Four stunning new models from Italia guitars

New for summer 2011 are three brand new six-string models from Italia Guitars, the Maranello Speedster II, Maranello ’61 and the Torino. Starting with the Torino pictured above:

Available in stunning Red and Black finishes, the Torino, at £549 (UK Price from JHS), looks as good as it sounds. Big-bodied with a slimline profile, and loaded with Wilkinson WVC Humbuckers, the Torino is a classy, versatile monster of tone. 

Rockabilly, swing, jazz, blues, rock; you name it, the Italia Torino was born to play it. Sonically, it combines the warmth of the big hollowbody and humbucking pickups, with the natural brightness of a maple body, back and sides to provide a range of tones which are full, yet present.

Torino specs
Body: Maple Semi-Hollow Body
Neck: Hardrock Maple Set Neck
Pickups: 2 x Wilkinson WVC
Bridge: Combination
Controls: 2x Volume, 1x Tone, Master Volume, 3-way Selector Switch
Machines: Italia die-cast
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Frets: 22
Scale Length: 318mm / 25”
Inlays: Pearloid mini-block
Finishes: Black, Trans Orange

The go-faster striped Maranello Speedster II, at £529, continues Italia’s chequered flag-taking formula. A roaring double humbucker upgrade to the single-pickup Speedster I – with the added versatility of a tone knob too – the Speedster II features a distinctive korina body with ‘cut off’ upper and lower body horns and a set maple neck, topped off with a speed accessible rosewood fingerboard – check out those go-faster ‘accelerating’ slim split-block fret markers!

Loud in every sense of the word, the Speedster II manages to combine classy minimalism with exuberant self-confidence. A true player’s instrument with a fantastic neck, great sustain and awesome tone, it’s one of the most attention-grabbing guitars around. Available in no-nonsense Black, Blue or Cream finishes, with a contrasting racing stripe, everyone needs to take the Speedster II for a spin.

Speedster II specs
Body: Korina
Neck: Hardrock Maple Set Neck
Pickups: 2 x Wilkinson WVC Humbuckers
Bridge: Wilkinson Wrap-over
Controls: 1 x Volume, 1x Tone, 3-way Selector Switch
Machines: Italia die-cast
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Frets: 22
Scale Length: 318mm / 25”
Inlays: Split pearloid mini-block
Finishes: Blue, Black, Cream

Meanwhile, the timeless, laid-back vibe of the classic hollowbody is beautifully reproduced with the quietly sophisticated Maranello ’61 (£549). Available in gorgeous Blue and Trans Orange finishes, the Maranello ’61 combines those authentic old-school looks and feel with 21st century playability – and tones from everywhere in between.

The Maranello ’61 has a compact, lightweight double-cutaway body, but it features truly heavyweight tones thanks to two high-output Wilkinson WHHB humbuckers. These, combined with a five-way selector switch, provide all the classic sounds a player will ever need. The Maranello ’61 is fitted with an amazing Italia roller-saddled Vintage Vibrato system. Suitable for wobbling, trembling and dive-bomb sounds, it keeps tune fantastically well, bend after bend.

Maranello ’61 specs
Body: Maple Semi-Hollow Body
Neck: Hardrock Maple Set Neck
Pickups: Wilkinson WHHB
Bridge: Tune’O’Matic with Vintage Roller Saddled Vibrato
Controls: 1 x Volume, 1x Tone, 3-way Selector Switch
Machines: Italia die-cast
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Frets: 22
Inlays: Pearloid mini-block
Finishes: Trans Blue, Trans Orange