Daniele Marrabello, 2020
Spruce / Indian Rosewood
Overview
There are guitars that impress with power, and there are guitars that pull you in with character. This 2020 Daniele Marrabello “A Nina” manages to do both.
Watch the full review & performance video.
This was our first time spending meaningful time with a guitar by Milan-based luthier Daniele Marrabello, and it turned out to be one of the more memorable introductions to a maker we’ve had in quite some time.
The first thing that stands out is simply how alive this guitar feels. The sound is huge, open, and incredibly resonant, with a richness and sustain that immediately fills the room. There is a chime and bloom to the notes that makes the instrument feel almost addictive to play. While the voice has impressive depth and warmth, especially for spruce, it never loses clarity or elegance.
What surprised us most was how mature the sound feels. Despite being built in 2020, this guitar has some of the openness and ease that players often associate with older instruments. The notes connect beautifully from string to string and create a unified, refined voice that feels effortless under the hands.
Visually, the instrument is equally compelling. The design is elegant and understated rather than flashy, with beautiful materials and thoughtful detailing throughout. It is the sort of guitar that becomes more interesting the longer you look at it.
Sound
The sound of this guitar is what ultimately won us over.
There is a distinctly old-world quality to the voice. Marrabello cites traditional Spanish and German inspirations in his work, and there is a sense of those influences here, but ultimately the instrument feels like its own thing.
The overall character is open, chimey, lyrical, and highly refined.
The trebles sustain beautifully and have a singing quality that immediately draws attention. They remain colorful and expressive all the way up the fingerboard and seem to release effortlessly after each note.
The midrange is unusually cohesive and contributes to an excellent sense of balance across the strings.
The basses are one of the biggest surprises. Rather than the tighter, brighter response some players associate with spruce, this guitar delivers rich, open basses with impressive sustain and depth.
One thing that repeatedly stood out was the evenness of the instrument. Not just in tone, but also in response and volume across positions. Notes feel predictable and controlled in a way that allows the player to focus entirely on music rather than compensation.
There is also an unusually broad color palette here. Small changes in attack create genuinely different sounds, and the guitar rewards experimentation and subtlety.
Overall, this is a guitar that feels expressive, elegant, and deeply musical.
Playability
Playability is excellent.
The neck has a comfortable medium C-shaped profile that feels natural immediately. Combined with a low setup and quick response, the instrument feels effortless to play while remaining controlled.
Even with the low action, the guitar handles dynamic playing comfortably and encourages exploration without feeling fragile.
At the time of filming, the guitar was strung with D’Addario XTC45FF all-carbon strings.
Strings: D’Addario XTC45FF all-carbon
https://ddar.io/guitar-collection
Aesthetics & Craftsmanship
This guitar reflects a philosophy that values refinement over excess.
The spruce top is especially attractive, showing subtle figuring and shimmering medullary ray throughout that gives the surface movement and life under changing light.
Construction is traditional with a light seven-fan spruce bracing pattern, contributing to the instrument’s responsiveness and openness.
There are also subtle details throughout that suggest the influence of Marrabello’s studies with Italian master Enrico Bottelli, particularly in elements of the rosette, tie block ornamentation, and overall elegance of proportion.
The guitar is finished entirely in French polish and paired with beautiful handmade Alessi tuners with ebony buttons and white rollers.
The Maker
Daniele Marrabello was born in Milan in 1986 and trained at the Civica Scuola di Liuteria before later apprenticing with Enrico Bottelli.
He opened his own workshop in 2012 near Milan and has developed a reputation for building refined traditional classical guitars with exceptional attention to detail.
A defining part of his philosophy is that every guitar captures a moment in life.
This particular instrument, “A Nina,” was built during the unusual and emotional period surrounding the pandemic and the birth of his daughter Nina. Rather than being treated simply as a model designation, the name reflects a personal dedication and a specific chapter in the maker’s life.
This example is No. 140 in Marrabello’s output.
Condition
This guitar is in excellent condition.
There are only light signs of careful use and very little visible wear. It has been exceptionally well maintained and presents beautifully.
Specs
Year: 2020
Maker: Daniele Marrabello
Model / Name: A Nina
Number: 140
Top: Spruce
Back & Sides: Indian Rosewood
Scale Length: 650 mm
Nut Width: 52.5 mm
Bracing: Seven-fan spruce bracing
Tuners: Alessi
Finish: French Polish
Worldwide shipping is available.
If you're interested in purchasing, please write to us at evan@guitarcollection.com
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