Expert: Bill Ruxton - 7/13/2004

Question
I have just purchesed a Martin Coletti Model G40. I have had no luck on getting any information about the guitar or maker. Your help in this matter would be gratfully helpfull.
Many thanks for taking the time to read this e_mail.        Andrew Matthews, Hertfordshire,England

Answer
Dear Mr. Matthews,

I am not familiar with the Martin Coletti name, but a search on google.com quickly revealed the following two links:

Article on the mystery of Martin Coletti, and a link to a photo gallery of different Coletti models:
http://vintageguitarpro.com/articles-prevb.shtml#coletti

Comments from two Martin Coletti owners:
http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/Data4/Martin-Coletti/Parlour-Guitar-01.htm...

The Italian-sounding name doesn't necessarily mean the guitar is from Italy, and I agree with the article's author that the instruments do look like German designs.

If I had to guess, I'd say these guitars were probably made by a luthier with a small shop and very limited production.  I base that guess on the relative obscurity of this line and the many different designs.

The design of the bridge in one of the close-up pictures in the gallery at the link above is very unusual.  The position of the inlaid star in another photo is curiously upside-down from the typical orientation of such a star inlay.

Companies such as Hofner, Framus, Vox, Eko, and others made many inexpensive instruments that were distributed throughout Europe and the UK under a wide variety of brand names in the 60s and 70s, but I don't think the Colettis are such models, since all of those were mass-produced, and were generally readily recognizeable.

If there is little or no identification numbering on or inside the guitar, and no "Made in ______" stamp, it's very possible that these instruments were custom made or otherwise intended strictly for local sale in small quantities.  

If you look inside the guitar with a flashlight and a small mirror, you might find some further identification.

I will try to research this a bit further, and if you can email me some pictures of your guitar, I may be able to find some other clues.  Meanwhile, I suggest you try google.com and look into some of the other links it reveals.

How does it play and sound?

Bill Ruxton
bilrux@aol.com

P.S. - I'll need your email address to follow up, since that doesn't come to me via AllExperts.