About the luthier

Paolo Coriani is an Italian master luthier based in Modena, with over four decades of experience in crafting high quality classical guitars. He opened his workshop in 1984 after nine years of apprenticeship at Liuteria Masetti, a family of guitar makers in Modena dating back to 1900. In the early years, he built guitars inspired by the popular models of José Ramírez III and Masaru Kohno. A turning point in his development came with the discovery of the work of Richard Schneider and Michael Kasha, which provided him with his first scientific insights into guitar acoustics and vibrational behaviour.

A major influence on his philosophy was encountering the guitars and writings of Daniel Friederich, who had developed a less empirical construction method by collecting data such as weight and wood flexibility during the building process. Another significant moment was hearing and studying an 1867 Torres guitar once owned by Christian Aubin, an instrument that also inspired Robert Bouchet and Friederich. This contact with historic Spanish instruments deepened Coriani’s appreciation for traditional lutherie.

In the early 1990s, Coriani expanded his acoustic knowledge further through the work of bow maker Giovanni Lucchi and his velocity tester for tonewood selection. In 1993, he participated in a guitar making course in Córdoba led by José Luis Romanillos, centred on Segovia’s 1912 Manuel Ramírez guitar. This experience cemented Coriani’s admiration for Ramírez’s legacy and inspired a long period of research into early twentieth century Spanish guitar makers, including Enrique García, Santos Hernández and Domingo Esteso.

Since then, Coriani has restored numerous historic guitars and studied their vibrational behaviour to inform his own work. Today, his instruments are inspired by the great masters, Ramírez, Torres, Hauser, García and Simplicio, but are not direct copies. Instead, they reflect the character and sound of the originals while being adapted to meet modern performance demands. Rather than simply chasing volume or power, Coriani aims to craft guitars with warm, clear and expressive voices that support the individuality of each player.

His guitars are built in a humidity controlled workshop to ensure long term stability. All woods are naturally seasoned, with soundboards aged for a minimum of 30 years and other components such as ebony, rosewood and mahogany up to 50 or 60 years. Each instrument is finished with coloured shellac using traditional French polishing methods and features individual rosettes, bindings and purflings for a distinctive visual identity.

About the guitar

This Paolo Coriani No. 274 from 2025 is a traditional classical guitar with a spruce top and Indian rosewood back and sides, finished entirely in French polish. Its voice is remarkably balanced, with a brilliant tonal surface shaped by a smooth envelope, allowing brightness to remain present without becoming sharp. The response is immediate and generous, producing satisfying colour with little effort while retaining the capacity to open into a more powerful and resonant voice when pushed.

The low air body frequency of F to F sharp supports a sense of depth and relaxed resonance, giving the guitar a darker foundation beneath its clarity and shine. The Ramírez inspired bracing lends the instrument a familiar Spanish warmth, long sustain and a supple relationship between touch and sound. With a 650 mm scale and a 50.5 mm nut width, the guitar offers traditional proportions, while its low weight contributes to an agile and responsive playing character.

Condition

The guitar is in excellent, almost mint condition. It shows only light wear marks consistent with the most careful use. There is no damage or repair, and the instrument remains in original condition.

Paolo Coriani

Paolo Coriani - 2025 No. 274