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Product Description

Neck:Ebony etc
Fingerboard:Ebony
Finish(Top):Shellac
Finish(Back & Sides):Shellac
Tuning Machines:Unknown
String Height(1st):3.5mm
String Height(6th):2.5mm

[Profile]
Gennaro Fabricatore is one of the most celebrated makers of 19th-century Neapolitan-style guitars. Unlike the more widely known Giovanni Battista Fabricatore (1750–1812) and his son Raphael (1770–?), Gennaro I (1770–1844) and his sons—especially Gennaro II—developed a well-organized workshop to meet the growing demand for guitars in the early 19th century.

Fabricatore guitars have a special place in history and among guitar enthusiasts. Legendary musicians such as Mauro Giuliani and Niccolò Paganini (who owned a 1826 model) favored these instruments. Today, they remain highly sought-after for their rich, authentic 19th-century tone and elegant design, making them prized collectibles as well as inspiring instruments for modern performers.

[Description]
We are pleased to present a 1827 Romantic Guitar by Gennaro Fabricatore (Vintage). The label reads Toledo N.297, indicating that it was crafted at the workshop located at 297 Toledo Street. While Gennaro himself likely did not personally make this instrument—given that the workshop operated multiple facilities to meet high production at the time—the guitar exemplifies the extraordinary craftsmanship and artistic quality typical of renowned 19th-century stringed instrument workshops.

The soundboard features distinctive botanical motifs beautifully carved in ebony, a signature design of the brand that influenced many other makers. Unlike the famous Neapolitan-style fingerboard, this guitar has a “flush board” construction: from the 13th fret onward, the frets are set directly into the soundboard. The headstock is fitted with slotted mechanical tuning machines rather than traditional wooden pegs. Exquisite mother-of-pearl inlay adorns the headplate, fingerboard, soundboard purfling, and rosette, forming elegant floral patterns. The back and sides are crafted from a single piece of curly maple, presenting a natural, rustic grain, and the overall construction achieves a stunning balance of luxury and elegance—befitting the top-tier model of the brand at the time.

Sonically, the guitar offers a deep, rich, and nuanced tone, perfectly capturing the expressive character of 19th-century Romantic guitars.

There are some repaired cracks on the soundboard near the bridge plate, along the fingerboard edges, and on the figured areas of the maple back, but all repairs were carefully executed and the guitar is fully playable. The neck shows a slight forward bow, but playability is excellent. The nut is ebony, the saddle is rosewood, and internal construction includes harmonic bars positioned vertically beneath the soundhole and a diagonal bar running from bass to treble at mid-body. The bridge area is reinforced with a slightly wider plate. Resonance falls between B and C. The guitar also demonstrates a unique paper-based gluing technique, historically used by Gennaro—who simultaneously operated a paper factory—which is visible in several areas inside the body.

This remarkable instrument is a rare example of Gennaro Fabricatore’s workshop artistry, combining historical authenticity, aesthetic beauty, and musical expressiveness.