The Steel Guitar Forum

What is this all about? Buy-It-Now for 2500.00? This.Who is John Monteleone? I must be out of the loop. How can this be worth 2500.00?
Enlighten me............<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Curt Langston on 14 October 2006 at 06:56 PM.]</p></FONT>

I saw that on Ebay and thought the seller was just full of hot air. I am curious to see some posts about that name.

Ron

John Monteleone is one of the finest archtop makers alive, IMO. His archtops start at $10 grand and go up. I've played a few at various times over the last 10 years, they are really fine archtops, to my tastes. http://www.monteleone.net/

If I ever have a custom archtop made, he would be on my short list of luthiers to consider.

John Monteleone has made some of the finest archtop guitars and mandolins since D'Aquisto and D'Angelico. I can speak to the mandolins, played several ... gorgeous instruments. Monteleone mandolins go for $20,000 to $25,000 on the used market, when you can find one. His new mandolins start at $30,000.

But an unfinished instrument? One wonders why it was not finished. But with a letter of provenance it might bring the Buy It Now price from a collector. I doubt it would ever be finished, would probably ruin the value to a collector. <font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Michael Hardee on 14 October 2006 at 08:01 PM.]</p></FONT>

I saw arock go for $21.00 once. And I believe someone attemped to sell an asteroid a while back. If ya need Christmas $ why not try.

I am seeing:

--a rough-cut body awaiting shaping
--an amateurish neck-to-neck pocket fit
--what looks like a hasty brushed on shellac finish
--a claim of provenance that the seller hasn't even bothered to substantiate---I mean, if you are going to make the claims, at least go out and get the paperwork yourself, don't tell people to get in touch with Monteleone

--and finally, who cares if Monteleone made this. Go look at a Jason Dumont Bel Aire or a Rick Aiello guitar and tell me why you would want this ebay project. A solid body guitar by a master archtop luthier would have to be way, way special to justify any special consideration--ANY bozo could make what we are seeing on ebay.
Oh, and btw, the two lap steel builders mentioned above will let you have their product at a fraction of this one's BIN ebay price.

I smell a skunk!! I just looked at the finely crafted guitars on his website and I can't believe this fine luthier could make the amatuerish piece shown on Ebay.

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Mullen, Royal Precision, D10, Peavey Nashville 112, DD3, Peavey Session 2000, Goodrich L120 VP.

I noticed it has holes for tuning keys

I found the eBay question and answer very amusing.

Q: It's a joke right? The neck doesn't even fit the body correctly. The instrument looks like it was built by a 12 year old. This unfinished hunk of wood is maybe worth $25. I don't know how you came up with $2500, but you're living in a dream world. It's gonna be a long week. ...and who the heck is John.. oh, never mind.

Oct-15-06

A: HI A----OLE, ARE YOU INTELLIGENT ENOUGH TO GIVE MR MONTELEONE A PHONE CALL AND VERIFY THIS? HE MADE THIS FOR JOHN AGNEW IN THE LATE 70'S OR EARLY 80'S. IT WOULD BE KIND OF STUPID TO GIVE OUT THIS MUCH INFO IF IT WERE NOT TRUE. THE NECK FITS PERFECT THE WAY THAT IT IS SUPPOSE TO. AND THANK YOU FOR THIS KIND QUESTION. BEST REGARDS TIM.

<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Andy Sandoval on 15 October 2006 at 11:17 AM.]</p></FONT>

So it's up to the bidders to call Mr Monteleone to verify the item? The seller makes a claim, offers no proof, wants big money for the item, and he expects the bidders to call the builder to verify the piece (of junk). He doesn't know much about selling or about guitars.

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<font size=-1>My Site - Instruction

<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Doug Beaumier on 15 October 2006 at 01:47 PM.]</p></FONT>

Maybe its the same guy that had on auction a toilet plunger once used by Jerry Garcia?

The sellers got excellent feedback.. I DOUBT he's a scammer... Scammers seldom have 119 positives and 0 negatives..

The seller just asks that if you have doubts before bidding, to get in touch with the builder and he will verify... Sounds reasonable to me.. If what he says is true,and I would bet it is, you guys are calling the early work of the worlds greatest living luthier worthless junk.
[arguably I suppose but he's the best living luthier I know of]....

It is certainly possible, he just started roughing things out and never finished it or the guy changed his mind etc... maybe just putting something together quick for a friend maybe??? An email to mr Monteleone WOULD clear things up I suppose....

It certainly MAY be worth the asking price to a collector of Monteleone guitars... Imagine what an unfinished D'Angelico solidbody would be worth... Yes I KNOW he didn't build solidbodies, but thats the point here I think... bob<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Bob Carlucci on 15 October 2006 at 05:51 PM.]</p></FONT>

<SMALL> If what he says is true,and I would bet it is, </SMALL>

Thats what it would be. A bet. The seller could even have a setup "partner" to answer phone calls, saying such things as, "Yes, this is Monteleone, and I was going to make an exquisite lap steel out of that wood"

Whatever..........................

After the sale, the sellers going to be saying:

"He he he, that old Squire neck and chair seat brought 2500.00!"
<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Curt Langston on 15 October 2006 at 06:22 PM.]</p></FONT>

"--and finally, who cares if Monteleone made this"

A lot of people. Monteleone is one of the most respected builders in the industry. His mandolins and archtops are legendary and while they are true collector's items and woth incredible sums of money, they get played regularly because they ARE that good. A freind has an F-5 style mando he bought in the late-70's fo $2,500, a huge sum for a mandolin in those days (and a relatively cheap amount for a top-level mando now) - it's appraised at around $50k and he still plays it at festivals, just like guys play pre-war D-28's, Lloyd Loar Gibsons, '20's Granadas etc.

This will be bought by a collector, and there are plenty who will be tracking the auction. Yes, it's an unfinished hunk of wood with a neck. You have to step back from the "player" mentality to look at things like this - it's like collecting any other rarity. The price has NOTHING to do with the practical value.

As far as the initial post with "Who is John Monteleone?"...did you ever think of maybe doing a google search or something before posting?

This is a pretty simple thing to analzye, assuming provenance. It simply has collector value because of who started building it.

"The seller could even have a setup "partner" to answer phone calls,"

Oh, please. Monteleone is easily contacted. That's ludicrous.
http://www.monteleone.net/index2.html

<SMALL>Oh, please. Monteleone is easily contacted. That's ludicrous.</SMALL>

Like someone's going to call him and say, "Hey Monte, is that your Squire guitar neck and chair seat on eBay?"

Monte's reply: "Good Lord man! Who are you? Get off my phone!"..CLICK

<SMALL>A lot of people. Monteleone is one of the most respected builders in the industry.</SMALL>

Exactly. Thats what leads me to believe this "trash" is not his.

<SMALL>This is a pretty simple thing to analzye, assuming provenance. </SMALL>

You know what they say about assuming......

Who was it that said, "there's a sucker born every minute"?

Hint: it involves a circus!

<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Curt Langston on 15 October 2006 at 06:39 PM.]</p></FONT>

Curt.. I still say its unlikely the guy is a scammer,,, He just doesn't fit the mold..... Lets see what happens... If it sells at a high price, we can assume mr Monteleone's phone and email were pretty hot for a week.. This should be an interesting auction to follow1!!!

If I am wrong and the guy is a scam artist, I will admit I am a big fat gullible sucker never to be trusted when I have a buck to spend... bob

Viewing this interesting item reminded my of a statement made by David Russell Young who authored the very first guitar construction book that I read. Mr. Young stated that a builder must have the integrity to know when to throw something away. That imparted knowledge has eased my mind occasionally when I think back on some of the instruments that I have added to the landfill over the years. The maker of this instrument obviously had not learned that valuable lesson at the time, whomever he/she was/is.

Bob, you seem to believe that there's two possibilities; 1) scam artist or 2) honest.

Don't forget there are also the honest but misinformed/just plain stupid ones to contend with.

My own opinion is it's hard for me to believe that Monteleone would have anything to do with this shapeless body and especially a bolt-on neck with rounded corners in a squared neck pocket, showing gaps where the rounded neck corners don't fill the square routed corners. Plus, you can see gouges on the side of the neck by the nut. I would think that's not the kind of workmanship Monteleone or any good luthier would do. <font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 15 October 2006 at 09:22 PM.]</p></FONT>

"like someone's going to call him and say, "Hey Monte, is that your Squire guitar neck and chair seat on eBay?"
Monte's reply: "Good Lord man! Who are you? Get off my phone!"..CLICK"

Jeeez, Curt - first you propose that the seller has a "setup" man with some mysterious phone line when Montleone's phone is listed and the seller suggested contacting him.

Then you ridicule the idea of someone MAKING a phone call by adding the "Squire" (by the way - it's "Squier"...) comments.

Your attitude seems to be showing...why not let people who are interested contact John and see what he makes of it.

Because that's exactly what will happen in the next day or two, and if it's a fake, the listing will be yanked.

What's the big deal? Are you just feeling bad and lashing out now because you couldn't look up "Monteleone" without help?

(insert eyeroll here)

The seller says he got this years ago from his friend in a trade. I think his friend lied about the Monteleone connection. Or maybe the friend got it from a friend... who heard the story about Monteleone from another friend

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<font size=-1>My Site - Instruction

<SMALL> I think his friend lied about the Monteleone connection. Or maybe the friend got it from a friend... who heard the story about Monteleone from another friend </SMALL>

Sounds about right to me.

And even if this guy's story is true, the first two words of his reply to the question he was asked about this auction, says enough about this seller that I'd stay away from him anyway.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:</font><HR><SMALL>Are you just feeling bad and lashing out now because you couldn't look up "Monteleone" without help?
</SMALL><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Not feeling one bit bad Jimbo, I just don't want someone to be taken in by this scam. Thats all. I know Monteleone is a fine luthier. No question about that. Thats why I believe he would not let this trash be sold under his name.

<SMALL>Your attitude seems to be showing...</SMALL>

Yeah, I don't have a very good attitude towards those who try to scam others on ebay. You have a problem with that?

Jeeze, I guess it's rocket science to some...........

Pretty clear to me!

BTW, its

I have a bridge in Brooklyn for sale, if anyone is interested.............

<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Curt Langston on 16 October 2006 at 03:26 AM.]</p></FONT>

Why do idiot hacks always take guitars apart?

It looks like he's had it in his bedroom closet for 20 years. Now his mom wants her sewing room back.

Lots of attention for something none of us would buy.
John Monteleone could make a better looking instrument with his feet.

Nothing wrong with the neck to body fit that about a pound and a half of wood putty wouldn't cure. Oh........also a couple packs of fine grit sandpaper to get rid of some of the gouge marks!<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by les green on 16 October 2006 at 09:18 AM.]</p></FONT>