Tech: Lo Prinzi Guitars Anyone playing one

Subject: RE: Tech: Lo Prinzi Guitars Anyone playing one
From: GUEST,Lanfranc at the office
Date: 06 Sep 11 - 10:35 AM

I have a 1976 Lo Prinzi rosewood dreadnought that I acquired through Phil Alexander at John Alvey Turner. He had two, one Brazilian and the other (now mine) East Indian rosewood.

Few people have heard of these guitars here in the UK, so the one I acquired had been in stock for a year or so. I tried it and immediately felt at home with it. Comparing it with a Martin HD-28 of similar vintage at twice the price to choose the Lo Prinzi was a no-brainer. The neck section is fuller than the Martin, but I have big hands - in fact I find it as comfortable to play as my main guitar, a 1968 Martin D-18. The D-18 still has an edge as far as the sound is concerned, but the Lo Prinzi is in brilliant condition considering its age and is enough of a "cannon" to hold its own in a multi-guitar bluegrass session alongside much more expensive Martins, Collings and the like.

It was very good value for a hand-built guitar of its age and since everyone seems to have a Martin these days, it's different enough to make other guitarists inquire as to its provenance (the almost inscrutable headstock decal helps!)

Alan

Subject: RE: Tech: Lo Prinzi Guitars Anyone playing one
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 29 Mar 11 - 11:51 AM

I have a mahogony LoPrinzi D from the late 1970s. It was my main axe for about ten years. I thought it was the cat's meow at one time, but I now have better instruments with far more comfortable necks. I installed a nut extension on it a couple of years back and have been using it for lap slide. It's not what it was meant for, but at least it gets played regularly instead of sitting in its case while I play something else. And it sounds great.

I've played one of Auggie LoPrinzi's more recent guitars and there's no comparison between his earlier work and his newer output. The '70s LoPrinzis like mine and the Augustino brand guitars Auggie built in the '80s were apparently intended as a means for players to get a hand-built guitar without having to pay Martin prices. They're decent guitars. Nowadays, Auggie's turning out far fewer instruments but of much better quality and much higher prices. His newer guitars are great, right up there with Santa Cruz, Collings and the like.

Subject: Tech: Lo Prinzi Guitars Anyone playing one
From: GUEST,DonMeixner
Date: 28 Mar 11 - 05:06 PM

The best sounding guitar I ever played was a LoPrinzi (The second best was a Guild F-50) about 25 years ago. Any one have one and whats the opinion?

Thanks

Don