Giacomo Guadagna - Venere DT

Giacomo Guadagna

Italian Classical Guitar Maker

Giacomo Guadagna was born in Ribera, Sicily, and has been immersed in music from an early age. He began studying classical guitar at the age of 15, developing a deep connection with the instrument that would later shape his professional path. After high school, he moved to Bologna, where he earned a Master’s degree in Musicology.

During his university years, Giacomo traveled extensively, including formative stays in New Orleans and Chicago. There, he developed a strong interest in Blues and Jazz, which led him to explore electric guitar, steel-string instruments, and fingerstyle techniques. These diverse musical influences continue to inform his tonal sensitivity and aesthetic approach as a luthier.

In his final year at university, Giacomo felt the need to express his musical passion through something tangible. This marked the beginning of his journey into lutherie. He began attending courses in the construction of bowed and plucked string instruments at the School of Pieve di Cento (Bologna), followed by a three-year professional violin-making program under Master Marcello Bellei.

He later pursued specialized studies in mosaic rosette design, working under the supervision of Master John Weissenrieder (Florence) and Master Rafael López (Cádiz), both respected authorities in classical and flamenco guitar making. After relocating to Tuscany, Giacomo decided to focus entirely on guitar construction.

Today, in his own workshop in Castiglion Fiorentino (Arezzo), Giacomo Guadagna builds top-quality classical guitars, steel-string guitars, and ukuleles, combining refined craftsmanship with a musician’s ear for balance, response, and expressive nuance.

Guitar Description & Materials

The soundboard of this instrument is built using a three-layer sandwich construction:
spruce / synthetic fabric / spruce, using Val di Fiemme spruce.
This design provides a well-balanced sound, quick and articulate attack, and a natural, unforced tonal character.

The back and sides are made from cypress, contributing clarity, immediacy, and a transparent response. The fingerboard and bridge are crafted from Indian rosewood, offering stability and tonal focus, while the nut and saddle are made of ebony, ensuring precision and durability.

The guitar is equipped with Gotoh 35G1800 tuning machines, known for their reliability and smooth action. It is strung with Savarez Alliance Cantiga strings, using high tension on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd strings, and normal tension on the 4th, 5th, and 6th strings, creating an optimal balance between clarity, projection, and comfort.

Specifications

• Soundboard: Spruce / Synthetic Fabric / Spruce (Val di Fiemme)

• Back & Sides: Cypress

• Fingerboard: Indian Rosewood

• Bridge: Indian Rosewood

• Nut & Saddle: Ebony

• Machine Heads: Gotoh 

• Strings: Savarez Alliance Cantiga