Fabio Zontini - 2023 No.299 Papier Maché
Fabio Zontini - 2023 No.299 Papier Maché
Details
Details
Overview
Overview
Shipping important note
Shipping important note
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Details about GPSR
Details about GPSR
Video overview
More details about the guitar
About the luthier
Fabio Zontini, born in Milan in 1971, completed his training at the Civica Scuola di Liuteria di Milano, graduating in 1996 with a diploma as Master Luthier Restorer. Over the course of his career, he has built more than 250 instruments, drawing deeply on the lineage of historical guitar making. His approach is rooted in close study of seminal figures such as Antonio de Torres, Hermann Hauser I, Pietro Gallinotti, Francisco Simplicio, and Louis Panormo. In 2007, Zontini undertook a focused examination of several original Torres guitars housed at the Museum of Music in Barcelona, including the 1859 instrument built for Miguel Llobet and the distinctive papier mâché FE14 model of 1862 — both of which have informed his own meticulous reproductions.
About the guitar
This 2023 instrument by Fabio Zontini is a faithful recreation of the Antonio de Torres FE14 model, famously built with papier mâché back and sides — an experimental material Torres employed in 1862. Zontini began his work on this replica series in 2005, carefully modelling the structure, dimensions, and acoustic behaviour on the original instrument. The result is an exceptionally light guitar with a voice of striking intimacy and lyrical subtlety. With its lowered air resonance and low body mass, the instrument offers remarkable immediacy of response and an unusually nuanced decay profile. Particularly suited to the delicate phrasing and tonal inflections of the Spanish Romantic repertoire, this guitar captures the poetic character and refined tonal shading associated with Torres’s more idiosyncratic work.
Condition
This guitar is in excellent condition, showing only minimal signs of playing wear. There are no cracks, repairs, or structural issues.
Regular care extends the life of the instrument
Even with careful use, a classical guitar may gradually change in appearance or respond to unstable storage conditions. Have a close look at your guitar regularly and be attentif to changes. If your instrument is suffering from its environement, it will let you know.
Protect Your Guitar: Handle with Care
Be mindful when touching your instrument with greasy or unwashed hands: any skin contact is a small attack on the varnish. Of course, a guitar is made to be played, but taking a few precautions helps preserve its beauty: wash your hands before playing, wear long sleeves, and avoid unnecessary direct skin contact with the body of the instrument.
Pro tip: Avoid playing with a button-up shirt, heavy jewelry, or a belt, as these can scratch the guitar. Also, make sure your guitar case is free of any objects that could damage the instrument during storage.
String care
A good habit to adopt is wiping down your strings briefly after each playing session. This small action significantly extends their lifespan and helps maintain a consistent, comfortable feel under your fingers.
Most importantly, clean strings are essential for keeping your instrument in tune. Corrosion, sweat, and dust can affect the uniformity of the strings and interfere with accurate tuning across the entire fingerboard.
Pro tip: If you're having trouble getting your guitar in tune, it might be time to change the strings. A useful test is to compare the pitch of the 12th fret harmonic with the fretted note at the 12th fret; if there's an unusually large gap between them, your strings may have lost their integrity and should be replaced.
Keep Your Shellac Finish Shining!
Got a guitar with a shellac (French polish) finish? Here's a simple trick: Take a clean microfiber cloth and gently breathe on the surface to create a light mist. Then, softly rub to remove fingerprints, sweat, and grease. That’s usually all it takes to keep it looking great, no products needed!
Pro tip: Every few years, treat your guitar to a check-up with a luthier to keep it in top shape.
Storing Your Guitar: Climate Matters
Your guitar can safely stay outside its case, as long as the surrounding environment maintains 42–55% humidity and a temperature between 18–25°C.
Keep in mind that humidity levels can still fluctuate inside the case, especially during seasonal changes.
- Too much humidity may cause overtightened strings and a dull tone.
- Too little humidity can lead to a bulging top, string buzz, or even cracks.
Avoid placing your guitar near radiators, air conditioners, or windows with direct sunlight.
Pro tip: Always close your guitar case while playing. This helps preserve a stable microclimate inside the case, so your instrument is protected the moment you put it back in.