1998 Italia Monza in Gold Sparkle Finish with Original Amp Pod

Offered here is a striking 1998 Italia Monza in its original Gold Sparkle finish, complete with the matching Amp Pod!

It is in perfect working order and exceptionally clean for a 25-year-old instrument, showing only a few light signs of use.

The frets are in excellent condition, the setup is comfortable, and the guitar remains a rare and intriguing example of early Italia craftsmanship—exactly the sort of piece we enjoy bringing into Motomusic.

1998 factory specifications
• Body: Agathis with bound top
• Neck: Hard rock maple, bolt-on construction
• Fingerboard: Rosewood, 22 frets
• Scale length: 25.5 inches
• Pickups: Italia-spec single coils (SSS configuration)
• Bridge: Wilkinson VS tremolo system
• Machine heads: Gotoh sealed tuners
• Electronics: 5-way selector, master volume, master tone
• Finish: Gold Sparkle with retro-inspired binding and accents
• Included: Original matching Amp Pod (early Italia accessory)

Design influences and collaboration
The Monza comes from the early period of Italia Guitars, shaped by the distinctive design sensibilities of Trevor Wilkinson. Drawing inspiration from mid-century European and American instrument design—Hagström, Wandré, and 1960s Italian futurist styling—the Monza blends vintage flair with modern playability. The sculpted top, art-deco lines, and metallic finishes were part of Italia’s mission to deliver instruments that stood out visually while still offering professional-grade performance.

Tone
These early Monza models deliver a lively, bright, and articulate tone, with a snappy attack from the bolt-on maple neck and a warm, rounded midrange from the agathis body. The SSS layout gives the guitar genuine versatility: chiming single-coil clarity in the neck and middle positions, with a punchy, full-bodied tone at the bridge for thicker lead work.

The Wilkinson tremolo provides both stability and expressive range, making the guitar equally suited to clean rhythmic work and more driven, modern tones.

Artist association
Italia instruments from this era have been used by artists such as Chris Rea, Peter Stroud, and Todd Rundgren—players drawn to their distinctive looks, solid build quality, and surprising tonal breadth. While the Monza remains one of the rarer early models, it carries the same design DNA that attracted these high-profile musicians.

As always, this instrument has been inspected in our workshop to ensure it is performing at its best. A rare and eye-catching piece for the player or collector seeking something genuinely distinctive.

Please contact us for viewing arrangements. We are an appointment-only store, and all instruments are handled exclusively by Motomusic staff. Worldwide shipping is available.