Info on clarissa guitars

Subject: RE: Info on clarissa guitars
From: GUEST,guest C
Date: 24 Sep 14 - 11:47 AM

To revive a long-dead thread

I found a clarissa,sold for 150 euros.The owner says it cost 500 some years back.He insists it's an "electro-classical" not an "electro-acoustic" guitar.
It's a bowl back synthetic,ovation-style guitar,white with yellow fading out from the outline(sunburst?),dual holes near the neck decorated with a wing-like-shape that extends to the bridge,with truss-rod and the letters "CL" on the headstock.Pretty much like an ovation,but prettier.
It looks like the one sold here: http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NDg5WDEwMjQ=/z/OLIAAOSwEK9T~OyC/$_86.JPG but in yellow instead of blue and 3 times more expensive.

On the inside it reads CLARISSA ARG-ORO P-420-EL ,says the owner.

The last part seems ok as a serial,simular to http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=79124#2409475 's guitar
but without the "olverini brothers" logo.

I'm really looking fw to joining the "Clarissa cult".
Anyone knows anything about the "ARG-ORO" serial?

Subject: RE: Info on clarissa guitars
From: GUEST,Banacek61
Date: 24 Nov 14 - 07:49 AM

Many thanks for this invaluable info. I have just 'accidentally' acquired a Clarissa G-62-50 acoustic dreadnought, which came in the Hiscox case I wanted it has a fancy headstock with the CL monogram and a plainish label inside, with the music staff border, and the model number handwritten on a Mod no line. The seller said it was '70s and made in Italy, I don't know wher he got this information, unless it was passed along in previous dealings. What looked like attractive bordering of the sound hole is in fact a not very nice plastic insert. The neck/headstock |I suspect is Far Eastern generic, with decent diecast tuning heads and has a rosewood type fingerboard. This is bolted to a reasonable solid topped body but the internal strutting looks a little 'boxy'. The action is appalling at the moment but I will lower it today and restring it. It is both worse than and then by turn better than the impressions formed: curious.

Subject: RE: Info on clarissa guitars
From: GUEST,Gu Ribeiro, Portugal.
Date: 02 Mar 15 - 08:58 PM

Hi, i have a clarissa guitar but mine's electric and it's a copy of a SG..but not tottaly, it has some brand designed parts and it's built like a tank! I love it!

Subject: RE: Info on clarissa guitars
From: GUEST,Glynn
Date: 16 Apr 15 - 07:15 PM

Hi,anybody out there know where I can get a six piece saddle/bridge (just six pieces really) for Clarissa semi acoustic guitar,please?

Subject: RE: Info on clarissa guitars
From: GUEST,Mick
Date: 18 Aug 15 - 01:17 PM

I have a Clarissa by Polverini Bros E100 EL. The P in the name is kind of odd so I can see why many have said it's by Olverini. Mine is a kind of Ovation copy with a plastic dome back. I bought it in about 1985 from Holiday Music in Leytonstone UK. I can't remember how much it was. Quite a nice sounding guitar but the action is high and makes my hand ache after a while. I've used it live and have done some recording with it. The pickup packed up a few years back and I found a replacement, sorry I can't remember where I got it.

Subject: RE: Info on clarissa guitars
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Mar 16 - 01:22 PM

Any info on my clarissa dreadnought acoustic spruce top with black @silver rosette mhg sides @ back ovation style headstock no markings only CL on head need some idea on price want to sell it

Subject: RE: Info on clarissa guitars
From: GUEST,Inge Myking
Date: 19 May 17 - 09:56 AM

Hi, have a Clarissa acoustic wich I found some years ago, or maybe it found me? It is marked Chitarra No 22050.

The head looks like a classic guitar, but I think it's a steel string. Specially loves the backside of it. Real beauty, though simple "ordinary" brown finish.

Anyone knows how old, and value if it's in good shape?

Subject: RE: Info on clarissa guitars
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Oct 18 - 01:02 PM

I have a Clarissa guitar, bowl backed with the piezo electric saddle mounted pick up. It was bought new in 1985 for about £300.
I had the guitar set up and the action lowered by a guitar technician. It is still a lovely sounding and playable guitar. It has survived all kinds of abuse by my kids, baggage handlers, clumsy friends, everything. It really is a
User friendly and reliable guitar. I use it with a Seymour Duncan Woody pick up mounted in the sound hole. I had to replace the original saddle mount pick up the to clumsy airport handling but the replacement was only about £20 or so, so now I have both options. There are shims under the saddle that allow for adjusting the action quite a bit. It's worth tinkering with them if you know what you are doing. Hang on to it if you don't need to sell it. The shame of it all is that you won't get another guitar quite like it for the price you could sell it for.