Marco Golfieri 2026
"Manuel Ramírez Replica"

It is quite common for traditional guitar makers to include replicas of historical instruments among the models they build. Over my more than 35 years of direct contact with guitar makers from all over the world, I have had the opportunity to try many of these replicas. And I can say that finding a really good one is far from easy.

What we expect from a replica is to experience something of the feel and sound of the original instrument. This is very different from simply having a guitar that has been copied in terms of appearance. Reproducing the feel and sound of an original is genuinely difficult, and it is something I have encountered on very few occasions.

Marco Golfieri’s guitar is different. Its visual appearance is impressive, but more importantly, he has also managed to reproduce the sound and playing feel of the original. The result is a remarkable instrument. It gives you that same sense of warmth, that extremely expressive beautiful sound, huge palette of colors, such a pleasure to have them for your interpretation, and the playing experience associated with these historical guitars. In my opinion, we are talking about guitars could get some of the most beautiful sounds ever produced by a guitar.

The playability, the feeling of flexibility under the right hand, and the ease and comfort under the left hand: all those familiar qualities that these guitars offer are present here, in a completely new instrument. It is almost hard to believe. Playing it is an exciting and truly distinctive experience.

So, what lies behind this achievement? Undoubtedly, there is Marco’s talent as a guitar maker, which has allowed him to understand these instruments so deeply that he is able to interpret and reproduce them. There is also a great deal of research and knowledge involved of course. But I believe another very important factor is his love for these guitars. He is passionate about them; they genuinely move him and evoke a whole range of emotions. I think it is this passion that has led him to devote so much time and effort to making these replicas with such a result.

What we have here is something genuinely special.

Another great plus of this guitar is the exceptional quality of its wood, particularly the beautiful Brazilian rosewood used for the back and sides, so difficult and expensive to find these days.

I also recommend watching the interview we recorded with Marco in his workshop, which you can find below. He explains his work, his approach and the passion behind it, a passion that we share.

Luthier by passion, self-taught.

A music lover since childhood, Marco Golfieri fell in love with wood and all its nuances, scents and colours, fascinated by his paternal grandfather, who built high-quality arte povera furniture as a hobby.

He began studying traditional woodworking techniques with hand tools, and around 2016 he moved into lutherie, initially building a few solid-body instruments and an archtop guitar, which took him about a year to complete, making various tools himself along the way, including several small wooden planes, as needed.

He built his first classical based on a 1937 Hauser model.

In early 2024 he came into contact with Umberto Cevoli, with whom he developed a relationship of friendship and sharing; during this period he refined his knowledge and techniques in building the Historical Spanish guitars.

Today he devotes himself mainly to studying the instruments of the great Spanish makers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and in his small workshop below his home in Santarcangelo di Romagna he builds guitars inspired by them in both sound and aesthetic taste.

Marco has worked with original guitars and carried out extensive research on them, specifically instruments by historic Spanish makers. He has built replicas of guitars by Manuel Ramírez, Santos Hernández and Antonio de Torres, and together with his great friend and excellent luthier Umberto Cevoli, he makes copies of guitars by the Barcelona maker Francisco Simplicio. His impressive work continues to expand today to include more historic guitars.

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