Sonora / Di Mauro (1940s-1950s) Modele Clef (Gypsy, Django, Manouche, Gitane, Gipsy)

This is a model "Clef", a rare French luthier-made guitar handbuilt for Sonora. Although the guitar has no label, it's evident from the make and from its original tailpiece (included with the guitar) that it was manufactured for Sonora and was built by Antoine Di Mauro.

Background
During the 1930s and 1940s, French luthier-made instruments (e.g. Busato, Castelluccia, Di Mauro, etc) were commonly sold through various dealers and music store ateliers. More often than not, they were built anonymously, without any form of (proper) identification in order to be rebranded for resale by their retailers, e.g., Leon-Agel, Symphonia, Paul Beuscher, or Major.

Also Sonora outsourced their instruments anonymously to luthiers, however, under their own specifications. There were a dozen different Sonora guitar models or so, which can be recognised by at least one of these six trademarks: A distinct body shape and soundhole; A one-piece or three-piece neck with a pointy headstock; 13 frets to-the-body; The name Sonora painted on the headstock; A marquage au fer carved in the top; A tailpiece in the form of a musical treble clef. 

Besides these specific trademarks, Sonora instruments all exhibit the typical traits of Selmer-type guitars of French manufacture. Furthermore, we know by certain discrepancies between Sonora guitars that the instruments weren't outsourced to just one specific luthier but to different Parisian luthiers simultaneously.

Although there are many theories about the mysterious Sonora brand, as far as we know, there is no record of who actually owned Sonora or where it was located. All we have is a Spanish-sounding or Italian-sounding brand name without an address.

According to some experts, Sonora was a fake front for either a distributor or a retailer. Supposedly, it was used as a marketing trick to improve sales, with foreign and Spanish brands especially being high in demand. Others say that the person behind Sonora was Carmelo Catania, who was running an instrument factory in Catania since 1936 and also known to be a close friend of the Di Mauro's.

Although the lack of label makes it difficult to undisputedly claim what luthiers exactly made or assembled Sonora guitars in general, this guitar in particular features a specific neck, an arched, braceless back and a typical rosette design that makes us confident enough to say it was built by Antoine Di Mauro's workshop.

There's also other substantial evidence to support the fact that the Di Mauro brothers build guitars for Sonora. For instance, there are a few examples out there of the "Larmes" Sonora model, which was built under the Sonora specifications but also happened to have the J. Di Mauro marquage au fer carved into the headstock.

Guitar
The guitar we have here is a rare Sonora made by Antoine Di Mauro, probably sometime in the 40s or 50s. The model was coined "Clef" or key in English since most of them originally came with a Sicilian-type tailpiece, made from aluminium, in the form of the musical treble clef. The original tailpiece is also included with this guitar. The guitar also has the typical Sonora three-piece neck and the typical pointy headstock.

The condition is very good. Although the Cedar top has cracks, they have been cleated and are stable. The beautifully figured Walnut back is arched and braceless, with the sides being constructed from the same type of wood. The Rosewood fingerboard was recently replaced: the frets are as good as new, and a truss-rod has been installed for stability and fine adjustments. The Beech neck is traditionally reinforced with a Rosewood spline.

Although the guitar is vintage, it has a modern, comfortable feeling neck. And unlike a 12 frets-to-the-body guitar, which can sometimes frustrate solo playing, the 13 frets-to-the-body doesn't hurt soloing whatsoever. Since it has a long scale measure, we find that it plays just as well as a 14-fret to-the-body guitar.

Soundwise, with a phenomenal vintage sound, this guitar is simply a dream. The tone and projection is exceptional and it has sound and refinement that only comes after decades of maturity. Because of the slight sustain, high notes sound pianistic and, furthermore, the guitar projects extremely well. The overwhelming characteristic of the cedar top and its strong midrange focus, which produces thick-sounding leads and full-sounding chords, make it excellent both as a soloing instrument and as a rhythm guitar.

An affordable but great sounding, beautiful vintage guitar with perfect playability.

Specifications
Luthier Antoine Di Mauro
Brand Sonora
Model Clef (Key)
Year 1940-1950s
Sound Hole D-hole / Grand Bouche
Fret Neck 13.3 Fret
Condition Very Good
Scale Length 68cm
Nut Width 1 5/8"
Top Cedar
Back and Sides Walnut
Neck Beech with Rosewood Spline
Fingerboard Rosewood
Binding Ebony
Finish Shellac
Tailpiece Busato
Tuners Three on a plate
Action 3.2mm
Strings Argentine 1510
Pickup(s) None
Truss Rod Yes
Weight 3.4 lbs