M Campellone

Overview

M. Campellone is a brand of handmade archtop guitars built by luthier Mark Campellone, focused on orchestra-style designs inspired by big-band era instruments. It occupies a niche in the high-end custom guitar market, particularly among jazz guitarists and vintage enthusiasts. The brand is notable for its craftsmanship using North American spruce and maple, with instruments exhibited at the Smithsonian Museum of American History.¹³⁴

History

Mark Campellone, born in 1954 in Providence, Rhode Island, began designing and building solid body guitars in the late 1970s while working as a musician in rock and jazz bands and doing guitar repairs. He constructed his first archtop guitar in 1988 and soon shifted to full-time instrument building, ceasing professional playing. Over the following decades, he established himself as a premier archtop luthier, with his work featured in publications and the Smithsonian's Blue Guitar Project.²³⁷⁸

Product Lines

Manufacturing

Instruments are handmade by Mark Campellone in the United States using North American spruce tops and maple backs and sides. Construction is fully in-house as a one-man luthier operation, with options for 16-inch or 17-inch body sizes.¹⁶

Notable Products

• Campellone Special - High-end archtop with Macassar ebony accents, inspired by D'Aquisto designs.
• 16" Archtop - Standard size model using spruce and maple tonewoods for jazz applications.
• 17" Archtop - Larger body variant offering enhanced projection and volume.

Reputation

Mark Campellone is regarded by jazz guitarists and vintage market enthusiasts as a master archtop builder, praised for superior tone and historical design fidelity. His instruments are seen as among the finest available, with strong recognition in publications and museums. No significant criticisms noted in available sources.³⁴⁵