F. Olivieri 1935 O-Hole

This is a "rare-to-say-the-least" late 1930s or early 1940s Francesco Olivieri guitar. It features a solid spruce top, gypsy style laminated back and sides, 3 piece Mahogany neck with Walnut centre, ebony fingerboard with '0' fret, what might be the original brazilian rosewood bridge- and pickguard, original brass tuners with changed (ivoroid) knobs, original tailpiece. 12th fret to the body Maccaferri style, cutaway, what looks to be maple bound body with black/white/black/white purfling lines.A guitar made on a very high level of construction in the best tradition of Maccaferri Selmer guitars. Despite small repairs to the top layer of the laminated flamed maple back, and a repaired top crack to the treble side top, we would call this guitar excellent condition, with excellent playability and added pickup. Also the fingerboard is changed at one point, common for a Gypsy guitar that due to the typical construction cannot be neck-reset. Olivieri guitars are considered top-notch and close to Selmer quality, it's common knowledge this Mandolin maker originating from Italy but working in Paris, made only some 20 guitars. 640mm scale length, 45mm nut width. Images courtesy of "The fellowship of acoustics" (TFOA).