2000 Tacchi Coclea No. 235 is exceptionally rich and mature, with a warm, romantic character that is both singing and deeply captivating. It carries the unmistakable Andrea Tacchi sound signature—a refined voice that is uniquely his, impossible to replicate outside of his workshop. This guitar combines modern construction with a natural, organic timbre, a hallmark of Tacchi’s approach to luthiery.

Tacchi is widely known for the Coclea model, which he began developing in 1989. The Coclea stands out for its exceptionally resonant acoustic properties. The name derives from the “cochlea” of the inner ear—coclea in Latin—where sound is perceived, and reflects Tacchi’s deep interest in how form and sound interact.

What sets the Coclea apart is its precise geometrical foundation: the top and back are designed as portions of spheres with different radii, rather than flat or uniformly arched surfaces. This creates a complex and vibrant resonance, adding to the guitar's tonal richness and clarity.

Tacchi himself described his inspiration:
“From the early 80s on, I became interested in understanding the rules adopted by luthiers of the 19th century for designing the form of their instruments, a series of circles and triangles in a mathematical relation to the length of the body. Then I developed a system of spheres of differing diameters and planes in such a way so that these tangents would compose the Coclea.”

Condition

As a pre-loved instrument, this guitar is in very good condition, with no structural issues whatsoever. A typical string mark behind the bridge has been carefully touched up, and the overall finish has been refreshed, giving the guitar an almost mint appearance.

Watch the presentation video of this particular guitar below, where you will find a lot of additional information about its playability and sound.