Mario Grimaldi Builds a "Tribute" Instrument to Ida Presti's 1963 Daniel Friederich Guitar

Italian luthier Mario Grimaldi has shared with us more information about his very first guitar built for GSI. The year 2024 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Ida Presti (1924-1967). On this occasion, Mario decided to build a series of guitars inspired by Presti's 1963 Daniel Friederich classical guitar. The original guitar is currently owned by Mario's friend. This allowed him to personally inspect and measure the instrument. Rather than a literal bench copy, this guitar is more like a tribute to the original. It features all the key structural elements to capture the spirit of the original, as well as some of Friederich's aesthetics.

Mario is not only an experienced luthier but also a guitar historian. He co-wrote the book "Pietro Gallinotti: Luthier of Solero" with Mario Dell'Ara, and "The Wood That Sings" with Angelo Gilardino. In the past, we also published the English version of his article, "Secrets of Lutherie: The Cedar Soundboard - An Italian Invention," which was originally published in Italian in Seicorde magazine.

We have some sneak peek photos! Check them out below!