2020 Ennio Giovanetti "1936 Fleta" SP/CSAR

This instrument is a reaffirmation of the great tradition of guitar making that began with Antonio de Torres, the founder of the modern Spanish guitar. For this instrument, Ennio found inspiration in this 1936 Ignacio Fleta which itself was inspired by one of the most iconic Antonio de Torres guitars - now known as "FE17", built in 1864 and famously owned by Francisco Tarrega who considered it the favorite of the three Torres he would own in his lifetime. The 1936 Fleta was built while Fleta was doing restoration work on FE17, and while many of the structural details are heavily influenced by Torres, the decorative work is entirely Fleta. The carved head, thick purflings of full herringbone on the top (including the inner and outer sections of the rosette) as well as the half-herringbone purflings throughout the back and sides give this instrument a bold, unique and daring look. It is precisely these details - head carving, purflings and rosette that Ennio built into this guitar, which was intended for display at the (what would have to be canceled) 2020 Rome Guitar Festival. Ennio chose different materials (CSA rosewood for back and sides, not maple) and the structure of the guitar are his own, full-sized design. The result therefore is in the same spirit as Fleta in his "Torres inspiration" in that this is no replica, but rather an indelibly inspired collaboration between the luthier and a predecessor. As Fleta did with Torres, so Ennio has done with Fleta - creating a variation on a timeless theme.