John F. Mello - Luthier

[Egnurlaup]

Is anyone familiar with this man's work or experienced his guitars? He is based in Kensington CA, and has been at it (high end) for a long time.

[Fran Guidry]

John has been a regular at Healdsburg and at my guitar parties for a number of years. He builds steel strings that are influenced by classical construction. I've been impressed with his instruments I've played over the years. In fact I'm invariably surprised each time I pick one up - they seem so innocent and dainty but they can bark and growl as well as sing.

Fran

[Larry Pattis]

John is a great guy, and one of my favorites in our wonderful guitar building community.

He builds a great guitar.

It's that simple!

[Chas Freeborn]

Truly outstanding instruments, fine fellow and all round stand up guy.
I'm proud to be able to call him a friend and colleague.
-C

[Howard Klepper]

Highly skilled luthier of long experience, and one of the nicest guys in the business.

[Dan Carey]

Very good guitars, outstanding workmanship. He's from (or grew up near) my hometown of Fall River MA. Met him a few times at the Newport Guitar Festivals and was always impressed with the guitars he had on display.

[tadol]

I met him back in '74, and he's a very nice guy and a very good luthier. He has a CD of a number of different guitarists all playing different models of his guitars - he sells them to promote his guitars, and gives all proceeds to the Alameda County Food Bank.

You are close enough to his shop in Kensington - definitely drop by and talk to him, and pick up a CD while you're there -

[sfden1]

While waiting for John to do some repair work on one of my guitars, I've played a few of his that he had around the shop. Outstanding guitars, outstanding person. Give him a visit.

D.

[Doug Young]

I did an article on John a while back for AG:

http://www.acguitar.com/article/defa...rticleid=26827

I got to spend some quality time with one of his guitars, quite a wonderful and unique instrument, and recorded a duet with itself :-) on my newest CD. You can hear a low res version here:

http://store.dougyoungguitar.com/track/rainy-sunday

Steel string, but felt almost classical.

[JLS]

Originally Posted by Howard Klepper

Highly skilled luthier of long experience, and one of the nicest guys in the business.

The above, and good friend.

[Bluemonk]

Jeff Elliott, the legendary classical guitar builder, used to share a shop with John Mello and holds him in the highest regard.

[Egnurlaup]

Just returned from long overseas trip...sorry for radio silence!

Thanks for all the responses. I am going to pay him a visit as he is nearby our home, and I am starting to think about a more sophisticated build for my dottage!

[upsidedown]

I would recommend him. Though if you're tempted by beautiful, unique, exceptional and expensive guitars, don't pick up one of his handmades. Especially not the Veranda model.

[upsidedown]

Beautiful song Doug Young, which Mello model?

[Doug Young]

Originally Posted by upsidedown

Beautiful song Doug Young, which Mello model?

That was one of John's "Classic Steel" guitars, the smaller of the steel strings he builds, if I'm not mistaken. His "Grande" is slightly bigger and has a little more low end, but all in all, a similar voice.