See what the top guitar mags are raving about!

Guitar Magazine (September 2001) "Italia Guitars are a fine addition to the guitar market, genuinely expanding the options for serious players, posers, and retro lounge acts alike."

Guitar Player Magazine - Gear 2001 Review (May 2001) "One of Guitar Player Magazine's top picks for 2001." "Anyone who appreciates fine Italian sports cars will dig the Monza's bold shape and innovative features." "The Monza's chic Euro vibe is backed up by hip hardware details." "Ideal for anyone who seeks a smooth playing guitar with a strong identity." "If you don't get noticed with a Monza, you might want to reconsider getting that degree in business administration."

Guitar One Magazine (May and June 2001) "A sparkle top and matching mother-of-toilet-seat back, neck, and pickguard accent the rakish lines, while sending the whole design delightfully over the top." "Even when played acoustic, the Italia sounds warm and full." "The Italia Modena is an extremely versatile instrument, it produces tones suitable for virtually any style of music." "Don't let its looks fool you, this baby is just as suitable for stage or studio as it is for a photo shoot or video."

SOUND Some of the original axes of this ilk had a piezo pickup in addition to one or two magnetic pickups. The Mondial continues this tradition with two humbucking-style pickups and individual piezos mounted in the broadly adjustable saddles, but it updates the technology with active EQ; two knobs on the upper bout offer bass and treble adjustment. Removing the battery from its quick-access compartment in the rear reveals a trim pot to adjust the preamp gain. Separate outputs llet you run the piezo to an acoustic amp or mixing board while sending the magnetic pickups to an electric guitar amp. I plugged the acoustic pickup into my Mac and Ableton Live via an M-Audio 1814 FireWire interface, and ran the magnetic output

into a Reverend Kingsnake head and custom 1◊12 housing an Eminence Texas Heat speaker. The humbuckers joined forces with the hollow plastic body to produce a lo-fi sound that would have made Howliní Wolf proud. Gritty but not muddy. The piezo surprised with an aston-ishingly realistic acoustic sound: more old Kay than Martin, but perfect for blues picking or slide playing. Blending the two was a joy; adding just a touch of electric to the piezo mimicked a steel-bodied National, while the reverse approach put some cool attack into a fuzzedout blues bash. IS IT FOR YOU? The Italia Mondial is a specialty piece; odds are you wonít be using it for death metal,country, or bebop gigs. But if blues or nu-roots is your thing, it ís a must-own.

Thanks to the influence of alternablues players like the White Stripes, vintage plastic-topped Supro and National guitars have recently gone through the roof pricewise, with dead-on repros matching them dollar for dollar. The Italia Mondial Classic goes more for vibe than anal accuracy, seeking to offer the sound and attitude of these former pawnshop prizes at a price a bluesman can afford. LOOKS The Mondialís appearance practically defi nes cool. Its sculpted, F-hole-sporting Acousti-glass top is mounted on a hollowed-out two piece, center-jointed agathis body, with a rubber stripe tracing the seam. A single screw holds on the Center-Lock maple neck. Pearloid inlays inhe rosewood neck sport a small gold dot along the top edge, a nicely Deco design touch, as are the white inlaid lines in the bridge and the carve of the tailpiece. The plastic logo labels and pearloid tuning knobs complete a package thatís at once classy and trashy (in the best sense). FEEL Thereís nothing trashy about the Italia ís feel, however. Single screw or no, the 25" scale neck feels solid, and 22 medium jumbo frets are nicely fi nished. The black paint on the back of the neck is as smooth as a Kenny G tune, making motion up and down the fretboard easy. The flattish radius allows low action with no bending woes, and the combination of the lightweight plastic top and hollowed body will keep the chiropractor at bay.