Mario Maccaferri

Mario Maccaferri (1900-1993) was an Italian luthier, classical guitarist, businessman, and inventor. He is noted for designing the guitar favored by jazz musician Django Reinhardt, and for inventing the plastic Islander ukulele which sold millions of copies in the mid-1900s.

Early life

Maccaferri was born in Cento, Emilia-Romagna, in 1900. At the age of 11 he was apprenticed to luthier Luigi Mozzani, and took up the classical guitar. By 1923 he had established a reputation as a player and maker of classical guitar.

Musical career

In 1933, Maccaferri injured his right hand in a swimming pool accident, ending his career as a concert performer, though he continued to work as a luthier and inventor.

Lutherie designs

Maccaferri is best-known for designing the Selmer Maccaferri guitar played by Gypsy jazz legend Django Reinhardt. Maccaferri's innovations extended to materials as well: he was an early adopter of laminate backs and sides for guitars, and for instruments made entirely of plastic.

Plastic instruments

File:Maccaferri G40 DeLuxe Arch-top - Plastic Mac.jpg

Maccaferri plastic guitar

In 1941, Maccaferri patented a plastic woodwind reed, and in 1949 launched his line of plastic "Islander" ukuleles in collaboration with television star Arthur Godfrey, which would sell into the millions of units. In the 1950s, Maccaferri produced a line of plastic guitars, but they had little commercial success. Later in his career and up until his death, Maccaferri worked on the design for a plastic violin, which in 1990 was used at a performance at Carnegie Hall.