Bilbo Posted May 9, 2022 Share Posted May 9, 2022 Very odd Sicillian (we believe) 9 string Harp Guitar. Does anyone recognise the maker? We think it may be from the 1960s? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted May 9, 2022 Share Posted May 9, 2022 Interesting find. I think it's older than '60s, it looks more like turn of the century - 1920's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted May 9, 2022 Author Share Posted May 9, 2022 Could be, Pete. We are only guessing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldslapper Posted May 9, 2022 Share Posted May 9, 2022 Looks like an early Marco Di Philippi 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KK Jale Posted May 9, 2022 Share Posted May 9, 2022 (edited) Any connection I wonder... https://www.londonmandolinensemble.org.uk/blog/carmelo-catania-luthier-1908-1970 Edited May 9, 2022 by KK Jale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downunderwonder Posted May 9, 2022 Share Posted May 9, 2022 Who was S. Cadorina? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted May 9, 2022 Share Posted May 9, 2022 3 minutes ago, Downunderwonder said: Who was S. Cadorina? Music shop in Catania? Fun fact, I've been to Catania twice... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
upside downer Posted May 9, 2022 Share Posted May 9, 2022 As @KK Jale pointed out, it looks like the work of Carmelo Catania. Here's a Catania mandolin with the same distinctive 'harp' logo. This fella Gregg Miner seems to know his onions. Might be worth contacting him? https://www.harpguitars.net/2013/04/14/carmelo-catania-from-iconography-to-reality/ https://www.harpguitars.net/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dom in Dorset Posted May 9, 2022 Share Posted May 9, 2022 Would it be good for metal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer of the Bass Posted May 9, 2022 Share Posted May 9, 2022 Though it's obviously not a mandolin, there are a few people on the Mandolin Cafe forum who have some knowledge of the various Catania makers, so they might have some insights. And regarding the inlay, apparently many of the inlay designs used on these instruments were stock items from an inlay supplier's trade catalogue, so the same inlay as another instrument might only indicate the same inlay supplier rather than the same luthier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted May 10, 2022 Author Share Posted May 10, 2022 13 hours ago, upside downer said: https://www.harpguitars.net/2013/04/14/carmelo-catania-from-iconography-to-reality/ https://www.harpguitars.net/ Have emailed Gregg. Many thanks. I know BC would deliver!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted May 10, 2022 Share Posted May 10, 2022 16 hours ago, Downunderwonder said: Who was S. Cadorina? Cadorina or Castorina ? I think the latter, and there is a mandolin maker Castorina Ruggieri also from Catania. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted May 10, 2022 Author Share Posted May 10, 2022 Reply from GM - 'Very cool! Fetish Guitars is the place to go poking around. You’ll find that this harp guitar (which I read as S. Castorina) is a variation on their 1957 jazz “model 22 cello guitar.” I read his address as Via Biscari, 7, which it’s not Carmelo’s. I see that others built this same basic design (and there were DOZENS of Sicilians building, sharing & copying from each other). What’s unusual here is that is a super late harp guitar (I’d say late ‘50s). Though American harp guitars died out quickly through the 30s, Italians (in most locales) kept at it a good decade longer, but this is really an anachronism. An “old” harp guitar with a thoroughly modern body/design. Probably a custom order – would love to know the player’s story! Best, g Gregg Miner President, The Harp Guitar Foundation Board of Governors, American Musical Instrument Society Have passed this on to the owner. 3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nilorius Posted May 11, 2022 Share Posted May 11, 2022 23 hours ago, Bilbo said: Reply from GM - 'Very cool! Fetish Guitars is the place to go poking around. You’ll find that this harp guitar (which I read as S. Castorina) is a variation on their 1957 jazz “model 22 cello guitar.” I read his address as Via Biscari, 7, which it’s not Carmelo’s. I see that others built this same basic design (and there were DOZENS of Sicilians building, sharing & copying from each other). What’s unusual here is that is a super late harp guitar (I’d say late ‘50s). Though American harp guitars died out quickly through the 30s, Italians (in most locales) kept at it a good decade longer, but this is really an anachronism. An “old” harp guitar with a thoroughly modern body/design. Probably a custom order – would love to know the player’s story! Best, g Gregg Miner President, The Harp Guitar Foundation Board of Governors, American Musical Instrument Society Have passed this on to the owner. Cool!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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