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Lately been looking at oval hole archtops in the vein of a Howard Roberts. Ran across this at Lark Street. Anyone had a chance to play it or know anything about his guitars?
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01-23-2024 01:06 PM
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Beautiful instrument. Tailpiece seems backwards.
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I don't know if there is a connection:
Schonbach
DG
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one "l" vs two "ll"'s in Colletti Here's where that guitar came from:
Vincent Colletti Custom Stringed Instruments
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I thought the very same thing about the tailpiece. Looks like the builder studied with Bob, seems very much of that school. I was hoping someone on the forum nearby had auditioned it, I'm 3,000 miles away.
Originally Posted by WilliamScott
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The soundhole is in an unusual place for an oval hole archtop guitar, kind of near the center of the body as opposed to the sweet spot closer to the end of the fingerboard.
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Wow - a beautiful handmade archtop, with premium wood, for under $3,000.
I'm sure an in-hand description is easy to get as well.
Someone's going to get what is probably a great guitar at a fabulous price.
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In today's dollars, $3000 for what looks like a beautiful handmade guitar is a good buy. I wish I could add another archtop but I am spent.
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It has received the Hammertone Stamp of Approval. That makes it a great buy. Originally Posted by Hammertone
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According to Coletti's website given above the price for a new "Corleone" model (ff or oval soundhole) is $5,100. Originally Posted by Hammertone
If you happen to have certain Sicilian connections a discount price of under $3,000 might be possible. Though, never, really never are you allowed to get rid of the obligations.
Yes, Colletti's archtop guitars look to have the nice recurve (elaborate because of the extra time and effort for the cutting, scraping / sanding, lacquering, buffing) required for that complex tone!
That tailpiece designing would be no issue for me. It simply doesn't matter, as long as other factors are complied.
A nice design touch is the positioning of the oval hole towards the tail. This way the floating pickup doesn't visually interfere with the hole layout. Will the tone change? Probably much less than the oval construction by itself combined with the necessary X-bracing will do. Just don't expect the special acoustic tone and strong projection of a parallel braced archtop guitar with f-sound holes. The mass-stiffness relation of a cross-braced top with an oval center soundhole is different. In addition, the center soundhole is cut in the area with the highest pressures (the strings' tension compresses the center of the top lengthwise; the smaller downforce of the bridge has an effect both lengthwise and crosswise). Is that wise? Well, not from an acoustic optimization point of view, but the preponderance of flattop guitars proves the opposite. Flat guitar tops with fixed bridges are driven differently, and the Maccaferri-style guitars are an own mix.Last edited by Ol' Fret; 01-24-2024 at 08:53 AM.
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If it's good enough for John Monteleone .. Originally Posted by WilliamScott
John Monteleone | Fine Archtops
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I love the look of Colletti’s Volare fretless bass. Very nice. Vincent Colletti Custom Stringed Instruments
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Agree if it sounds good great price for a fully carved handmade archtop.
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Buzz is always happy to provide a detailed in-hand description over the phone. He told me at some point in the past year or so that he believed that the builder unfortunately had transitioned to the next world, but I don't know personally that this is the case.
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1st I'd like to say- Hey I'm still kicking.. My day left us a few years ago, same name sans the Jr which I don't use.
The oval hole was a one off custom built for a customer who I believe was hoping for more towards a Howard Roberts tonally and that guitar was more responsive. That's just the way I built them. I believe they have to sound like there's magic and you could always stuff a sock in it like the old guys Lol.
About the hole location, many years ago over beers at a show Kent Armstrong who made all my pickups told me to place them at the 24th fret. No argument there and the Howard Roberts oval seemed to coincide. As a result, the x-bracing has to really spread plus on many models I kicked the bass end at the bridge out to open the guitar up.
Anyway yes, I have transitioned, I stopped making archtops. Now I only build orchestral strings and I only play double bass these days. About to start on a 2nd copy of a Gaetano Rossi double bass originally owned by Bottesini.
I do still have a Volare with a full flight case available btw.
So there, more than you wanted to know I'm sure.
Best to all!
Vinny
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Good to hear, Vinny - I'll tell Buzz next time I speak with him ...
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I purchased a Jimmy Foster Crescent City 7 string archtop for $3,000 locally and have never regretted it. Part of the lower price in my case involved the fact that there was some repair damage on the side near the end pin, minor and well repaired. Had I not grabbed it, I am sure I would be regretting it as I learned more about the builder and his guitars. This seems like a similar deal, with the potential for regret if it is passed by. Originally Posted by Hammertone
Tony
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Just watched a Colletti being repaired on 'The Repair Shop' - a UK TV prog. Big split on the back and loose neck.
It had an Art Deco style headstock.
Someone had put a Strat type pickup on it in the 60s.
Once restored they played it plugged in.
Would have liked to hear it unplugged but it's TV for the masses.
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I think that I saw that and that it was a "Martin Coletti" (one "l"). See my earlier post in this thread. Originally Posted by garybaldy
DG
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Thanks. Hadn't realised. I watched the prog and quickly searched the forum. Originally Posted by daveg
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This is the German Coletti mentioned earlier in this thread.
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