$78 Sonora D-Hole

tikidaddy

Ok, after googling Carmelo Cantania, here is a link posted by Jim Garber http://www.sandroliva.com/gtr5.html with a bunch instruments attributed to Carmelo.... and there is my resonator style tailpiece on a couple of them.

Frater - I think case is solid if not closed!

frater

Great find!

Now, Rapisarda and Caponneto are two other Sicilian Luthiers of the same period...

http://www.fetishguitars.com/index/sicilia.html

Your tailpiece is both on a Rapisarda and a Caponneto... damn, this seems to re-open the case!

Yet the bridge of your guitar (that is rather unique) I've seen it only on Catania's guitars and the three piece neck and the arched back are Di Mauro features that point Catania again (I'm sure he was the guy R.F. Charles is referring to when he says Di Mauro had necks produced in Sicily).

Well, at least we're establishing where Sonora were made, that's something (they were called Gypsy Mysteries till now!)

tikidaddy

Here is another link from Jim Garber http://www.fetishguitars.com/index/sicilia.html with the photo of DiMauro and gang... it is really worth looking through Carmelo's designs - futurism is alive and well! I really like his "Rock and Roll" model http://www.fetishguitars.com/html/itali ... arock.html, and some of the electrics are super cool.

frater

Just found an interview with Catania's son Giovanni. It seems metal parts of the guitars were produced in Florence and had to be bought in big quantities so they exceeded the needs of the factory and were partially re-sold to other Sicilian luthiers. That explains why you have the same tailpiece on the Rapisarda and Caponneto.
Giovanni also confirms the friendship with Di Mauro and Jacobacci (they could return to Sicily after the war and were often Catania's guests) and the business relationship with Di Mauro.

tikidaddy

And even DiMauro it seems is using a very similar tailpiece here:
http://www.hendrixguitars.com/Ac146.htm

The body on my guitar resembles this DiMauro in several ways.... neck join, arched back and wood/finish selection... why are we not considering Paris as also a possible origin of the completed "brand" Sonora?

Any which way you look at it, I am convinced the guitar is a product of some horsetrading between these makers IMO

Good work Frater!

frankb

Hello,

I found something else.I've got some old strings...Sonora "marque deposée"
with specification D.M. PARIS....I ll post a photo as soon as possible.

regards.

MichaelHorowitz

frater wrote:

http://www.fetishguitars.com/index/sicilia.html

Cool site!

I like this one!



And Catania pre-dated the coffin case by 50 years! (http://www.coffincase.com)



I wonder if Busato had any connection to these other Sicilian luthiers...

'm

frater

This one reminds me a bit of Michael Dunn...

tikidaddy

This one sold on ebay back in March.. very similar to Michael's pick:
http://cgi.ebay.es/CARMELO-CATANIA-CELL ... 240%3A1318

tikidaddy

Purportedly Titi's guitar for sale on ebay Germany... it has a painted or stained pickguard like my Sonora and the same tuners!

http://cgi.ebay.de/ORIGINALE-A-DI-MAURO ... 1|294%3A50

There are 2 affordable Di Mauro's on ebay France for those interested...