Carlo Robelli D 120 AS "Manhattan"

WhoisLevang · #1 11-20-2011, 11:23 PM

So... Awhile back, I had to have a 335/330 type guitar and I got a fairly nice Chinese box for the money.
Then... I saw a Carlo Robelli "Manhattan" and developed severe guitar lust over and above what had infected me with the previous guitar. It's a copy of a D' Aguisto "New Yorker". I found a used one for a steal and it's on it's way to the Guitar Center store in Colorado Springs.
This one looks to be one of the Peerless ones and is a more faithful copy than some of the other ones I've seen. Gorgeous looking, sexy, jazz box-

CARLO ROBELLI D120AS MANHATTAN (recent) (45U-1250) - Elderly Instruments

That's not the exact one I've purchased, but all the appointments are the same. (excepting mine has the "finial" in the middle) It should arrive Wednesday or sooner. (I hope!)
So here is the question;
Is it a solid or laminate top? Several reviews online say it's solid. One says laminate. Does anyone know? I am so looking forward to it's arrival!
ATB!
Randy

jayx123 · #2 11-21-2011, 02:39 AM

this looks like the peerless monarch with a different name on the head, so its a solid spruce top pressed (not carved) what this means is that the top is made from 3 thin pieces of spruce glues and pressed not a single piece carved. laminated means 3-5 peaces of thin wood (could be any kind) with a top veneer of the wood specified. so laminated spruce means peicies of any kind of wood with a spruce veneer as the top layer glues and pressed.

I have a peerless monarch a great sounding guitar.

WhoisLevang · #3 11-21-2011, 03:03 AM

Thank you for the clarification Jayx. I think the early Robelli Manhattans were made before the Monarchs came out and if it's the pressed top, I'll be pleased in the extreme. I wonder if the one Mr. Beaumont saw was a later one made in a different factory. I saw two go by on ebay with a much less ornate headstock, no cut out, no finial, no "scroll" inlay, etc, and a pickguard which spoke of generic electric guitars.
ATB!