Introduction
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Introduction The E. & O. Mari / LaBella catalogue includes the world’s largest selection of strings for most plucked and bowed instruments. Offering useful information for both the professional and amateur string player, this book contains details about the string constructions and tunings of many instruments. E. & O. Mari has a long tradition of making many types of handcrafted strings for most classical, popular, folk and ethnic instruments. Historical Background In the 17th century, the small town of Salle in the Abruzzi region of Italy was considered one of the string making centers in Europe. Local church records reveal that the most important string manufacturing families were Berti, Dorazio, Ruffini and Mari. Famous throughout Europe for fabricating the finest gut strings for lutes, guitars and violins, their craft also included constructing some of the earliest metal strings for wire strung instruments. Lanciano Factory in Abruzzi, Italy circa 1940 Established in the 1640’s in Salle, the Mari family became one of the suppliers of violin strings to both Amati and Stradivari in Cremona. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries the “House of Mari” also operated a metal foundry that manufactured church bells. In 1913, the two brothers, Emilio and Olinto Mari left the family business to seek new opportunities in America. They settled in New York City where they produced both gut and steel strings in a small factory in lower Manhattan. The business expanded in 1922 with the opening of a second factory in Lanciano, Abruzzi. At the 1927 “First Exposition Trade Show” of Tripoli, North Africa, the Italian government awarded the “Gold Medal Diploma” to the company for their dedication and excellence as manufacturers. As a leading producer of high quality strings for the entire violin family including the harp, E. & O. Mari offered both “La Preferita” and the “LaBella Brand” of orchestral gut strings. Since the Twenties the trade name “LaBella” has remained to describe a superior product. In 1937, with the outbreak of World War II on the horizon, E. & O. Mari decided to close their Italian factory. During the early Forties, the Manhattan operation moved to Long Island City, New York and remained there for nearly forty years. Changing locations in 1981, the factory’s present site is in Newburgh, New York. Today E. & O. Mari/LaBella Strings is still a family owned and operated company - passed from Olinto Mari to his daughter Elisabetta Mari and to her son Richard Mari Cocco Jr., President and her grandson Eric Cocco, Vice-President. An advocate of the arts and music education worldwide- E. & O. Mari sponsors jazz and Rock performance clinics, professional artist appearances and residencies, as well as an annual “Bass Summit” concert. LaBella also supports many guitar festivals and competitions by subsidizing scholarships and awards. “All other things being equal, it is not much to say than an instrument is only as good as its strings.” ––A Guitar Manual, by Peter Huyn, Gene Leis, and E. & O. Mari, Inc. ® 1966 Present factory in Newburgh, New York 1 Index Introduction . 1 8-String . 16 Latin Folk Instruments Innovations . 3 Piccolo . 16 Bajo Sexto . 24 CLASSICAL GUITARS Super Steps Bandola de Columbia . 24 2001 Series 4-String . 17 Bandolin . 24 5-String . 17 Bandurria . 24 Classical . 5 6-String . 17 Cavaquhino . 24 Flamenco . 7 Slappers Charango . 24 Value Packs . 8 Professional Series 4-String . 17 Cuarto - Puerto Rican . 24 5-String . 17 10PH . 8 Sur Americana . 24 6-String . 17 411 Antique . 8 Guitarrra Portuguese . 25 413 Studio . 8 DEEP TALKIN’ BASS Guitarrone . 25 500P Recording . 8 Round & Flat Wound Laud . 25 Elite Series 4-String . 18 Requinto . 25 427 Pacesetter Elite . 9 5-String . 18 Sistil . 25 830 Folksinger . 9 6-String . 18 Tiple - Colombiano . 25 900 Golden Superior . 9 Original 1954 . 18 Requinto . 25 850 Concert . 9 Black Nylon . 18 Vihuela de Mexicano . 25 Sweetone . 9 Fender VI . 18 Viola Bruguesa . 25 820 Flamenco . 9 Hofner Beatle Bass . 18 ORCHESTRAL INSTRUMENTS Multi-String Guitars Danelectro . 18 Violin Family 7-String Guitar . 10 STEINBERGER GUITARS & BASSES Violin . 26 8-String Guitar . 10 Bass & Guitars . 19 Viola . 26 10-String Guitars . 10 Round Wound . 19 ‘Cello . 27 Multi-Size Guitars Flat Wound . 19 Double Bass . 27 Octave Guitar . 10 Transposing Tremolo . 19, 20 Professional . 27 Alto Guitar . 10 Singles . 20 Elite . 28 Bass Guitar . 10 ACOUSTIC FOLK INSTRUMENTS SuperNil . 28 Contra-Bass . 10 Banjo Family GoldenTone . 28 Short Scale Guitar . 10 Tenor . 21 INDIVIDUAL STRINGS Fractional Guitars . 10 5-String . 21 Guitar String Tensions . 11 Classical . 21 Plain Steel . 29 ACOUSTIC STEEL STRING GUITARS Minstrel . 21 HRS Plain Steel . 29 Golden Alloy . 12 Plectrum . 21 Golden Alloy . 29 Silk & Steel . 12 Banjo-Guitar ..