R.A. Raoul Aldrovandi Luthiery

Raoul Aldrovandi’s Masterpieces

The story of R.A. Liuteria is that of Raoul Aldrovandi, a craftsman who transformed his experience in woodworking and his passion for classical guitar into unique instruments. After years dedicated to sculpture, carving, and artistic woodworking, Raoul embarked on luthiery studying with the Spanish master Pablo Requena. To this traditional base, he added more modern approaches, inspired by the scientific work of luthiers such as Mario Garrone, Giuseppe Cuzzucoli, and Trevor Gore, developing a personal and ever-evolving method.

The result is a luthiery that combines the sensitivity of tradition with the precision of scientific research, where each guitar is born as a unique piece, the result of careful material selection and entirely handmade work.

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The Collection

The heart of R.A. Liuteria’s production is the handmade classical guitars, made entirely by hand with an approach combining tradition and innovation. Currently, the catalog includes two main models:

• Luna – with a spruce top, ideal for those seeking brightness and dynamic response.
• Ambra – with a cedar top, with a warm and enveloping tone.

Each instrument can be customized with back and sides in Indian Rosewood, Wenge, or other selected woods, necks in Cedrella or Mahogany with Wenge reinforcements, fingerboards in Ebony or Rosewood. The finish is done with French polishing (shellac applied with a pad), using only natural resins, providing excellent sound quality.

The philosophy behind each guitar is to respect the unique voice of each wood: the selection of soundboards is extremely rigorous and based not only on physical parameters such as density and stiffness but also on the “tap tone,” the material’s natural ability to vibrate and produce harmonics.

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Construction Philosophy, Techniques, and Materials

Raoul Aldrovandi’s work is based on a balance between tradition and innovation. Every part of the instrument is designed and handmade, with long production times to ensure maximum control and absolute quality.

The scientific approach is reflected in the distribution of stiffness and weight, the calculation of flexion, and the monitoring of frequencies of the soundboard and the complete guitar. In recent years, Raoul has developed his own personal model with fan bracing and is working on an innovative model with radial bracing.

Materials are selected with extreme care: spruce or cedar soundboards evaluated according to physical and sensory criteria, backs and sides in exotic or domestic woods, bridges in Indian or Madagascar Rosewood with 12-hole design to optimize string angle.

The shellac finish is a true signature: natural, thin, repairable over time, and capable of becoming a living part of the instrument.

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Collaborations and Recognitions

R.A. Liuteria collaborates with Siccas Guitars, a renowned international reference for high-end classical instruments.

Raoul’s guitars are rapidly gaining attention from musicians and industry experts for their sound and construction quality.

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Authentic Experience

Currently, no guided visits are planned to the workshop, but Raoul Aldrovandi is available for personalized consultations and to assist each client in the creation process of their instrument. Every R.A. Liuteria guitar is born from a deep dialogue between luthier and musician, to create an instrument that reflects the personality and sound needs of its player.