Monteleone ‘Il Bambino’ Mini Archtop #225

John Monteleone is widely considered to be one of the world’s preeminent builders of archtop guitars. Having started his career as a repairman for the famous (and now defunct) Mandolin Brothers on Staten Island, Monteleone quickly garnered a reputation for quality and design. Some of his work was featured in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, on loan from Rudy Pensa himself.

“Il Bambino” (Italian for “the baby”) is a one-of-a-kind guitar, a small masterpiece by John Monteleone. With a slightly higher tuning, it has a very sweet sound and is a joy to play. It was built with a spruce top and flame maple back and sides, and has a Macassar ebony fingerboard, finger rest, bridge, tailpiece and headstock veneer. Flame maple binding. Gorgeous abalone inlays. Serial #225. Comes with a deluxe hardshell case.

Body diameter = 11 3/4”

Side depth =  2 3/4”

Nut width =  1 3/4”

Scale length =  19 1/4″

Tuning = 3 to 5 half steps above standard tuning (we keep it in A-A)

String gauge = .012” – .053″

Check out the fascinating 2021 documentary on the luthier called “John Monteleone: The Chisels Are Calling,” available from various sources online. Rudy appears in the film, too, along with a star-studded list of guitarists including Mark Knopfler, Ben Harper, David Grisman, Mike Marshall, Julian Lage, Anthony Wilson, Woody Mann, and others.