leicester35 Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 I noticed something nice and sparkly in the window of a guitar shop the other day: An Italia Modena (I'm guessing these are Asian made reissues?) http://www.italiaguitars.com/ Anyway, it caught my eye because I appreciate unusual guitars. Does anyone have any experience of these? It's in a music store some distance from my hometown (I was actually hurrying for a train when I noticed it, but I might go back and have another look...) Apparently one for my personal 'guitar heros', Chris Rea, is a new convert to this brand (or at least a paid endorser...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnMcClane5000 Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 yeah, I have expierience, a friend of mine has this exact same model and it's a decent playing guitar. Nothing mind-blowingly new though... But it sure looks interesting enough Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 I've seen a few Italia guitars in a secondhand guitar shop near where I live. They're very pretty with great sparkle paintjobs, but they're also quite bulky, not very contoured. Not sure what they sound like as I've never plugged them in. Build quality seemed reasonable as these were secondhand instruments which were all ijn good shape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankS1281734010 Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 The other guitar player in my high school jazz band played a semi-hollow Italia, and it was probably one of the best-playing guitars I've ever played. I don't remember the exact model, but it was a single cutaway and it wasn't sparkly. Oh, and it had a stereo output jack, I think one side was acoustic like the Epi LP Ultra II. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midiman56 Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 It's a great look ... that's for sure! Anyone on this forum that knows me a little, knows how much I love these 60's import guitars! The originals were not the best ... they were made of some pretty questionalble materials, were impossible to intonate and had action that was as high as the sky. Thanks to companies like Italia, Eastwood, DiPinto, Danelectro and some others, players that like these "qwerky" axes can enjoy the look and have a desently playing instrument at the same time! Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Nazarenie Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 trev wilkinson gives the finishing touches, hardware wise. i like some of the models here (like the tipo 1) but i want a couple of his fret kings and i like my vintage guitars with wilko stuff on too. http://www.fret-king.com/esprit3_b.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parabar Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 I played a new Italia Rimini 12 string in a store a while ago and was quite impressed with both the construction, action and tone. I like that they have a distinctive design thing going on too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicester35 Posted October 4, 2009 Author Share Posted October 4, 2009 It's a great look ... that's for sure! Am I completely nuts' date=' or does it look [i']just[/i] a little like a non-reverse Firebird (in terms of body-shape)...? Either way, I reckon it's worth the train ride to Manchester to have another look. P.S. MIDIMAN, I am in full agreement with you as regards your liking for wild & wacky '60s guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 Honestly, it looks better than the non-reverse Firebird, as far as I'm concerned. Just about everything does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrighty3693 Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 Dude Italia are awesome Guitars Dolphin Musicused to sell them and they are fine looking guitars and great players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
booster Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 I bought a red modena secondhand off ebay about a month ago and i love it. It is quite heavy, but it's a really nice player. The sound is quite dark, much darker than i expected from mini-humbuckers, but i would'nt say it's muddy. I did'nt think much of the tremelo, but i'm not a tremelo user so take that comment with a pinch of salt. I got it for just under £200 and i'm very happy with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Notes_Norton Posted October 5, 2009 Share Posted October 5, 2009 This one does it for me, I like the art-deco pick guard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stig Posted October 5, 2009 Share Posted October 5, 2009 Am I completely nuts' date=' or does it look [i']just[/i] a little like a non-reverse Firebird (in terms of body-shape)...? Either way, I reckon it's worth the train ride to Manchester to have another look. P.S. MIDIMAN, I am in full agreement with you as regards your liking for wild & wacky '60s guitars. How about this from Eastwood guitars? I'm thinking about buying one of these: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicester35 Posted October 5, 2009 Author Share Posted October 5, 2009 Yeah, I really like the look of those Eastwoods - but I have never seen one in the UK. I really wish we could get Reverends over here, too. I was after a Reverend Manta-Ray at one time, but it was too much of a palaver in the end. The 'home-grown' UK brand is really Gordon-Smith (they are based in Manchester). http://www.gordonsmithguitars.com/ The one shown below isn't mine, but I wish it was! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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