Luthier Mateo Rufini is a builder of many fine handmade stringed instruments in Italy. He builds everything from violins to classical guitars and of course his own line of electrics. This is his Montefalco Solid Body Semi Hollow model. The Montefalco is essentially Rufini's take on the offset American guitars of yesteryear mixed with a hint of Italian guitar heritage from the past tastefully blended in.
The pickguard is made from true Italian-Celluloid. This is not your typical inexpensive plastic pickguard. This particular Pearl celluloid has a beautiful yellowed off-white color to it. Many Pre-CBS Fender guitars had true celluloid pickguards as well, though not always in pearl.
The Monefalco is a curvy and elegantly contoured modern offset guitar, adding comfort and eye catching details to its appearance. You'll also notice the specially contoured cutaways which are more pointed in shape than a vintage American offset. Aside from the body, the neck is made out of gorgeous AAAA quilt figured Maple. It has a great and full feeling C-shaped profile that would satisfy even the most discerning players who are looking for a modern instrument with a neck that truly feels like an L-Series Fender from the 1960's. The setup is also spot on, with a low 3 1/2 & 4 64th" action at the 12th fret high E to low E sporting a set of 10's. The Mastery vibrato and bridge work smooth and effortlessly.
The hand-wound Rufini pickups make this a very tonally versatile guitar. You also have a phase reversal mini slide switch that will give you some very funky pseudo Strat-like tones. The neck pickup is a medium output P-90 while the bridge pickup is a hum-bucking Gold Foil which delivers classic Gold Foil clarity mixed with PAF-like fullness. All in all this is an outstanding piece by luthier Mateo Rufini. The Montefalco blends together some of the best aspects of both American and Italian guitar culture in a seamless and timeless design. For those who are just discovering the guitars of Mateo Rufini, these are very high-end and incredibly well built instruments with tons of vibe. We couldn’t be more impressed.
Specs:
• Body Color: Ice Blue Metallic w/ medium relic
• Body Wood: Red Alder
• Neck: AAAA Quilted Maple
• Board: Indian Rosewood (slab fingerboard)
• Scale: 25.5"
• Frets: 21 Jescar Jumbo Stainless Steel
• Radius 12"
• Vintage truss rod / adjustment at headstock
• Nut Width: 1 11/16"
• Hand cut bone Nut
• Med-Chunky C-shaped neck profile .84" - .96"
• MOP fingerboard dots
• Italian-Celluloid Pickguard
• Knurled Aluminum Knobs
• Kluson tuners
• Mastery Bridge
•Mastery Vibrato
• Rufini Gold Foil Humbucker Bridge Pickup / Rufini P-90 Neck Pickup
• Controls: Master vol, master tone, Phase Reversal mini-switch, 3-way toggle switch
• Finish type: Nitro
• Weight: 7lbs 8oz
• HSC included
