Mario Maccaferri

Mario Maccaferri (1900-1993) was an Italian luthier, classical guitarist, businessman, and inventor.[1] He is noted for designing the guitar favored by jazz musician Django Reinhardt, and for inventing the plastic Islander ukulele which sold millions of copies in the mid-1900s.

Early life

Maccaferri was born in Cento, Emilia-Romagna, in 1900. At the age of 11 he was apprenticed to luthier Luigi Mozzani, and took up the classical guitar. By 1923 he had established a reputation as a player and maker of classical guitar.[2]

Musical career

In 1933, Maccaferri injured his right hand in a swimming pool accident, ending his career as a concert performer, though he continued to work as a luthier and inventor.[2]

Luthiery designs

Maccaferri is best-known for designing the Selmer Maccaferri guitar played by Gypsy jazz legend Django Reinhardt. Maccaferri's innovations extended to materials as well: he was an early adopter of laminate backs and sides for guitars, and for instruments made entirely of plastic.

Plastic instruments

Maccaferri plastic guitar

In 1941, Maccaferri patented a plastic woodwind reed, and in 1949 launched his line of plastic "Islander" ukuleles in collaboration with television star Arthur Godfrey, which would sell into the millions of units.[3] In the 1950s, Maccaferri produced a line of plastic guitars, but they had little commercial success.[4] Later in his career and up until his death, Maccaferri worked on the design for a plastic violin, which in 1990 was used at a performance at Carnegie Hall.[5][6]

References

  1. ↑ From Maestro to Mastro: The Life, Music, and Instruments of Mario Maccaferri. University of Memphis. 2008. ISBN 978-1-109-07389-8.
  2. 1 2 Stewart Button (November 2005). Julian Bream: The Foundations of a Musical Career. Bold Strummer Limited. pp. 62–. ISBN 978-1-57784-067-1.
  3. ↑ Dave Hunter (15 May 2013). 365 Guitars, Amps & Effects You Must Play: The Most Sublime, Bizarre and Outrageous Gear Ever. Voyageur Press. pp. 46–. ISBN 978-0-7603-4366-1.
  4. ↑ Tony Bacon (12 October 2012). The Ultimate Guitar Sourcebook. Race Point Publishing. pp. 65–. ISBN 978-1-937994-04-4.
  5. ↑ Experimental Musical Instruments. Experimental Musical Instruments. 1996.
  6. ↑ Maurice J. Summerfield (June 1998). The jazz guitar: its evolution, players and personalities since 1900. Ashley Mark. ISBN 978-1-872639-26-0.
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