Donatella Salvato – 2023 Concerto 64 cm

Donatella Salvato comes from a family of skilled wood carvers and inlayers. She has a diploma in Graphic Arts and studied ‘cello at the Conservatory of Padua. She worked for 25 years as a cabinet maker, which allowed her to broaden her skills in all aspects of woodworking. Donatella Salvato is inspired by the great luthiers of the past, re-elaborating their designs according to her instincts and the specific current sound requirements. By studying and comparing various procedures and construction techniques, she has developed her own designs. She carries out all her work in her workshop, where every component is thoroughly tested, also using scientific instruments. She only uses top-quality, naturally seasoned woods and the ‘vacuum-gluing’ process to reduce stress on the soundboards. Donatella Salvato makes her own rosettes and banding and only uses French polish. Particular attention is paid to the beauty of sound, sustain, and the immediacy and sensitivity of the response as well as the playing comfort of the instrument. In 2021 at the “XII Concorso internazionale de Liuteria, Pisogne, Italy (BS)” she won both a gold and a silver medal.

A few words from Donatella about this beautiful instrument:

“This guitar was made of Italian Spruce and Madagascar Rosewood; it is freely inspired by nr.751, built by Maestro Daniel Friederich in 1998, of which I made the reliefs. Daniel Friederich reinterpreted the 7-strut fan of Torres, re-evolving the positioning of mass and rigidity to define its wonderful sound characteristics employing solutions that are truly ingenious in their simplicity. Of course, each project must be reworked and translated by adapting it to one's own constructional personality and to the woods chosen. In fact, wood is a living material with its own physical and mechanical characteristics and must be interpreted to bring out its qualities to the full. The sound of this instrument is powerful with an excellent sustain, rich in the harmonics with deep basses and brilliant cantinas and truly remarkable projection, so much so that many are surprised to learn that it is a traditional instrument but, above all, it is exciting with an infinite palette of colors.
This is the magic of the basic design in which I never tire of discovering new variations and possibilities of making each of my guitars unique and special. All my instruments are carefully designed in full detail, with special attention paid to the comfort of the neck and fingerboard to minimize left-hand stress.”

There is no doubt that Donatella's appraisal of this instrument is spot-on. Its exceptional quality and ability to convey genuine emotion are simply unmatched. A closer inspection reveals that this instrument was crafted with great care and attention to detail. It's not just a means for musicians to express themselves but a stunning piece of art in its own right. Moreover, the 640mm scale is a true joy to play, especially for those with a smaller hand. Its intricate design and exquisite construction make it a true masterpiece, elevating it beyond the realm of a mere musical instrument.

Watch the presentation video of this particular guitar below, where you will find a lot of additional information about its playability and sound.