I just couldn't put it down. When I walked into the Seattle-area guitar shop in 2002 (or 2003?) and played this incredible Gigliotti Standard, the solid aluminum top, chambered, telecaster-style electric guitar knocked me out. The brilliant swirls on its metal, the resonant f-hole, the killer neck, the beautiful finish work - I was completely mesmerized by its playability, striking visuals, and most importantly the incredible tone. The young man working at the shop explained that his dad had designed and built this fascinating new six-string.
The more I played, the more I realized this was among the finest electric guitars I'd ever encountered. So I bought it new!
Later, when I met Pat Gigliotti, he shared that our lovely guitar's photos were all throughout his original website, but Fender was requiring him to change the headstock design due to copyright concerns. There are many images of our guitar in the original Gigliotti online website caches to corroborate Pat's account. I relocated from Seattle to Nashville in 2005, so unfortunately I haven't seen Pat since then. As I remember, Pat said our Gigliotti Standard was built just after Joe Bonamassa played Pat's original first build and Joe wouldn't give it back.
I completely understood Joe's reaction!
I've enjoyed sharing this wonderful guitar at my studio with some amazing musicians here in Nashville over the years. The responses are most often, "Wow!", "D@mn!" and "This is *really* special!" At some point long ago, Lindy was kind enough to wind another neck pickup for us, but I still have Pat's original Duncan SD2 neck single-coil that came in the Gigliotti - I'll include this pickup and the tweed hard case for the new owner. The volume pot has a push-pull phase switch for a great tone option, too. Although I have played later offerings from Gigliotti, there is something truly magical about this guitar - our beautiful white Gigliotti Standard #2
Part of a lifetime collection of musical tools & toys. I took most of the photos in harsh, bright lights to expose anything that could be captured in picture. This amazing Gigliotti looks and sounds excellent to my eyes and ears.
We really take care of our gear.
If you want or need more photos, just let me know. I'm new to Reverb but have been in the industry for 40+ years and will gladly provide references. As to shipping, everything gets safely and securely packed and almost always ships by the next business day. I *do my very best* to ship same day whenever humanly possible, because I appreciate getting my purchases quickly, too! Also, I love receiving well-packed gear, so that's how I try to always pack for you! Tracking information will be provided as soon as it’s generated by Reverb's shipping label system. Likewise, we appreciate immediate payments when agreeing to buy our items (unless you’ve made prior arrangements beforehand).
If you’re in the Nashville area, please come by the studio to see and hear the Gigliotti in all its glory for yourself.
As with all our rare instruments, we’re offering this Gigliotti as shown, as-is, as described, no returns. There are some minor finish scratches, tiny dings, and some fret wear, but it's never been abused. Our beloved Gigliotti has enjoyed a wonderful studio life, safely stored here at PlethoaTone. The pictures tell the whole story of exactly what you'll receive. Out of a ridiculous overabundance of caution, I will rate this almost mint Gigliotti as very good so no one is upset. It’s just as reliable and accurately described as all the other gear I've recently sold on Reverb - plus the Alembic fretless, NS Design CR5M upright and Bolin NS-5 basses, Kubicki Ex-Factor bass, insanely rare Kramer Ripley Stereo Bass, vintage pair of Langevin 251a EQs, ‘75 original MXR Phase 90, lots of vintage TC Electronic pedals, Roland PG-300, PG-800, PG-1000, Korg REI, Waldorf Microwave XT, and MicroQ that went to happy, new owners. There are many other new happy owners, too. Scroll through our shop's reviews and feedback for what other people say about PlethoraTone.
This Gigliotti is among the first of *hundreds* of unusual synth, guitar, bass, and electronic items our studio will soon be posting. Check out our comprehensive gear list on our website for upcoming hints.
The final three photographs give a clue to some of the other gear to come, and these items aren’t included in this Gigliotti listing. There's a Roland SH-1000, plus a whole lot more!
Thanks for looking. Please shout if we can help in any way whatsoever!
-Mark at PlethoraTone
PS - thanks to the WayBackMachine, here's the info from Gigliotti's website in the early years that my Gigliotti was made:
The Gigliotti design is so new and innovative that we can't share too much about what's inside, but you will hear and see a difference in these guitars!
All Gigliotti electric guitars have a beautiful acoustic sound. This is because the construction is similar to an acoustic guitar. Think of how the top is attached to an acoustic guitar, set into a ledge created by the sides of the guitar and the internal braces. That's how the tops are done on every Gigliotti electric guitar. Only instead of being glued, the metal top is siliconed in place and locked to the center block by the bridge, so the top rings like a bell. Also, all our machine work is done from the front, so the solid Tele feel is maintained.
Besides producing an incredible sound, this design produces an equally amazing look. The brass or aluminum tops are water jet cut and finished to create the distinctive swirl pattern, then flush mounted into the face of the guitar. This unique combination of materials produces a ringing tone that no other instrument can match. The metal plate insert, with its swirl pattern, catches and reflects the light, producing a constantly changing, mesmerizing look. With every move, the look of your Gigliotti guitar changes, giving you unsurpassed stage presence. With stage lighting, these guitars come to life! Under bright lights, the swirl pattern can channel light under the paint, giving the finish a glowing appearance. The image at right was taken under low light, to see the effect bright light has, move your mouse over the image.
All of our woodwork is handled by USA Custom Guitars. They hand select the Honduran Mahogany & Swamp Ash tonewoods that become the guitar bodies and the fine Honduran Mahogany, Maple & Rosewood that is crafted into the guitar necks. They carve the innovative semi-hollow tone chamber and the ledge into the body that allows the flush mounted installation of the select metal tops. The bodies are CNC top machined and everything is sanded by hand in craftsmanship style. For more information about the quality craftsmanship of USA Custom Guitars and see custom options like neck profiles, visit their site ...
The finish of each Gigliotti guitar is handled by the pros at Roxy Guitar Finish. Between them, they have many years of experience in spraying custom guitar finishes and have finished around 7200 bodies and 8600 necks in their careers for different companies. They use a polyester base coat and polyurethane for the color and topcoats. The finish coats are kept as thin as possible so as not to affect the tone of the instrument. Using a "hotbox" raises the temperature, accelerating the drying process, and avoiding finish shrinkage. They do amazing work and offer you more than 60 finishing options in clears, satins, solids, tints, dyes and sunbursts. For a sample list of colors available, click here! To learn more about Roxy Guitar Finish and see a complete list of finish options, including digital images of sample colors, visit their site ...
Assembly and setup are by Service Guitar Repair. They hand carve each bone nut and use only the best electronics. They've been in the biz for 10 years and they're part of the reason each guitar that we make, comes to you playing and sounding like a million bucks.
Although many people and several specialized businesses play a part in the construction of your Gigliotti guitar, you pay just one price, the one we quote you. Even if you select additional options or custom work for your Gigliotti guitar, you pay us the quoted price and we take care of everyone else.
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Innovation It all started with an idea. Pat Gigliotti (pronounced, Jill-au`-tee), an avid guitar player for some time, had seen, heard and played many different guitars - but none quite like what he had in mind. He envisioned an electric guitar, crafted from fine tonewood, but with a metal top. Not a purely decorative top, but one integrated into the guitar face. He believed that the combination of the wood body, integrated metal top and special chambers would produce a unique tone. Something different than any all wood or all metal guitar.
In Early 2001, Pat designed the Patient Pending system for top attachment. Now, he just had to get it built! He began searching for the right place, after all, this was his dream guitar. He found it at USA Custom Guitars. Like Pat, the people at USA Custom Guitars were guitar players. They were also top quality woodworking craftsman. They took Pat's unique body design, combined it with one of their headstocks, the neck shape selected by Pat and produced the first Gigliotti guitar. This first guitar was fitted with a smooth aluminum top.
Pat got more than he expected. Not only did he love the amazing sound of his guitar, but so did everyone else that heard or played it. People started telling him they wanted one and "hey, you can sell these!" Pat realized that he had created something special. He began looking into patenting his design. Along the way, he developed the distinctive swirl pattern that makes a Gigliotti guitar as incredible to look at as the sound it produces.
Woodworking Today, the woodwork is still handled by, USA Custom Guitars. They hand select the fine Honduran Mahogany & Swamp Ash tonewoods that become the guitar bodies and the Honduran Mahogany, Maple & Rosewood that is crafted into the guitar necks. They carve the innovative semi-hollow tone chamber and the ledge into the body that allows the flush mounted installation of the select metal tops. The bodies are CNC top machined and everything is sanded by hand in craftsmanship style. For more information about the quality craftsmanship of USA Custom Guitars and see custom options like neck profiles, visit their site ...
Painting & Finishing That first Gigliotti guitar was painted by Pat. Now, the finishing duties are handled by the pros at, Roxy Guitar Finish. Between them, they have many years of experience in spraying custom guitar finishes and have finished around 7200 bodies and 8600 necks in their careers for different companies. They use a polyester base coat and polyurethane for the color and topcoats. The finish coats are kept as thin as possible so as not to affect the tone of the instrument. Using a "hotbox" raises the temperature, accelerating the drying process, and avoiding finish shrinkage. They do amazing work and offer you more than 60 finishing options in clears, satins, solids, tints, dyes and sunbursts. For a sample list of colors available, click here! To learn more about Roxy Guitar Finish and see a complete list of finish options, including digital images of sample colors, visit their site ...
Assembly Assembly and setup are by Service Guitar Repair. They hand carve each bone nut and use only the best electronics. They've been in the biz for 10 years and they're part of the reason each guitar that we make, comes to you playing and sounding like a million bucks.
All for one price Although many people and several specialized businesses play a part in the construction of your Gigliotti guitar, you pay just one price, the one we quote you. Even if you select additional options or custom work for your Gigliotti guitar, you pay us the quoted price and we take care of everyone else.
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Gigliotti Review in Vintage Guitar Magazine:
The Gigliotti Special is a lot more than just another guitar inspired by a classic design. Rather, it’s a unique-looking custom instrument that sounds as good as it looks. Builder Patrick Gigliotti’s (pronounced Jill-au'tee) two variants, the Standard and the Special, share a feature that separates them from other guitars - a metal insert that serves as the guitar’s top. Dubbed the "Gigliotti Voicing System," the company says the patent-pending insert "...lets these tops resonate like a fine flat-top guitar, giving beautiful tone with or without an amp."
The top aside, the instruments are semi-hollow, single-cutaway guitars with mahogany or swamp ash bodies, mahogany or maple necks, and top inserts of brass or aluminum. The top on our test unit is brass, with a brushed-look dark cherry sunburst finish that sports a rich, holographic texture. Its body and neck have a deep reddish-brown color with a flawless gloss finish. The gold hardware, including the bridge, dome knobs, Kluson-style tuners, and neck pickup cover top the eye-catching looks of the guitar.
The 9.5"-radius Rosewood fretboard features medium Dunlop 6105 frets that were polished and nicely leveled, along with a bone nut and clay dot inlays. Electronics are a Seymour Duncan 54 Vintage pickup in the bridge, a Duncan Alnico II in the neck, master volume/tone and three-way pickup selector all neatly wired in a well-shielded control cavity.
In the spirit of the custom guitar concept, Gigliotti offers three nut widths (15/8", 111/16", 13/4"), a range of neck radii, and four neck profiles. Our tester had the 111/16" nut width and Gigliotti’s 1" "Fatback" neck profile, which is very round and does not taper from the nut to the neck/body joint. Even though we’re more apt to go for a thinner C shape, we found this to be surprisingly comfortable.
The semi-hollow body design is lightweight, and its brass top does indeed proffer a nice acoustic resonance.
Tone Test Time We tested the tone of the Gigliotti by plugging it into a ’70s Fender Twin Reverb for clean sounds and a Laney VC-30 212 for a crunchier edge. Through the Twin, the bridge pickup had that fat, punchy "Tele" sound with the mids slightly pulled back, allowing the highs to ring clearly. The metal top added a metallic/resonator flavor to the mix, and a degree of snap to the top-end in all pickup positions. The middle pickup position was fairly distinct for this style of instrument. It was more silky-sweet, almost as if it were blended with a piezo.
Through the overdrive channel of the Laney, the bridge pickup delivered a dishful of meaty sound, with good, thumpy low-end. The slightly pulled-back midrange gave the guitar clean note definition and a clear, strong power-chord tone. Both the volume and tone controls were tapered well, allowing us to clean up the sound at the guitar, and soften the tone.
Overall, Gigliotti guitars are another great example of a quality custom instrument in which the parts and materials complement each other very well. And with the dozens of options available with the neck, hardware, wood, pickup, top, and the finish, there’s bound to be a Gigliotti for just about anybody!
- Phil Feser/Bob Tekippe, Vintage Guitar Magazine - May 2003
