Louis vs. Claude Patenotte

Michael Bauer

Out of curiosity, does anyone here have enough experience with Patenotte guitars to comment on Louis' work vs, Claude's? I have played Alphonso Ponticelli's late 40's Louis Patenotte and played a couple of Claude's I new ones, but there were a couple of years in between, so it is hard for me to compare. Is one's work considered better, or are they about the same. I really like the bean hole look, but other than the Gerome brothers and the occasional modern luthier, the Patenottes seem to be the primary source for these. I am really interested in any opinions you might have on these guitars, especially with regard to perceived differences between father and son's work.

constantine

Michael - Do you own a patenotte? I've had 4, but all Claudes.

Michael Bauer

No, I don't own one. I have played four (3 Claudes and 1 Louis), but the Louis I played was when I was too new at this to judge and I can't really remember well enough to make the judgement.

I love the bean hole look, and thought of getting a Patenotte as a travel guitar/beater/wall ornament. But even Jacques Mazzolini can't tell me much about Louis' guitars. next time I am in Chicago, I am going to ask Alphonso if I can play his again, and maybe now I can form a better opinion. The night I played his we did a duet on it (the old two gadjos and a guitar trick) at Pops in Chicago, and I was too scared of screwing up to focus in too much on the sound. I was just trying not to pee in my pants!