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August 2011
Four
stunning new models from Italia guitars
Idiosyncratic guitar makers Italia have always made instruments
their own way – with breathtaking looks, standout playability
and thrilling tones as standard – and new for summer
2011 are three brand new six-string models and a bass.
The go-faster striped Maranello Speedster II,
at £529, continues Italia's chequered flag-taking formula.
A roaring double humbucker upgrade to the single-pickup Speedster
I – with the added versatility of a tone knob too –
the Speedster II features a distinctive korina body with 'cut
off' upper and lower body horns and a set maple neck, topped
off with a speed accessible rosewood fingerboard – check
out those go-faster 'accelerating' slim split-block fret
markers!
Loud in every sense of the word, the Speedster II manages
to combine classy minimalism with exuberant self-confidence.
A true player's instrument with a fantastic neck, great sustain
and awesome tone, it's one of the most attention-grabbing
guitars around. Available in no-nonsense Black, Blue or Cream
finishes, with a contrasting racing stripe, everyone needs
to take the Speedster II for a spin.
Speedster II Specifications
Body: Korina, Neck: Hardrock
Maple Set Neck, Pickups: 2 x Wilkinson WVC
Humbuckers, Bridge: Wilkinson Wrap-over,
Controls: 1 x Volume, 1x Tone, 3-way Switch,
Machines: Italia die-cast, Fingerboard:
Rosewood, Frets: 22, Inlays: Split
pearloid mini-block, Finishes: Blue, Black,
Cream
Meanwhile,
the timeless, laid-back vibe of the classic hollowbody is
beautifully reproduced with the quietly sophisticated Maranello
'61 (£549). Available in gorgeous Blue and
Trans Orange finishes, the Maranello '61 combines those authentic
old-school looks and feel with 21st century playability –
and tones from everywhere in between.
The Maranello '61 has a compact, lightweight double-cutaway
body, but it features truly heavyweight tones thanks to two
high-output Wilkinson WHHB humbuckers. These, combined with
a five-way selector switch, provide all the classic sounds
a player will ever need. The Maranello '61 is fitted with
an amazing Italia roller-saddled Vintage Vibrato system. Suitable
for wobbling, trembling and dive-bomb sounds, it keeps tune
fantastically well, bend after bend.
Maranello '61 Specifications
Body: Maple Semi-Hollow Body, Neck:
Hardrock Maple Set Neck, Pickups:
Wilkinson WHHB, Bridge: Tune’O’Matic
with Vintage Roller Saddled Vibrato, Controls:
1 x Volume, 1x Tone, 3-way Switch, Machines: Italia
die-cast, Fingerboard: Rosewood, Frets:
22, Inlays: Pearloid mini-block, Finishes:
Trans Blue, Trans Orange
Available
in stunning Red and Black finishes, the Torino,
at £549, looks as good as it sounds. Big-bodied with
a slimline profile, and loaded with Wilkinson WVC Humbuckers,
the Torino is a classy, versatile monster of tone.
Rockabilly, swing, jazz, blues, rock; you name it, the Italia
Torino was born to play it. Sonically, it combines the warmth
of the big hollowbody and humbucking pickups, with the natural
brightness of a maple body, back and sides to provide a range
of tones which are full, yet present.
Torino Specifications
Body: Maple Semi-Hollow Body, Neck:
Hardrock Maple Set Neck, Pickups: 2 x Wilkinson
WVC, Controls: 2x Volume, 1x Tone, Master
Volume, 3-way Selector Switch, Machines:
Italia die-cast, Fingerboard: Rosewood, Frets:
22, Inlays: Pearloid mini-block, Finishes:
Black, Trans Orange
Finally,
the Torino Bass (£599) echoes the designs
of some of the most collectable instruments of the 60s, inspired
with a modern and distinctly original twist. Like the guitar
version, the Torino bass comes in a semi-hollowbody construction
with f-holes. A tune-o-matic bridge carries the four strings
over to the neat Italia 'action angle' trapeze tail, with
the Wilkinson mini bass humbucker and ABR humbucker providing
the tonal heart of this beautiful bass.
Torino Bass Specifications
Body: Maple Semi-Hollow Body, Neck:
Hardrock Maple Set Neck, Pickups: Wilkinson
Mini Bass Humbucker + ABR Humbucker, Bridge:
T’O’M w/Italia Trapeze, Controls:
2 x Volume, 2 x Tone, Machines: Italia die-cast,
Fingerboard: Rosewood, Frets:
22, Inlays: Pearloid mini-block, Finishes:
Retro Blue, Black
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Click here to visit Italia Guitars here
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