The
Guarneri (often referred to in the
Latinized form
Guarnerius) is the family name of a group of distinguished
luthiers from
Cremona in
Italy in the 17th and 18th centuries, whose standing is considered comparable to those of the
Amati and
Stradivari families. Some of the world's most famous violinists, such as
Niccolò Paganini,
Jascha Heifetz,
Yehudi Menuhin have preferred Guarneris to Stradivaris. The average Stradivari is stronger in the 200 Hz and 250 Hz bands and above 1.6 kHz. Del Gesùs are on average stronger from 315 Hz up to 1.25 kHz. These differences are perceived as a more brilliant sound and stronger fundamentals of the lowest notes of the Stradivari, versus a darker sound in the del Gesùs.