In 1886, Stefano Scarampella arrived in Mantua from nearby Brescia and established himself as a full-time maker two years later. His father had been an amateur builder, and his brother Giuseppe was trained in Nice and Florence. When Giuseppe died in 1902, Stefano inherited his tools and plunged himself a period of artistic isolation and intense creativity.
Author Archives: David Bonsey
By the early 17th century, Mantua had become a strong cultural center in post-Renaissance Italy, and its new wealth and freer attitude towards secular music attracted musical talent like composer Claudio Monteverdi away from the more parochial Cremona, barely 30 miles to the west.
It was 10 degrees in Manhattan when I entered the Upper West Side apartment building where Jay Jay French, legendary Twisted Sister guitarist, lives. When I rang at his door, he opened it with a wide grin and invited me into what could only be the home of a well-played musician. Walls decorated with gold records, rare original vintage Beatles and Rolling Stones photos, memorabilia of Old New York celebrities and entertainers, a state-of-the art sound system, and stacks of guitars, including thirteen bright pink axes that belong to the Pinkburst Project.… Read More
If you love acoustic guitars, and want to know where the best values are–if your motivation is to have and play something that you love–then you may want to consider vintage and antique instruments that are often overlooked in the marketplace.