How long does it take to make a guitar?
A long time as I make everything by hand, the only electric tool I use is a power sander. I take my time, around 200 hours for manufacturing the soundboard and other parts, 100 more for painting and polishing. The rosette alone takes 5 days of work. I never make more than 5-6 pieces a year.
What’s the role of high quality materials in your craft?
It’s primary. I use the best spruce from Italian Fiemme Valley for soundboards, rosewood from Madagascar for backs and sides, ebony for fingerboards. If the wood moisture content is more than 10%, I’ll wait for it to dry naturally. It may take 3-4 years, but I will never use a kiln to speed up the process.
©Giorgio Ghezzi
What are timples?
A timple is the traditional instrument of the Canary Islands, similar in size to the ukulele but with five strings instead of four and a semi-round back called joroba (hump). I’ve been making them for local musicians, using beech wood.
Are all your products bespoke?
Almost. To make the perfect instrument, I need to know who’ll play it and where, in which environment and climate. I have customers all over the world, from Europe to Japan and South Korea, but I remember each and every one and in general I prefer to deliver my guitars personally.