Sicilian gypsy folk guitar

ChrisMartin · March 10

I have for years been saving photos from online sales, ebay, Le Bon Coin etc, and here is another from the Carmelo Catania catalog - #3 with the tailpiece of #8 - that was sold as a Marius some time ago.

ChrisMartin · March 10

And also on Reverb now is a Fratelli Indelicato that is quite decorative but in need of some TLC.

Curiously it has that little strip of felt behind the nut that I had always associated with Di Mauro guitars but this is definitely from Sicily, possibly something inherited from the mandolin traditions?

PJD · March 10

Nice one about the strip of felt! I am saving photos from online sales as well, it helps a lot identifying guitars without labels or brands like Sonora/Marius/Paul & Pierre Beuscher etc. .

PJD · March 10

@billyshakes Yes the fretboard inlays are really nice! My Carmelo Catania archtop model 17 was built in 1951.. so I am not sure about the 1960 Rome Olympics connection.. :)

PJD · March 10

The first time I have seen this model 17 was a Youtube video a few years ago and I really liked the sound. It is an Italian guy playing some funky blues on it, he starts playing at 1min09, here is the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRgNcym4Bps

billyshakes · March 10

https://djangobooks.com/forum/discussion/comment/120362#Comment_120362

Thanks for the info on your model 17! I don't speak Italian but know enough romance languages to understand a little of what he says. He does identify it as model #17 and then says that it is all original, but then I think he goes on to qualify that with the pickguard. That one he has looks just like a piece of sheet metal cut to size and screwed to the top, which is an odd choice. The guitar does sound nice though! Hope yours does too.

For the Olympics connection, I was referring to the ice dancer pickguard design on your model #1. Then on models 10 & 11, they have the 5 Olympic rings with what looks like sports themes in the middle of the rings. I thought that catalog scan was from the 1957 Catania catalog so put a few assumptions together there. Maybe I'm wrong. 🤷‍♂️

PJD · March 10

@billyshakes I think the guy in the video said that he had replaced the original pickguard (modificado he says). There is one other video on YouTube where he plays on this guitar when it still had the original fretboard. Mine sounds really nice as well, but the action is a bit high (a little over 3,5mm) and it will need some work on the frets. It also has a barely visible crack on the top that needs repairing.

Yes they have some sports connections for sure! The model #9 has the ice dancer, the model #1 has a flower haha. I think you could be right for the Olympics connection since the model #9 I have was built in 1961 but it's difficult to read, the catalogue is indeed from 1957. The archtop model 17 does not appear in this catalogue, so the picture of the catalogue with models 14, 15, 16 and 17 could be an older one. The Italian guy in the video says his guitar is from 1949 and mine is 1951.

ronmas · March 16

https://djangobooks.com/forum/discussion/comment/116749#Comment_116749

https://djangobooks.com/forum/discussion/comment/116766#Comment_116766

I have a similar guitar, have had it for almost 60 years. Played a lot in younger days ,but still in top condition. Now it is just a showpiece as I have other guitars.