Daniele Marrabello (Torres Model) 2025

Daniele Marrabello received the Golden Guitar Award in 2025.

After receiving this award He said:

“My hertfelt thanks to the scintific commitee for granting me this important recognition, which I take as motivation to keep pushing myself further in the persuit of the beautiful sound of the classical guitar”

To speak of this guitar is to speak of a story that began long before its construction. Because if we have this Daniele Marrabello 2025 – Torres model in our hands today, I believe it is, in part, thanks to the legacy of a central figure in the Italian guitar world: Stefano Grondona. Not only one of the greatest performers of our time, but also a fundamental pillar in the evolution of the guitar in Italy, both in performance and in instrument making.

Grondona’s influence has been decisive in shaping the tradition that now exists in Italy: one of admiration for, and construction inspired by, the great historical Spanish guitar makers. His passion for the historic Spanish guitar and his unparalleled collection, which includes original guitars by Antonio de Torres, the most influential guitar maker in history, have left a profound and lasting mark in Italy. But Grondona has not merely collected these instruments; he has shared them generously with some of the most prominent Italian guitar makers, allowing them to study them in depth. He has worked with them, revealing techniques, proportions, sonority subtleties, and secrets hidden in these unique instruments, convinced that within them lies the most beautiful sound ever produced by a guitar.

It is precisely in this lineage that we find the origin of this guitar. Because one of the makers closest to Grondona, Enrico Bottelli, carried this legacy forward. Bottelli, a widely respected figure in the world of contemporary handcrafted guitars, was for years Daniele Marrabello’s teacher. His work with Torres guitars —especially his own Torres model— has been praised for both aesthetic and tonal fidelity. His instruments capture with remarkable accuracy that elusive sound: warm, deep, musically enchanting, and expressively beautiful to the point of magic.

Enrico Bottelli, one of the most respected guitar makers of our time, is also a very close friend of Stefano Grondona. Thanks to this close relationship and Grondona’s generosity, Bottelli has had the rare opportunity to study several original guitars by Antonio de Torres in person, directly and in depth, with the instruments in hand and in the presence of Grondona himself. His goal: to fully understand the construction secrets and extract as much information as possible in order to faithfully recreate that elusive Torres sound so deeply sought after by both guitarists and guitar makers.

Daniele Marrabello, a direct heir to this tradition through his training with Bottelli, has absorbed all that knowledge and sensitivity, and brought it to life in the guitar we now present.

Daniele, following the same path as his teacher, has also studied Torres guitars in great detail. In particular, the original 1867 Torres guitar, on which this instrument is based, was examined by Daniele in person, with the guitar physically present before him. Just like Bottelli, he sought to extract every possible detail with precision, absorbing its construction, proportions, and sonic qualities. This deep and respectful study has resulted in the remarkable guitar we now have with us here at MADERA.

His 2025 Torres model is a clear example of how a well-understood tradition can be reborn in the hands of a new generation of makers.

The sound of this guitar is everything one hopes for when speaking of Torres: enveloping clarity, rich tonal palette, intimate yet powerful projection, and a unique ability to move the listener. The construction is exquisite, faithful to both proportion and spirit, with an attention to detail that reflects Marrabello’s training and his deep respect for the Spanish school.

Each guitar, even from the same maker, offers a unique sound and character. At Madera, we’re very pleased with this guitar we’ve received from Daniele, as it satisfies us in many ways. Most importantly, in the one that matters most, the sound. A sound full of beauty and nuance, making this guitar a truly special instrument for us.

This guitar not only represents the work of a young and talented guitar maker like Daniele Marrabello; it also represents the continuity of a line. Ongoing evolution of an art that continues to breathe with beauty.

Now, let’s dive fully into this guitar built by Daniele Marrabello.

This guitar embodies exactly what we seek when we commission an instrument: that the maker gives the very best of themselves, that they use exceptional woods, that they are inspired from the very first moment, and that they work with passion, precision, and creative freedom. And that’s precisely what we feel has happened here. We believe Daniele felt at ease with this guitar from the start, that he knew he had something special in his hands. That he built it with enthusiasm, with total dedication, and with meticulous attention at every step of the process. Because to arrive at the result we have before us, it could not have been any other way.

And it only takes a glance to see it. Look at the details, at the perfection of the craftsmanship. Observe in the photos how the alignment between the purflings, the bindings, the two halves of the top, the small inlays… everything is perfectly centered, clean, and in its place. That level of precision is rare, it requires true mastery.

Look also at the heel of the guitar, that zigzag pattern created by the wood’s grain, and how those forms softly flow into the neck in a delicate, organic transition shaped like waves. That artistic contrast between sharp zigzag points and the soft, flowing waves as they meet the neck. Brilliant.

The rosette, in turn, is a marvel of execution: each of its tiny pieces is identical, measured with obsessive precision. And then there are those small creative gestures that make all the difference: Daniele has matched two “bird’s eyes” in the maple precisely with the end of the purflings at the base of the heel on the back. That aesthetic pursuit, that thoughtful design… they give this guitar a remarkable quality.

And yet, all of this would mean little if the sound were not up to the same level. Because a guitar is, above all, a musical instrument. And everything essential revolves around its sound and playability.

And this is where the guitar truly shines. Because if its visual beauty is delicate, evocative, and refined, its sound is even more compelling. This is an instrument of dazzling clarity, deep sonic beauty, and a warm, intimate, and enveloping character. That elusive thing we call the “Torres sound” is right here. And anyone who has had the privilege of playing a genuine Torres guitar will understand it instantly. Daniele has captured it.

It’s not common to find guitars that, while bearing the name “Torres model,” actually succeed in capturing the essence of that legendary sound. Daniele Marrabello has done it. And not only in sound, but also in the elasticity, the plasticity under the fingers, that make the guitar feel alive, responsive, as if it joyfully answers the player’s touch. A true pleasure for the guitarist.

A guitar born from a living, demanding tradition, and one that responds to it with its own voice, full of beauty.

And there is something important to add about this guitar: this is the very first Marrabello Torres Model. So we are also looking we believe at a historic guitar, as the path ahead for this young and talented guitar maker is surely full of future masterpieces. It is astonishing to think how far Daniele might go, being so young and already building instruments of this level.

Daniele Marrabello is among the most respected Italian luthiers working today. After studying guitar making at the Civica Scuola di Liuteria in Milan, he became a student of renowned master luthier Enrico Bottelli. Under Bottelli’s guidance, he refined his woodworking techniques, developed a distinctive aesthetic, and shaped his own unique tonal voice. In 2012, he established his own workshop in Vimodrone, just outside Milan.

He crafts traditional instruments strongly inspired by the guitars of Hermann Hauser and Antonio de Torres. His work is now recognized both in Italy and abroad for its sound quality, the refinement of his instruments, and the meticulous attention to detail.