For Sale: 2015 Giacomel Saturno Archtop SOLD PLEASE CLOSE

CoolerKing · #1 02-08-2021, 09:58 AM

I changed my mind about selling this one of a kind guitar, as well as a cool YouTube video of a group playing the only other Giacomel archtop; the vid is an oval hole and mine is the only F hole known in existence. Paid 13.5k, asking 6K now after a few price drops, of course as always all AGF rules apply.

This is a one-of-a-kind archtop made by Italian luthier Corrado Giacomel, who became known for making mandolins for David Grisman. David's F5 mandolin is similarly shaped to this guitar, and was the inspiration for a mass-produced mandolin by Eastman. Guitar is in excellent condition with one small scratch on the soundboard and two small scratches on the back that were on the guitar when I bought it. This guitar sounds very cool and jazzy with flatwounds and amplified, through a Ken Armstrong floating pickup with volume and tone controls. When strung with Savarez Argentine strings, it plays just like a gypsy jazz guitar. And it's LOUD when played acoustically. Overall a very cool instrument.

Specs are:

Italian alpine moonspruce top
carved maple back and sides
Ebony trim
Nut width 1 11/16

This is likely the only six-string F-hole archtop guitar by Giacomel; I know of no other guitar like it in existence. I purchased it from Gruhn about five years ago and have the original Gruhn appraisal included. During the time I have owned it, I had the luthier make two small modifications for me; swapping out the pickguard and tailpiece to ebony, and adding a tone control to the Armstrong floating pickup. I also had Burton LeGeyt make a bespoke set of tuners for the guitar; the original tuners were small grovers, and they were at unusual odds with the shape of the headstock; Burton machined some Waverly tuners with extended shafts to mimic what tuners would look like on an F-style mandolin. Additionally, the guitar came from Gruhn with a very beat-up old Gibson archtop case that was in the process of falling apart and was barely good enough for shipping. While the guitar was up at Burton's, I had it swing by Jeff Hoffee's shop and he created a custom carbon fiber case for me.

This is an excellent jazz guitar, and does well plugged in and rolled off in the Montgomery style. I typically have flatwounds on it for that style of playing. Additionally, it does very well with Argentine gypsy style strings and make an absolutely killer gypsy jazz guitar.

Fretboard Journal article about Corrado:

https://www.fretboardjournal.com/fea...rado-giacomel/

Here's a cool YT vid:

CoolerKing · #2 02-10-2021, 11:28 AM

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CoolerKing · #3 02-11-2021, 12:56 PM

to the top folks

CoolerKing · #4 02-12-2021, 04:48 PM

Bump! Thanks for looking. Super cool with gypsy jazz argentine strings.

Guitars44me · #5 02-12-2021, 06:22 PM

Most interesting! Boy, the BOSS things you see around here!!!

Best on this...

Salud

Paul

CoolerKing · #6 02-14-2021, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guitars44me

Most interesting! Boy, the BOSS things you see around here!!!

Best on this...

Salud

Paul

Thanks! It's certainly a niche guitar, and I've had it for sale intermittently over the past year or two. I simply have a bad first-world problem of too many wonderful instruments and not enough room!

CoolerKing · #7 02-14-2021, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guitars44me

Most interesting! Boy, the BOSS things you see around here!!!

Best on this...

Salud

Paul

Thanks! It's certainly a niche guitar, and I've had it for sale intermittently over the past year or two. I simply have a bad first-world problem of too many wonderful instruments and not enough room!

CoolerKing · #8 02-17-2021, 04:41 PM

To the top folks. Listed on Ebay, Reverb, with various prices, so please feel free to make an offer.

CoolerKing · #9 02-19-2021, 11:45 AM

No firm offers yet.

CoolerKing · #10 02-21-2021, 08:01 AM

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CoolerKing · #11 03-01-2021, 10:32 AM

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CoolerKing · #12 03-03-2021, 10:25 AM

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CoolerKing · #13 03-06-2021, 09:03 AM

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louis lasky · #14 03-06-2021, 11:58 AM

what kind of music do/did you play on this? I'm just asking cause the video doesn't punch the guitar out...

CoolerKing · #15 03-06-2021, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by louis lasky

what kind of music do/did you play on this? I'm just asking cause the video doesn't punch the guitar out...

It does very well as a standard jazz archtop, especially with the tone rolled all the way off a la Wes Montgomery. Also, it is a stellar gypsy jazz guitar, and I have been sporting Argentine strings on it for the past six months or so.