Neck：Cedoro
Fingerboard：Ebony
Finish：Shellac
Tuning Machine：
String height：1string 3.5mm／6string 4.2mm

Profile
Milestones of Music was founded by German luthier Wolfgang Jellinghaus (1951–2024), who curated a lineup of historically inspired replica guitars—including 19th-century Romantic guitars and Torres models.

Born in Dortmund, Germany, Jellinghaus learned guitar making from his father, Walter, a skilled luthier. In 1978, he established Musik Jellinghaus GmbH, originally focusing on retail and business management. However, from the 1980s onward, he became directly involved in guitar production.

In 1983, he co-founded Martinez Guitars, a brand known in Japan for high-quality entry-level instruments, and contributed to the design of its early lineup. After Martinez moved its production to China, and following the sale of Musik Jellinghaus in 2013, Wolfgang established the Milestones Luthier Center (MLC) in China, where he launched the Milestones of Music brand.

At Milestones, Jellinghaus pursued his personal vision—creating faithful yet accessible replicas of historical guitars, including those by René Lacôte and Torres. With a small team of about ten skilled craftsmen, Milestones produces carefully handmade instruments tailored to vintage guitar enthusiasts, with limited production and global distribution.

Description
We are pleased to offer the ‘Romantica’ EF 2021, No. 210704, a 19th-century Romantic guitar model produced by Milestones of Music. This model is based on instruments by René François Lacôte (1785–1868), one of the foremost luthiers of his time, and represents the Milestones philosophy of balancing historical accuracy with subtle modern refinements.

While a version of the Romantica is available with a vintage-style 'relic' finish (pre-applied wear and color aging), this guitar features the standard, clean finish, highlighting its natural materials and craftsmanship.

The instrument features:

A distinctive mustache-style bridge

A floating fingerboard above the 12th fret (while the neck is built in the Spanish style, this design mimics the look of a raised fingerboard)

A square headstock, flame maple back and sides, and a spruce top—together creating a refined and elegant 19th-century aesthetic with fresh color tones

The sound is smooth and tactile, with a sweet, period-appropriate tone. The guitar offers a surprisingly sharp and responsive attack, more reminiscent of D&A Roudloff than Lacôte in terms of power, and excels in expressive subtlety—qualities that make it highly musical and satisfying to play.

There are a few minor scratches and scuffs on the soundboard, but they are barely noticeable unless viewed up close.

Additional features include:

A modern, slim D-shaped neck profile for enhanced playability

Der Jung tuning machines mounted on a square plate, embedded in the head

Comes with the original Milestones hard case