Crucianelli solid bodies: 1964/65

by Jack Marchal

1964 Élite 40-V blue

The cleanest guitar in the gallery. Near mint (some doubt remains about originality of knobs). There is even the elusive bridge cover. This immaculate Elite opens a new chapter in the model’s story with it’s new peghead and neck.

Compared to previous versions headstock has been thoroughly redesigned. Its profile shows an angle it didn’t have before and makes it look closely like an Eko 500 peghead (in my opinion the earlier shape was nicer but that’s just me). On the other hand another Eko -inspired feature disappears, the volute on the back.

The conspicuous chrome truss-rod plate identifies this version at first glance. The new lightweight neck is a three-piece construction with an improved ovale profile. There is documentary evidence that this configuration was commercially available in mid-1964. Some sources suggest it was already in production during Autumn 1963. Let’s assume this is the 1964 version. It remained unchanged for about one year.

  • New neck with a smoother profile and no volute at rear.
  • Headstock is angled on its Southern coast (just like the Eko 500).
  • Truss-rod access under a chrome plate instead of the black plastic item previously in use.
  • All-metal enclosed machineheads surface at the end of the series.
  • Common.

Nuovo manico con sezione più ovalizzata, senza voluta posteriore. Paletta angolata sul lato inferiore (molto simile alla Eko 500). Accesso alla regolazione del manico nascosto sotto una piastra cromata che sostituisce quella di plastica nera predente. Alla fine sono montate meccaniche chiuse interamente di metallo. Comune

1964 Crucianelli Elite 40-V in Japan

I had looked for this guitar all around Japan and finally found 2 in Tokyo and 2 in Miyazaki-ken. By the way, G. Love also uses this guitar.

When I found them, however, someone have already owned them, so I searched the American web site “e-bay”and at last, could find a Pearl in Boston, which was made in 1964. I asked one of my friends who lives in America to get and send it. So, I reckon that there are 3 Elite in Japan at present, including that guitar, which I own now. When I got the guitar from Los Angels, its condition was not so good, but after polishing all electric parts with taking off the pick-up cover, useless pick-up had also worked at last. Unfortunately, Peg of six strings was changed so that I can’t tell if it was put in those days or not. Yet anyway, it’s really similar to the original and I reckon that it was made in Italy. Every part except that peg, they seems to be original. The distinctive feature of this guitar is not all parts are made of Pearl but half parts are made of Black plastic.

“This guitar is of course one of my personal collection, but I’m in music business, so sometimes lend it to the musicians. Actually, I currently lent it to the main vocal of “cutman-booche”, Kim Wooyong a.k.a Tasuku. He plays not only the guitar but also harmonica as well. Tasuku has a well-trained voice, similar to G.Love’s, but much more husky. “cutman-booche” is releasing their new album “cutman-booche” in 25/08/04 (unfortunately Japan only) and today, I’ll send you the photos that I took during recording and also the ones from the promotional video, so please have a look of them.

Tasuku’s main guitar is Fender strat, which is made in 1981, same year he was born, but he really loves this Crucianelli Elite too. In addition, he owns 2 other Teisco’s guitar. As you know, Teisco produced wonderful bizarre guitars in the 1960s in Japan.

“cutman-booche” has their own homepage and you can listen to the song named “Nelson.G.”, in which Tasku plays Crucianelli Elite, so check it out. Unfortunately this website is Japanese only but English version will open soon and hopefully Italian, French version in the future.”

Koichi Konatsu

cutman-booche official web http://www.cutman-booche.com

G Love & Special Sauce

“My main electric guitar is a Crucianelli. It’s kinda like an Eko but it has a spirit of its own”

G. Love (born Garrett Dutton in Philadelphia, 1972) made himself famous in the mid-90’s in Boston with his band Special Sauce and the spicy blues-rock they play. His visual trademark is a blue 4-pickup Elite of 1964 he uses both on stage and for recordings.

Look at the pics. During live performances G. Love plays with his right hand always carefully held at a safe distance from the ‘off’ switch. He achieves that by playing either sitting, or with the instrument strapped unusually high on his chest when standing.

Aside from the removed vibrato bar G.Love’s guitar is identical to this one that opens the 1964 generation in this gallery. Some switch has been added between tone and volume knobs. Hey Garrett, can you tell us what that’s for?

1964 Tonemaster C.E.B.

For the bass version the arrival of the new headstock design coincides with the introduction of larger machineheads. Those previously in use, being barely bigger than standard six-tring tuners, could indeed awake some concern about their sturdiness.

Crucianelli was still faithfully following Eko’s track The new tuners, with their translucent perloid buttons, are just the same model introduced at the same time (rather said, short before) by the Italian market leader for its 1100 bass series.

1964 Élite 40-V, all perloid

Typical 1964 configuration with all the specs and all original parts except the missing truss-rod plate (a pity, it’s one of the most characteristic features of this version). There is even the elusive bridge cover. Coffin-shaped hardshell case is also original (a very valuable plus given the difficulty to find one that fits).

Another new feature of the 1964 version is the marking “Made in Italy“ punched in the middle of the neck plate.

Tonemaster Custom finishes

Ultra-rare marble blue finish on the front and back of this 1964 Tonemaster (from Teisco Del Rey’s “Bizarre Guitars“ collection).

Other examples of special finishes seen on Crucianelli guitars from various generations:

  • 1962 silver flake Tonemaster 40-V with a white pickguard (very rare but original, a Tonemaster catalog features a CEB bass with a similarly white pickguard, see there)
  • 1963 woodgrain Tonemaster 30, with another wood texture on pickguard
  • 1964 dark metal flake Tonemaster 40-V.

All that raises two questions : 1) why did Crucianelli put custom finishes exclusively on Tonemaster-badged instruments? 2) why do the most beautiful guitars always make the lousiest pics?…

Tonemaster bass 20

1964 no name 40-V, blue

1964 Carino 40-V, blue

1964/65 all metal tuners

Tonemaster 30-V

Élite 40-V perloid

Tonemaster 40-V

Èlite bass

one pick-up