Saeid Aboutalebian, 2025
Cedar / Madagascar Rosewood
Overview
This extraordinary Saeid Aboutalebian began its life in 2022 in the hands of one of the most revered figures in the classical guitar world, Álvaro Pierri. Saeid seems to build a new guitar for Pierri roughly every two years, and this instrument was part of that lineage. In 2025, the guitar returned to Saeid’s workshop in Valencia, Spain, where the original top was replaced with his newest soundboard design, reflecting the most current evolution of his thinking in double top construction.
The result is nothing short of spectacular. In fact, this may well be the finest Aboutalebian guitar we have encountered to date.
Like the standout 2024 example previously featured here, this instrument delivers that unmistakable Aboutalebian experience: immediate response, colossal dynamic headroom, and an intoxicating blend of power and nuance. But with the new 2025 soundboard, everything feels sharpened and refined even further. The attack is quicker, the sustain longer, and the color palette broader, all while maintaining remarkable balance across registers.
Visually, the guitar is equally striking, with a luxurious set of Madagascar rosewood on the back and sides that adds depth both tonally and aesthetically. It is a true concert level instrument in every sense, built for the most demanding players and worthy of its elite provenance.
Sound
The voice is deep, commanding, and electrifying. The basses bloom with authority and scale, yet never overwhelm the middle register or trebles, which remain sweet, singing, and incredibly sensitive to articulation. It is the rare guitar that can thunder when pushed and whisper with intimacy when required, lighting up with color under the lightest touch.
The updated soundboard gives the instrument an especially elastic feel, with effortless projection and a sense that there is always more power on tap. In a hall, this guitar simply carries.
Key Features
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Top: Saeid Aboutalebian latest generation double top soundboard, installed in 2025
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Back & Sides: Madagascar rosewood
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Scale Length: 650 mm
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Nut Width: 52 mm
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Fingerboard: Elevated for easy access to upper frets
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Bridge: Madagascar rosewood with decorative tie block detail
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Neck Profile: Slim C shape, fast and comfortable
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Frets: Tall and impeccably finished for effortless playability
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Original Year of Construction: 2022
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Provenance: Originally owned by Álvaro Pierri
Condition
Excellent overall, with professional work carried out by the maker in 2025 when the new soundboard was installed. The guitar presents beautifully and feels fully dialed in for concert use.
About the Maker
Saeid Aboutalebian is widely regarded as one of the most exciting voices in the modern double top world. Iranian born and now based in Valencia, Spain, he has built a formidable reputation for instruments that rival the very best being made today. His guitars are known for their explosive power, kaleidoscopic tonal range, and astonishing sensitivity, and his waiting list continues to grow as more top artists place their trust in his work.
If you're interested in purchasing, please write to me at evan@guitarcollection.com
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