Otto D'Ambrosio Allegro

**Gitpicker** · 09-15-2022, 11:32 AM

I attended the Rocky Mountain Archtop Festival this last weekend as one of the visiting artists (a GREAT honor)! It was a fantastic event and I can't recommended it enough that if you love archtop guitars and the music played on them this is a MUST see event! I'm sure next year will be even more extraordinary!

One of my responsibilities (and pleasures) was to demo for luthier Otto D"Ambrosio. I was on cloud nine to be able to be reunited with his Allegro model. Here are a few clips of me doing some early morning practice where you can really take in the acoustic qualities of the instrument (at least through computer speakers, we do what we can). Please don't mind I'm dressed like a homeless person when I first get up haha!

The guitar speaks for itself! This was just practice and originally was not intended to post here but the guitar is so cool I decided I had to share.

And live clip with myself and Mark Tonelli for our lobby set:

**iim7V7IM7** · 09-15-2022, 12:43 PM

I was there Doug. It was a great show!

**QAman** · 09-15-2022, 12:54 PM

Doug,
Thanks for sharing your awesome talent with us - and this guitar sounds really nice. Perhaps we should showcase more of Otto’s work on this forum . I think most of us either know little about him, or attribute Otto to solely Eastman, but he’s built some extraordinary guitars under “Otto D’Ambrosio guitars “.

I’m quite intrigued by some of his work.

Thanks again for sharing

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**Max405** · 09-15-2022, 01:38 PM

Ok..
See what I've been telling you guys? This is not only one of the finest Guitarists on the planet today, but he is equally, Just as nice a person.
As always Doug, glad to call you my bro. And Marco, thanks for introducing us.
And by the way, I just threw all my guitars in the garbage after hearing the videos.
JD
PS, oh yeah.. The guitar is pretty special too.

**Gitpicker** · 09-15-2022, 01:52 PM

Haha, Joe you're a prince and a gentleman my fellow paisano! So is Steve and Marco. What can I say, Otto's work is just extraordinary and I just had to share a bit of this with you all. He's more and more known for his design and custom work with Eastman but his guitars have been blowing my mind for a while now. He's also one of the nicest cats I've ever met, but then again most luthiers are great human beings too.

**Gitpicker** · 09-15-2022, 01:53 PM

Originally Posted by iim7V7IM7

I was there Doug. It was a great show!

Oh how cool! Man what a great show right?! I will be there next year for sure

**iim7V7IM7** · 09-17-2022, 11:04 AM

Yes Doug, Pete did a fantastic job putting together the show! I also attended the first show in 2019 which was also a great show, albeit not attended as well. I like the nexus of performers, luthiers, impromptu performances, and the performance venues dispersed across old town. I saw you Doug, but did not introduce myself (sorry).

Here are a few shots of guitars from the show:

Steve Grimes

Maegen Wells

Tyler Wells

Otto D’Ambrosio

Tad Brown

Stefan Sonntag

Danny Koentopp

Cris Mirabella

Originally Posted by Gitpicker

Oh how cool! Man what a great show right?! I will be there next year for sure

**iim7V7IM7** · 09-17-2022, 11:12 AM

Mario Beauregard

Wyatt Wilkie

Benedetto Guitars

Bill Comins

Linda Manzer

Dale & Tyler Unger

Gary Zimnicki

**Max405** · 09-17-2022, 12:47 PM

iim7,
Wow great photos. Pretty eclectic variety of guitars that I’d be afraid to play.
Thanks for sharing.
JD

**QAman** · 09-17-2022, 01:27 PM

iim7,
Great pics - thanks for sharing ! Did you get a chance to play many, and if so, what stood out as being great tonally. Also, did many people attend the Monteleone film?

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**iim7V7IM7** · 09-18-2022, 01:52 PM

I was fortunate to play many including some historic guitars (Chuck Wayne’s D’Angelico, Kim Walker’s Blue Guitar) and many on the floor. In all cases it was acoustically either in the exhibit room or in the hotel lobby. Some of the guitars that I enjoyed were Mario Beauregard’s, Tim Frick’s, Steve Grimes’ and Danny Koentopp’s.

Honestly, these shows also make you appreciate what you already own. I honestly was not there buy a guitar or make a new commission, but to see some old luthier and musician friends and to see some great music. It is also kind of fun to watch two world class pros teach each other a new tune and then have a one of a kind musical conversation up close.

Originally Posted by QAman

iim7,
Great pics - thanks for sharing ! Did you get a chance to play many, and if so, what stood out as being great tonally. Also, did many people attend the Monteleone film?

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**QAman** · 09-18-2022, 04:01 PM

iim7,
Thanks for the insight. I liked your thought about appreciating what we already own - I can relate to that for sure.

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**FourOnSix** · 09-18-2022, 07:07 PM

Originally Posted by QAman

iim7,
Thanks for the insight. I liked your thought about appreciating what we already own - I can relate to that for sure.

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I, for one, appreciate what you and iim7 own.

**Gitpicker** · 10-06-2022, 01:31 AM

Here's part of the demo I did at Rocky Mountain for Otto D'Ambrosio on his Allegro model. The guitar is just so easy to play! The only hard part was giving it back to Otto haha