Raffaele Dantone

Raffaele Dantone

-I was born in 1993 in Bolzano and I live and work in Val di Fassa, in the heart of the Dolomiti. Growing up in close contact with nature and the forests surrounding me, I developed from a young age a deep passion for wood and for craftsmanship.

After several years working as a carpenter, I discovered my true vocation in lutherie thanks to a workshop with luthier Mirko Borghino.

I furthered my guitar-making studies at the Civica Scuola di Liuteria di Milano and, after graduating, I refined my path by working with master luthier Daniele Marrabello, focusing on sound research, construction techniques, and attention to detail.

Today, I build guitars in my workshop in Val di Fassa, instruments that blend tradition and innovation, expressing authentic craftsmanship and a deep connection to the land.

This guitar represents my personal vision of innovation rooted in tradition. It features a spruce soundboard, wengé back and sides, a cedrella neck, and an ebony fingerboard — a combination of woods chosen for their balance, projection, and tonal depth.

At the heart of the instrument lies a bracing system developed from my own research and experience. It is an evolution of a personal project that began with an in-depth study of the guitars of Antonio de Torres, as well as the five-strut model with under-bridge reinforcement inspired by Robert Bouchet.

In recent years, many discussions have highlighted a perceived contrast between traditional guitars and more modern designs such as Double Top and Lattice Bracing systems. Rather than choosing one side, I sought to create a structure that bridges these two worlds.

I retained the traditional five fan braces, preserving the tonal identity, color variation, and dynamic responsiveness typical of historical instruments. However, I replaced the traditional under-bridge bar with a lattice-style under-bridge structure. This modification provides greater structural uniformity across the soundboard and enhances efficiency in energy distribution.

The result is an instrument capable of delivering increased volume and projection—qualities often associated with modern guitars—while maintaining the warmth, tonal complexity, and dynamic nuance of a traditional classical guitar.

This guitar embodies my philosophy: innovation that respects tradition, where structural research serves musical expression.