❌ SOLD ❌ Milestones of Music ‘La Romantica 1a’ Lacote Guitar, 2017

Here at The Twelfth Fret we frequently see original Romantic era instruments. Here, we’re looking at an impressive modern reproduction of a Rene Lacote guitar, named ‘La Romantica’ by Milestones of Music.

Milestones of Music is dedicated to reproducing early guitar designs, from Romantic era builders like Rene Lacote through Torres, Hauser, Ramirez and others in more modern eras.  These instruments are built in a high end shop in China under the supervision of master luthier Wolfgang Jellinghaus.

For the ‘La Romantica’ model, Jellinghaus begins with the work of Rene Francis Lacote, who built in Paris from 1785 to 1868. At the time, the guitar was becoming more and more popular, but the bracing designs limited the amount of volume it could produce – and consequently the size of the audience.   As ever, guitarists were seeking increased volume and pleaded with builders to find solutions.   Lacote altered the common ladder bracing pattern to encourage more movement and volume from the top, and increased the size of the lower body.

We’ve seen a number of original Lacote instruments and some from his students. This is a rather accurate reproduction, providing good tone and the structural advantages given by not being two hundred years old. It is a professional grade, fully functional instrument.   

It of course does not incorporate later classical guitar design developments such as fan bracing and longer scale lengths that have dramatically increased volume, but that is part of its charm and character.   Still, it is quite loud for a Lacotte copy. 

The top is ‘Moon Spruce’, an Alpine variety harvested under specific phases of the moon. The harvest is timed to coincide with the lowest amount of sap in the tree, so the wood is lighter and more resonant. The sides and back are flamed maple, with spanish cedar for the neck and ebony for the fingerboard and tuner buttons. The headplate and bridge are rosewood, and the 12-hole tie block has a bone cap.

In a departure from the original construction, the head uses a modern scarf joint. Originals would often have used a finger joint, which can be fragile. 

The finish  is interesting – it gives the visual sense of an instrument that is quite old, but not as if it had gone through artificial ‘relic’ processing as is sometimes done to electric guitars.   Overall, it is obvious that lot of care and thought went into the research, design and construction of this instrument, and to good result. 

A form fitting fiberglass case is included.