Giannini Craviola 12 String

1977 AWKS-12 made in Brazil by Giannini. All early (70's and 80's 12-string) models are LAMINATED THROUGHOUT. Many people think the b/s are solid wood because they use a rosewood<-->x-wood<-->rosewood laminate that appears solid from both sides, but it isn't, and I seriously doubt it's a true Brazilian rosewood (Dalbergia nigra), but it looks like some kind of a lighter rosewood. [Note: Somewhere @ 2000 Giannini started making various custom solid-wood models that sell for $1,500++ on ebay, which is another story altogether.] All older Craviola models (both 6- and 12-string) are wonderful guitars that have attracted a cult following, despite the lousy top-wood and other laminates used in their construction. The shape and depth combine to make these the most user-friendly guitar I know off--and I'm a luthier and I design and build guitars for a living.

Why is it so comfortable? Well, it's not that deep, so it fits under the arm of even a small woman quite comfortably, and the bass side is high enough to rest the upper arm on without discomfort. The treble side waist hooks the leg well and the whole guitar cozies into the lap. A drop-shoulder cutaway makes the upper frets easy to reach without sacrificing any real sound. It's a truly brilliant guitar design.

One of the reasons these guitars are so popular is that they sound great and are adaptable to a wide variety of styles and uses. The sound is much better balanced than dreadnaughts (not so boomy in the bass), which makes these much better for recording.

No electronics from the factory. Standard low-grade, open-back strip tuners like you find on 99% of all 12-string guitars, unfortunately. Finish (unknown type, lacquer?) is excellent and durable over many years. Mahogany necks with truss rods. Bridges and fretboards made of solid rosewood (not Brazilian rosewood, but some other kind).

Action is generally excellent right from the factory... (Read the conclusion of this statement under "Reliability/Durability"....

...until some years down the pike when the top will start delaminating and/or the bridge starts peeling off. Because it's lousy top wood--not just a laminate but a flimsy one--the bridge will usually start the virtually inevitable breakdown of the Craviola 12-string. When it does, the fix is extremely difficult because there is only more bad wood to deal with and the bridge has often peeled part of the top laminate up with it, leaving an uneven surface--so there's no good solution except to replace the top, a very expensive proposition.

I bought one for myself with the intention of replacing the top altogether. When it arrived, I found that some desperate owner had not only screwed the bridge to the top (a standard sight on Crav 12's), but had also epoxied a chunk of wood between the top (under the bridge) and the back of the guitar. Needless to say, the guitar made no sound to speak of.

I cut off the top and had to chisel the wood block off the back. It was a huge, ugly glue job and a mess to remove, but I finally got it all cleaned up. Then I carefully removed the rosette. I inlaid it the old rosette into the new sound board, carved a new bridge, and put the whole guitar back together, replicating the original binding, using the original neck, fretboard, etc. It looks like any other Craviola, right down to the original label, but it has a second label with my repair data.

After I made this guitar, it replaced all other 12-string guitars in my personal collection--the '54 Goya, '73 Yairi, and '76 Tama--and they were all highly-collectible, more-valuable guitars, but nobody played them once the solid-top Craviola showed up, so I gave the best-sounding of the three, the Yairi, to a friend, and sold the other Goya and Tama. If I ever make a 12-string from scratch for myself, you can bet it will have the craviola shape, but for now, I'm quite happy with this one.

Never dealt with Giannini directly since they're in Brazil and I'm in the USA, and because all these old models are way past guarantee.

It's enought to say that I've owned about half a dozen Craviolas, but only one 12-string--because the top/bridge problems with them are legendary. That said, if you find one that still works, buy it and fix it when it finally does break, because by then you won't want to part with it, despite the high cost of repair. Speaking as both a player and as a luthier, I think the craviola shape makes a better-sounding guitar than all other shapes. I build them myself out of solid-woods and have tried to make some serious comparisons. I haven't heard the new, solid-wood Craviolas that Giannini recently started making, but I imagine they're worth the money (and I would buy one before I'd buy a Martin for the same money, without a second thought). No, I don't work for Giannini but I've wondered for years why they never made a solid-wood version, given the number of smittened players who have prayed for one. This guitar would receive a solid "10" rating from me if it weren't for its very-poor durability.

easy to reach upper frets, real eye catcher...

these guitars were conceived and designed by paulinho nogueira, a famous singer / songwriter / guitar player from brasil in the 70's. it was meant to have the clear and bright sound of an electric guitar and be a companion to a regular shaped guitar on a band or duo. the concept was then sold to giannini, brasil's largest instrument company, kind of a south american fender. they have been in business since 1901 and are still going strong. they have just released a reissue series with the original 6 string, the 12 and the electric, with is kind of a funny shaped gibson les paul custom. you can find them at ebay or do a little search online...

giannini guitars, as fenders have a split reputation in brasil, mostly because they built both handmade high end guitars and mass produced cheap reprodutions. if you got one of the expensive ones, it is probably you will never sell and keep for life, but the cheap ones can be rather frustrating... or not, depends on your luck!!

most of the early ones were solid wood all around and build like a tank, but most guitars made in brasil in the 60's and 70's were not meant for the american weather and the woods not climatized properly. there were reports of brasilian musicians coming to play in new york back in the bossa nova 60's and bringing their guitars with them unaware of that, just to see their handmade beauties cracking under the dry winter weather... so if you have something that is 30 years old and you got from a pawn shop for 100 bucks don't expect too much....

they are great in brasil, with a website in english ( www.giannini.com.br ) but I don't know how they do here... maybe with a dealer?? check the web....

for its sexy sound, even sexier looks and peewee price they are an awesome deal, specially the new ones with built in electronics... you will get more atention then the guy with the 5 grand taylor or gibson, and everybody will come to ask "what the hack is that??" well actually the babes will say "cool guitar, can you autograph my boobs????" well, not realy, but they will look, the rest is up to you... ain't that what we are looking for anyways?? something that sounds good, looks good, is priced right and is a baby magnet??? good luck!!!!

I have a Craviola twelve string bought new in 1972 or 1973. While I've owned other guitars in the past, currently this is the only one I own. It's brazilian rosewood on the back and sides, spruce on top with a mahogany fretboard. It's got the usual strangely shaped body of all the craviolas. Gets a lot of attention when you take it somewhere. I still have the original case which was sort of cardboardy.

My husband and I play a lot of blues, folk, and light rock. This guitar has a really beautiful, ringing tone. I use extra light strings. I think it sounds better than any other twelve string I've ever heard. It's not an extremely loud guitar, but it plays just fine with most other acoustics I've played with. I used to have a barcus berry pick up on it, but I haven't played it with any sort of sound system for years.

I've heard horror stories of problems with Gianninis, but I've never had a problem with mine. After all these years, the action is still great, and the neck has never had to be adjusted. My only wish is that it had a slightly thinner neck, more like a Martin, but the action on this guitar is fine. The rosewood is so beautifully bookmatched and has such a lovely grain, that I could look at it for hours. Despite all the awfulness that I have heard about this other guitars by this maker, I thought it was perfect the day I first set eyes on it and still do. The only problem I've ever had was one of the tuning pegs was slightly loose, but a friend repaired it in ten minutes.

Well, I've had it for about 35 years, and it's still great.

Never had to use any customer support.

I've been playing for about 40 years, my husband about the same. He plays this guitar mostly these days, and he plays every day. He loves it as much as I do. I have a lot of hand drums and other percussion and we have a Hohner six string. I used to play a Fender electric bass until I shattered my hand. And I had a couple other acoustic six string guitars, but never played them the way this 12 string got played. We're looking at electric guitars now and another six string for me for when I get in the mood for playing. I stopped playing guitar for a few years (but my husband was playing the Giannini) and we picked up the Hohner when I decided to start again. Now that I know I can play again, we're looking for a good acoustic six string for me. I'd love to find one of these that I could afford in a six string or a twelve.

A friend of mine recently gave me a 12 string Giannini Craviola.
The guitar was made in Brazil. I do not know the year, but would guess the late 60's or early 70's. the sound hole has a unique shape. It's pretty much a half circle. It has a South American pattern inlayed with small pieces of wood around it.

When we strung it up for the first time we strung it up as a six string. I could not believe the way it sounded! I own 3 taylor guitars (one of them is a baby) and this almost compares to them. I finally strung it as a twelve string, and it sounds beautiful.

The action is pretty much identical to my taylors. The neck is narrow, thin, and shorter than most guitars. The strings are too close together though. I may change the nut so i can space the strings differently. actually I think that someone did replace the nut with a home made thingy and they didn't space the strings correctly.

It seems fairly durable. It has had some repairs done to it though. a few of the pegs on the bridge are loose, and were popping out when i was stringing it up. (I wedged some paper in with them to tighten them.)

Never dealt with the company. Are they still in business?

I've been playing guitar for about 9 or 10 years. My first guitar was a taylor 410 series (Brazilian walnut / spruce top) ( I think that's the series.) Then I bought a Taylor 410 made entirely out of koa. And I own a Baby Taylor. I also have an old Stella Harmony that was my fathers when he was young.

I compare the action of the Giannini to my Taylors.

Giannini's website is here:

http://www.giannini.com.br/eng/dados.aspv

RE another reviewers quote from a repair shop of "a $99 guitar", I believe that gentleman was mis-informed. The 1970 models were heavily "discounted", as the exchange rate with Brazil was fantastically in our favor. Anyway, I love mine, it is still mint.

The guitar was made 12/70, and I purchased it new from Venneman's Music in Rocville Maryland 1/71 for $285 w/a soft case. It has a spruce top and Brazilian Rosewood back and sides. The wood alone is a work of art. Solid peg head, with strip tuners.

I play folk music, and this guitar has proven delightful for that. It is not as loud as my Guild Jumbo, and does not drown out the six strings that I accompany. Sweet and easy to play, it is quite trebly. I play it tuned down a minor third (two steps or frets below standard) with a Kyser capo to bring it up to pitch. I rarely have to retune when I move the capo.

Action is closer to an electric that a typical twelve-string. There is a chuff mark on the top, from factory sanding during finishing, mbut I hyave no complaints.

I have been playing in the church folk group, in a Celtic group, and a roots/folk/blue grass group for more than 30 years, and have no complaints. Everyone remembers the guitar, as it always attracts attention. Added a strap button to the heel of the neck, and no problem.

Got a custom-made hard case, as Gianinni does not make one.

Cannot find Giannini anywhere, though the guitar is still supposed to be available. Since I have no problems, it is not a concern.

Have been playing out for more than forty years. Also own a Larrivee D-19 six string, a Guild Blonde Jumbotwelve string, a Martin D-15, plus banjos and mandolins.

It is a little quiet.

This is a 12 string Brazilian guitar, with a small but unique shaped body. It is tear-drop shaped on the upper bout and has a cutout on the lower side so it can rest on your leg. Mine has (I'm assuming after market)active electronics that sound decent but look horrible. The body is rosewood and the top is spruce. The guitar is a real eye catcher, but plays terribly, more on that later. The neck is narrower than most 12 strings I've played. It was made sometime in the early 70s.

The sound on this guitar is actually rather nice compared to some of the other 12 strings I've gone through. It has a nice clear chimey upper register, reminds me a bit of a lute. Unfortunately the top has dropped on the guitar and has thus twisted the neck to the point that the intonation is horrible. I took it to the local luthier and he said for a $99 guitar it is probably a lost cause. We tried rehumidifying the guitar for a few weeks but no luck. That thing is sunk. I guess the dry Southwest desert is not the place to own a guitar made in the rainforests of Brazil.

The action and workmanship on the guitar appear to be decent. It is stunning to look at, the choice of woods is incredible. Whoever made this was a true artist.

As mentioned earlier, the top on this guitar has sunk. It was not built to last.

Can't find them.

If I could find another one in better condition I would buy it. From what I can tell, it does have a unique and clear sound, and it is certainly eye catching. However, because of the dropped top I'm afraid it's going to have to only be seen and not heard.

UNUSUAL SHAPE ,VERY UNIQUE. IT GETS A LOT OF LOOKS ANYWHERE I TAKE IT. NECK IS VERY NARROW FOR A 12 STRING , MAKING IT DIFICULT TO PLAY.

UNIQUE SOUNDING. THERE IS NOTHING QUITE LIKE IT.

ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL . THE FINEST WOODS I HAVE EVER SEEN ARE USED ON THIS GUITAR. EXCELLENT CRAFTSMANSHIP.

THE TOP STARTED TO "BELLY" AFTER A FEW YEARS. I HAD IT REPAIRED .BUT IT IS STILL DIFICULT TO KEEP IT IN TUNE. BY THE TIME I CAN GET IT IN TUNE I DON'T WANT TO PLAY IT.

UNKNOWN

I HAVE BEEN PLAYING GUITAR FOR MANY MANY YEARS AND I OWN DOZENS OF VINTAGE GUITARS, THE GIANNINI 12 STRING IS MAINLY JUST A WALL HANGER THESE DAYS ,BUT REMAINS ONE OF MY FAVORITES.

This Brazilian guitar was made in 1972. It has the "Craviola" body shape, with a solid spruce top, and matched rosewood sides and back. The neck is mahogany with a rosewood fingerboard. The soundhole has a subtle and intricate mosaic wood inlay. The head has a dark rosewood veneer with "Giannini" across the top. Tuners are strip-style, six on a side, and are somewhat sticky. It came with a pressboard case.

I use this for fingerpicking and Leo Kottke-style slide playing. It works well enough.

The tuners are a little chintzy. I had the saddle replaced, because it came from the factory with a dip carved at the B-string. The woodwork and finish are nice!

I have used this guitar live, but only for 2-3 songs in a show.
One problem is that the spruce top is inadquately braced for the 12-string tension. After 3-4 years, the bridge started lifting up the spruce top just a bit, deforming it slightly without separating. This happened even though I used very light guage strings tuned down a full note (E to D). The guitar is still playable and otherwise has held up well.

No opinion.

I have played for 35 years. Other guitars include 2 other Giannini's, a Gibson J-200, an Aims Tele-copy, and a Gretsch G2404.

I love the shape and sound of the Craviola. I hate the slight deformation of th spruce top due to string tension. The Guild 12-string is probably superior, but was much more expensive at the time.

I own a Gianinni Craviola 12 string guitar that I purchased new. It is a Brazilian guitar. The date inside is 12/70. It has 20 frets, the top is laminated spruce, the back and sides are laminated rosewood. The neck is mahogany with a rosewood fingerboard and block pearloid position markers. The most interesting thing about this instrument is it's shape. The upper half of the body is lute or teardrop shaped and the bottom half of the body has a florentine cutaway and a radical bend at the bottom(ala Jazz bass). The top of the headstock is sort of hockey stick shaped as on an older Fender 12 string, except the volute is smaller and goes in the opposite direction of a Fender 12 headstock (faces up instead of down). The sound hole is D shaped, with the flat portion of the "D" facing the end of the neck. Headstock is slotted and fitted with two sets of joined six in line tuners. The bridge is a solid mustache type. I have the original fitted soft shell case.

The sound of this instrument is very mellow with a lot more high end than most 12 strings that I have played. I used to use a barcus berry stick on transducer on it and some people in another room thought that I was playing the banjo. It plays very easy, though the neck is wide it is not that noticeable as the action is so light. I always tune it to E with no problems. Does not have a muddy sound that I associate with some 12 string guitars.

The set up is excellent. I had one accident with the guitar that damaged the headstock. But I had it expertly repaired and the action is better than ever. The only flaws are the scuff marks on the top from using a pick (this is a 28 year old instrument that has seen a lot of use). The kerfling is unusual. It is solid. On all my other acoustic guitars the kerfling is cut (I assume that is so it will properly bend). This guitars kerfling is a solid strip of wood around the guitars interior perimeter.

I have used this guitar for 28 years. At least 20 were pretty active. The stap button on the bottom was a screw in type installed at the factory (instead of the plastic push in type). I installed another at the base of the neck. I have had no significant problems with this instrument other than the afforementioned accident.

I understand that Gianinni still makes guitars in San Palo, Brazil and that they are imported by a company in New York or New Jersey. I have been unsuccessful in finding this company. I do know that the current models are stated to be solid wood guitars. They are the Craviola line and come in 6 string classical and 12 string models. The original warranty was only a year.

I have been playing guitar for 33 years and have owned at least 20 or so different instruments. Presently I own about 10 guitars, 2 Fenders an '81 Bullet and an '80 stratocaster, an Ovation classical electric, a Gibson Trini Lopez Std, a Hagstrom bass, a Harwood parlor guitar, a Yakima steel string, a Mako acoustic/electric, a telecaster, a Framus electric 12 string and some others I think.