Lucio Antonio Carbone – 2026

About the luthier

Lucio Antonio Carbone, born in 1959, has been building classical guitars since the early 1980s. In 1989 he established his workshop in Milan, where he continues to work with a clear commitment to traditional construction and a finely judged tonal aesthetic. Over the decades, he has developed a personal approach that draws on both Spanish and German traditions while remaining recognisably his own. His guitars reflect a careful understanding of materials and a consistent search for tonal clarity, depth, and structural coherence.

Carbone is also known for his close engagement with historical models, including instruments in the style of Torres and Hauser. This sustained study has informed his sense of proportion, response, and voicing, not as an exercise in imitation alone, but as part of a broader effort to shape instruments with strong musical identity. His work combines historical awareness with an individual ear, resulting in guitars that are refined in construction and persuasive in sound.

About the guitar

This 2026 guitar by Lucio Antonio Carbone is a traditionally built instrument with spruce top and Indian rosewood back and sides, finished in French polish. While its design clearly reflects Carbones long engagement with the great historical models, it should be understood as his own mature interpretation rather than a strict replica. The result is a concert guitar of notable presence, shaped by traditional principles but voiced with unusual openness and ease.

What stands out immediately is the responsiveness of the instrument. Notes speak with little effort and carry a distinct sense of air around them, giving the sound clarity without hardness. The attack is direct, yet the tone remains full and supple, with a long sustain and a broad field of soft overtones. The basses are deep and well grounded, while the upper register retains color and flexibility rather than turning sharp or narrow. This gives the guitar a surprisingly modern ease under the hand, despite its traditional construction.

Especially striking is the balance between presence and forgiveness. The guitar projects clearly, but it does not expose every small imperfection in the player’s touch. Instead, it retains a certain softness at the edge of the sound, which helps the musical line remain cohesive and controlled. In this way, the instrument offers both refinement and accessibility. It is a serious concert guitar with strong tonal personality, combining depth, responsiveness, and a cultivated sense of color in a manner that reflects Carbones individual voice at a high level.