Campellone Special

[floatingpickup]

I have been looking for a natural Campellone Special for a while now. I finally found one with the exact specs I wanted. It’s a 2007 model that has seen very little use and is in mint condition. It’s Mark’s “antique natural” finish. What a lovely guitar this is.
Keith

[deacon Mark]

You picked up a win today for sure. Play the frets off it and gives us a run down on how is sounds compared to some of your other guitars. I would like to know especially the GJS I know you like and is probably one of the best ones.

[2bornot2bop]

Congratulations! What a beautiful archtop!!!

[floatingpickup]

You picked up a win today for sure. Play the frets off it and gives us a run down on how is sounds compared to some of your other guitars. I would like to know especially the GJS I know you like and is probably one of the best ones.

I will for sure. This guitar is the same basic dimensions, scale, etc. of an L5 (it is 1/4” thinner). I also have another Campellone Special with Johnny Smith specs, shorter scale, wider nut, slightly shorter body and 3” deep. It will be interesting to compare the two Campellones.
Keith

[MCampellone]

Looks like you've scored a beauty, Keith - if you tell me the serial number I can let you know what the original finish spec was -

[DawgBone]

Man what a beauty. Looks like the wood has darkened a bit due to natural oxidation (?), giving it an even more luxurious look. Congrats on a very memorable new guitar day. Play it often!!!

[floatingpickup]

Looks like you've scored a beauty, Keith - if you tell me the serial number I can let you know what the original finish spec was -

Thanks Mark,
I’ll send you a PM.
Keith

[skykomishone]

Keith, that's a beauty. Congratulations on the new Special. There's a reason they're called that! Yours is Especial, I think!

[andrew]

I will for sure. This guitar is the exact dimensions, scale, etc. of an L5. I also have another Campellone Special with Johnny Smith specs, shorter scale, wider nut, slightly shorter body and 3” deep. It will” be interesting to compare the two Campellones.
Keith

I'm curious about this statement. Does that mean the body is the full 3-3/8" depth? I didn't think MC did more than 3".

[Stringswinger]

Keith,
May she inspire your fine playing for many years to come.

[JazzNote]

Congratulations!
What a beauty - i bet it plays and sounds heavenly (as my Special does too :-)!

[nyc chaz]

That is a real beauty my friend.Enjoy!

[floatingpickup]

I'm curious about this statement. Does that mean the body is the full 3-3/8" depth? I didn't think MC did more than 3".

I just double checked the measurements. I realize it isn’t quite as deep as an L5, but it is more than 3”. It looks like about 3 1/8” deep. Mark could answer this question better than me, but I believe he has made some that were slightly deeper than 3” in the past.
Keith

[vinnyv1k]

Bottom line if you have a Campellone you have a great archtop.
Beautiful specimen. Congrats Keith.

[MCampellone]

I'm curious about this statement. Does that mean the body is the full 3-3/8" depth? I didn't think MC did more than 3".

I used to offer any rim depth up to 3&3/8" - I later limited body depth options to either 3" or 2.25". The Johnny Smith reference has to do in part with the body length - Gibson's 17" archtops typically have a 21"body length- the JS is 20.5".

[skiboyny]

Very Nice! Love to hear your impressions in terms of sound once you have had a chance to bond with it. Enjoy!

[floatingpickup]

Very Nice! Love to hear your impressions in terms of sound once you have had a chance to bond with it. Enjoy!

So far I think it sounds fantastic. I am in Florida right now and all my other guitars are back home up north, so I can’t compare it to them yet. I’ll be home for a few weeks in December and will be able to play it next to the others. I think it will be as good or better than the best of them. I’ll post my thoughts then. So far, I absolutely love this guitar.
Keith


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bmw2002]

I am in Florida right now and all my other guitars are back home up north, so I can’t compare it to them yet. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Beautiful Campellone. I have the low-bling standard version with almost exactly the same color natural finish.

(Noticed you’re in Naples. We just got home from visiting our son there - he’s currently music directing Anything Goes at the Gulfshore Playhouse.)

[Oscar67]

Beautiful! Just the photos make me want to play. Congrats!

[bluejaybill]

Congratulations Keith! That's a real beauty. Will be interested to hear the difference between that one and the 25" scale model, which I also have and love. I would imagine you will get a bit more lows, and maybe highs.

What pickup do you have on this one?

[floatingpickup]

Congratulations Keith! That's a real beauty. Will be interested to hear the difference between that one and the 25" scale model, which I also have and love. I would imagine you will get a bit more lows, and maybe highs.

What pickup do you have on this one?

Hi Bluejaybill, I recently looked back at the pictures of your beautiful guitar. I remember our discussions about various options you were considering when you ordered it. I loved the Antique Natural finish you went with, and the one I just bought is the exact same color. I pulled the pickguard off today and looked at the model name on the back of the pickup. It is Kent Armstrong paf-0. It’s a mini humbucker, the version without exposed pole pieces. I don’t have a very good amp here in FL, but as far as I can tell, the pickup sounds good. Seems to have a nice fat tone with full-sounding mids. I’ll have a better idea when I am back home in December and can compare it to my other guitars, through a better amp.
Keith

[bluejaybill]

Very nice, and I'll bet that's an excellent pickup. I love the 12 pole, though I'm not crazy about the non-traditional black look. The sound wins out in the end though!

And yes, the original order says antique natural, and it is interesting to see how the finish changes in 20 years. Yours has warmed up nicely! I also like how the back figure on yours looks, with the ribbon across and also grain heading up and down, mine looks very similar:



An as Mark said, 3" depth that he has standardized on now.

[floatingpickup]

Very nice, and I'll bet that's an excellent pickup. I love the 12 pole, though I'm not crazy about the non-traditional black look. The sound wins out in the end though!

And yes, the original order says antique natural, and it is interesting to see how the finish changes in 20 years. Yours has warmed up nicely! I also like how the back figure on yours looks, with the ribbon across and also grain heading up and down, mine looks very similar:

An as Mark said, 3" depth that he has standardized on now.

That’s a beautiful back. It seems like our guitars are twin sisters. I had that 12 pole pickup on one of my guitars in the past, and it was probably the best sounding floating pickup I have ever had. The only reason I don’t have it in my other guitars is what you said - the non traditional look. But it’s a fantastic pickup if you don’t mind the look.
Keith

[bluejaybill]

That’s a beautiful back. It seems like our guitars are twin sisters. I had that 12 pole pickup on one of my guitars in the past, and it was probably the best sounding floating pickup I have ever had. The only reason I don’t have it in my other guitars is what you said - the non traditional look. But it’s a fantastic pickup if you don’t mind the look.
Keith

Yes, I've finally gotten used to the way it looks, but it's not very attractive! And I'm not too crazy about the 12 pole in gold either.

But form follows function, as they say, and the tone wins out. Anyway congratulations, and enjoy that blonde beast. May you as have many hours of musical enjoyment as I have!

[vinnyv1k]

Mark sure has put a lot of “GREAT” guitars into this world.
And quite a few too considering he is a one man show.
God bless him.