The Mandolino Perfetto is the result of the collaboration between luthiers Federico Gabrielli and Martino Quintavalla, and Maestro Carlo Aonzo. Conceived with a clear artistic vision, it represents a new standard in mandolin making, combining innovation, playability, and tonal excellence.
Its powerful, rich, and refined voice offers outstanding projection while preserving warmth and nuance, allowing the musician to express themselves effortlessly across a wide range of musical styles — from the classical repertoire to contemporary genres.
Since 2025, the Mandolino Perfetto has also been available in the exclusive Deluxe Edition, an even more refined expression of our craft and aesthetic philosophy.
Discover below the distinctive features of the Mandolino Perfetto, available in the Perfetto and Deluxe Edition models.
The Mandolino Perfetto is the result of a long journey of research at the intersection of music, science, and lutherie, in pursuit of the perfect mandolin — an instrument that, by its very nature, can never truly exist. Through their collaboration, Carlo Aonzo, Martino Quintavalla, and Federico Gabrielli sought to come as close as possible to this utopian ideal. From this pursuit comes the name Mandolino Perfetto — both playful and serious at the same time — reflecting the spirit and ambition behind their work.
On this page, you can read the review of the Mandolino Perfetto written by Robert Margo for the Mandolin Journal, the official magazine of the Classical Mandolin Society of America.
Mandolino Perfetto - A Journey in Search of Sound
The Mandolino Perfetto represents the culmination of a scientific journey into the acoustics and craftsmanship of the mandolin. This journey began in 2020 with a research project funded by the World Wood Day Foundation, driven by the desire to better understand the instrument at its deepest level.
By combining scientific methods with traditional lutherie knowledge, this project made it possible to explore how tonewoods, structural design, and construction details shape the voice of the mandolin. Beyond the data and measurements, this research provided a new awareness — a foundation upon which the Mandolino Perfetto could take form.
The instrument stands as a bridge between science and artistry, where empirical knowledge and the sensitivity of the luthier converge in the pursuit of a refined and expressive sound.
On this page, you can also read the article published in the Mandolin Journal, presenting the research project and its findings.
Ergonomic Design and Sustainable Materials
The body of the Mandolino Perfetto has been carefully designed to provide exceptional playing comfort. The thin, wide armrest allows for a relaxed playing position, while the neck features a profile midway between a rounded and a triangular shape, ensuring excellent comfort and control in all positions along the fingerboard.
Environmental sustainability is also an increasingly important value. The Mandolino Perfetto is built using non-endangered wood species and environmentally responsible materials, and it is finished with a varnish made from natural oils and resins, enhancing both the instrument’s resonance and its ecological integrity.
Soundboard
The soundboard of the Mandolino Perfetto is reinforced with specially designed curved braces, crafted from carefully selected spruce and strengthened with composite material. This configuration allows the soundboard to vibrate freely, resulting in an instrument with outstanding projection and a rich, distinctive tonal character.
In the Deluxe Edition, the soundboard is made of torrefied spruce — thermally treated to reproduce the acoustic properties of naturally aged wood, offering enhanced responsiveness and tonal maturity.
Compensated Nut
In most mandolins, notes played on the first frets tend to sound slightly sharp, often causing unwanted dissonances and beating, particularly when playing chords.
The Mandolino Perfetto features a specially designed compensated nut that minimizes intonation errors in the lower positions. Together with the bridge, it ensures precise intonation across the entire fingerboard.
On this page, you can find more information about the compensated nut.
Strings
The Mandolino Perfetto is fitted with strings by Dogal, model RW92, selected for their tonal balance, projection, and reliability.
Pickguard
The pickguard features a modern design, carefully shaped to protect the soundboard in the areas most exposed to wear, while remaining lightweight and allowing the top to vibrate freely and efficiently.
