Martin Colletti Pre-War Guitars?

Subject: RE: Martin Colletti Pre-War Guitars?
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Nov 13 - 04:22 AM

Actually they quite collectible these days

Subject: RE: Martin Colletti Pre-War Guitars?
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Nov 13 - 06:30 PM

I was given a MC acoustic for my 11th birthday in 1962. I remember it cost £5 and 10 shillings, it was brand new. I still have it today it has survived 3 children & 4 grand children. It's a bit bashed up now but still does it's job. I have had other guitars which have come and gone, all better and easier to play but this has stayed. thank you Martin Colletti.   john the gas.

Subject: RE: Martin Colletti Pre-War Guitars?
From: Greycap
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 06:50 AM

Thanks folks, my pal Bob will be tickled with this info

Subject: RE: Martin Colletti Pre-War Guitars?
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 05:20 AM

I had a MC acoustic many years ago, from around 1968/9 to around 1971/2. I bought it from a friend, who'd had it second-hand, and it departed this life through the agency of an angel. I went to an ope-air folk concert in Highbury Park, King's Heath, Birmingham (UK), and it was lying on the grass .. when some Hell's Angels began to playfully throw each other about; one of them landed on my poor old guitar, and the headstock snappped off. (He never even noticed he'd fallen on it.) It had already had a rough-and-ready repair when I dropped it in the street -- theshoulder strap broke! --- and A piece of the back split off. Itook itto a music shop to price up the repair, only to be told "it's not worth repairing: it's only a Martin Colletti".

It looked like the top one (right & middle pics) at moo's blicky; only it had steel strings. It was a pretty thing, with a soft finish --- like natural wood -- and a sort of orange-coloured top; I later painted the top black with flowery scrolls (hippy time, remember!) with artists' oil colours.

Thanks for the memories, Greycap!

Steve

Subject: RE: Martin Colletti Pre-War Guitars?
From: mooman
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 04:58 AM

Dear Greycap,

My first electric was a Martin Colletti semiacoustic back in around 1964. I have fond memories of it and it had a reasonable sound although the action was a little high.

Who was Martin Colletti? A question I have asked myself too! The answer, apparently, is that no-one knows! The guitars are as German as they come so definitely not an Italian!

Here is a gallery of some Martin Colletti guitars (my old one isn't featured) and a bit of history... I would tend to agree they seemed to be "one-offs". I never saw two the same!

Some Martin Colletti guitars

Some further blurb

Peace,

moo

Subject: Martin Colletti Pre-War Guitars?
From: Greycap
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 02:56 AM

A friend of mine just got one - anyone know anything at all about them ?