Guitolão

The Guitolão is a chordophone designed by Portuguese luthier Gilberto Grácio. It is a baritone version of the Portuguese guitar.

Terminology

The term Guitolão, is a portmanteau word combining syllables from the two Portuguese words guitarra and violão. The initial idea was to create an instrument similar to a Portuguese guitar but with a lower range, so that the soloist could dispense with the accompaniment of the violão, as done traditionally in fado.

Background

Grácio originally built a prototype for Carlos Paredes in 2001, and only three instruments were made. This solo instrument is rich in harmonics, largely due to the increased scale length of 24.4 inches. Another important aspect is the dynamic response from the 12th fret of this instrument, unavailable from the normal Portuguese guitar. In essence, Guitolão is a baritone Portuguese guitar, tuned in low G.

Tuning

The Guitolão is a twelve-stringed instrument mounted with six courses of double strings, and is usually tuned a fifth below the typical Lisbon guitar, or a fourth below the Coimbra guitar, although other tunings are possible. Its standard tuning is, from high to low:
E4/E4; D4/D4; A3/A3; E4/E3; D4/D3; G3/G2.

Description

The Guitolão is similar to the Portuguese guitar, with the following differences:

A larger, pear-shaped body similar to some old English guitars built in the eighteenth century
A wider body, about 0.78 inches larger than the Portuguese Lisbon guitar
A longer fretboard, by 6 inches with 23 metal frets
A longer neck
Thicker string gauges
A single piece floating bridge made of bone and wood
A rosette on the sound hole