Allessandro Marseglia Guitars
Marseglia guitars are precisely constructed with a beautiful finish. They provide a full, powerful sound that eminates from the nine-strut bracing under the soundboard.
I met Allesandro Marseglia in Germany in 2003, he is a humble and unassuming man that has created phenomenal instrument. Living in Naples, Marseglia has carved out a strong name for himself in Europe with players such as Aniello Desiderio and Costas Cotsiolis performing on his instruments, Matthew Grief from the LA Guitar Quartet is now using one also. Upon my first playing of the guitar I was immediately struck by the powerful sound coupled with a traditional fan-strut tone that provided a rare balance between projection and sound quality. Once again when I tried his guitars in 2005 I was impressed enough to place an order.
His guitars are constructed beautifully with craftsmanship of the highest level. The fine construction translates into a very playable instrument that feels facile and agile to play. Perhaps the most striking visual aspect of the Marseglia is the raised fingerboard which is commonly known as the “millennium” design by the late Thomas Humphrey. The raised fingerboard in created by a tapered body that thins towards the neck joint with the result of greater accessibility to the upper frets. The playability of the instrument isn’t affected at all because the strings and neck are all in the same alignment as a standard construction; however, there is a much larger clearance from the strings to the face of the guitar which will save a lot of scratches appearing.
Why are so many artists so reserved about recommending guitar brands or makers?
Is it beacuse they are really not all that taken with what they are playing? I am currantly looking for a classical guitar in the 5-6K price range. I would really appreciate help from more experienced players of classical music.
Can anyone help me?
Thanks for your comment Mickey, please have a look at the new article:The best classical guitar?
Hope you find it interesting!
Simon, thanks for your input. Can you tell me which type classical in your opinion has the widest sound palatte? I love warm bell tones. You seem to be a professional so I hope you will respond.
Thanks
Hi Mickey,
I’ve just discovered this “forum”…
In your price range, I recommend you the Alma model by jean-Luc Joie. Just under the concert model and not customizable, but of very high level as to dynamics, evenness, sustain and tone colour… See the other subject (“the best classical guitar?”) to know more about Jean-Luc Joie.
A second-hand concert Joie or Gnatek, Marty, Marín could do the job too. The cheapest way to get them might be a trip to Europe, coupling the buy with masterclasses within many great guitar festivals (mostly frequent in Germany or Spain in my opinion).
Good luck!
Hi again,
I forgot to mention the Liikanen guitars. They are a good option too.
You may also consider the cheaper Kantare series (from Liikanen) and the Alegria/Aldeca models by Joie, which sounds incredibly good for the price.
Hi Mickey,
I can help you. It’s hard to recommend a brand or luthier without actually speaking to you. If you are interested in a nice classical guitar, please feel free to email me directly.
best,
kelcey
Is anyone out there passionate about the guitar they use to take a moment to tell me why? I am looking for a classical in the 7500.00 range with great tonal palatte. I would really appreciate your help as I am told this is the site to gather such info.
Hi, mine gives me everything a guitar can possibly give right now: great projection, great evenness, great sustain, more bass (fundamental notes/lower harmonics) with very good balance. As to tonal palette, my Joie is on the dark side so might not be considered as the best available… Even if you can develop more subtle palette with it in my opinion.
The commonly seen as great tonal palette guitars are virtually any well made spruce topped guitars with poor true basses (I mean no fundamental notes and few lower harmonics – it doesn’t mean you don’t hear the basses, but you hear mainly high harmonics of them).
You may find a reasonably priced and good traditional spruce topped guitar in Spain: Ana Espinosa, René Baarslag, Antonio Marín Montero, José Marín Plazuelo, Arnoldo García, Daniel Bernaert. Most of trhem are available from Casa Luthier in Barcelona, but you might enjoy Southern Spain as well. Angel Benito too but he is in Madrid.
More expensive but even clearer would be virtually any English or French traditional spruce topped guitars except Lowden (well, he’s Irish) and Daniel Friederich (very few spruce guitars available anyway). Fischer, Fouilleul, Dupont, Field, Fanton d’Andon…
Type of strings can also make a huge difference. Red Savarez Alliance/(HT?)classic are among the clearest ones. If you need even clearer ones, try the treble Carbon by Hannabach or Carbonline.
Hi Mikey,
I actually have a Marseglia for sale at the moment, you can contact classicalguitarreview@gmail.com for info.
Jeff Sigurdson in Abbotsford Canada is one of the best makers in the world. A friend of mine first heard of him while visiting the 12th fret music store in Toronto. They had guitars up to $12,000. My friend said that the used Jeff Sigurdson was better than all of the guitars on the wall. He brought a friend of his down to the shop just to make sure he wasn’t loosing his mind. His friend is a master flamenco player. He too was blown away. Between the two of them they have ordered 7 guitars. It is only a matter of time before his guitars are known on the world stage and the price will be up there with the Jeffery Elliot guitars. Jeff’s guitars are made identical to the 1937 Hauser. I know this because he got the blueprint from Jeffery Elliott.
For about $2500.00 you can get a 1937 Hauser, all french polish, sound ports and a raised fingerboard with beautiful Indian Rosewood and Engelmann spruce top. His finger boards have a radius to them which makes playing a dream and he also carves relief into the neck so that the curve of the neck is built into the ebony. His workman ship is as good as it gets.
At considerable cost he has also just obtained blueprints from Liam Romanillos for the up to date 2002 plan. Jeff can build one of these for you as well. He is also building a Daniel Friederich to spec for my friend.
I’ve been to his workshop a couple of times and he is a very dedicated and meticulous artizan. Going with him, not only will you have one of the best sounding and feeling guitar you will ever play, you will also have an investment. Get one now while you can afford it.
Hope this was helpful. All the best!
Hi Mickey,
I have a Jean Juc Joie, Alma model (Spruce top) for sale, I bought it last year. If you are still keen I would love to sell it to you at Euro 1990. Beautiful tone and sustain…I reckon I have opened up the sound. Please email me at
Hi,
anybody have Alessandro Marseglia contact person, email or something? i’ve did a lot searching on internet but i’ve found nothing
I have found a nice guitar butique – they make videos of almost every guitar they have, and good pictures of cource. But what makes it special they offer online live presentaions of the guitars, via Zoom i guess, nice option, i talked to them via zoom and it was really nice to have the guitar showed right to you. https://www.happyguitar.eu