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LoPrinzi Guitars
| See the 'Research and History' portion of this website: 'History of Instruments and Guitar Builders', then: 'Augustino and LoPrinzi Guitars' for a detailed background on LoPrinzi Guitars. LoPrinzi guitars were made in New Jersey until the company was acquired by AMF in the 1970s and run out-of-business. The name was ultimately bought back by Augustino LoPrinzi and the LoPrinzi family began to produce instruments again under their own name in Clearwater Florida. In 1972 brothers Augustino and Thomas LoPrinzi founded the LoPrinzi Guitar Company in New Jersey. They started to sell stock in the company and soon had a successful business with 17 employees. In 1973 his instruments caught the attention of Mark Corporation (a subsidiary of AMF); the firm began buying up a controlling interest in his company as a way to move into the guitar business. 3 years later, LoPrinzi Guitars, Inc. was producing 80 guitars a month for customers in 5 countries. Augustino LoPrinzi, after growing tired of overseeing production and not comfortable with the direction the company was taking, sold his interest to Maark Corporation. Augie’s philosophy of work and success is a traditional one: If you’re only out to make money, you’ll never get anywhere. “Do good work and the money will come,” was the theory instilled in Augustino by his father. Refusing to sign a "non-compete" clause with Maark, he opened "Augustino Guitars" two weeks later—and moved next door to his original plant! He continued to produce guitars there until 1978, and then moved to Florida. Years later, Augustino contacted AMF/Maark Corporation to request his old trademark back. Working with vice president Dick Hargraves, Augie finally had the trademark officially transferred back. Currently Augustino LoPrinzi Guitars includes a full line of steel string guitars, classical guitars and ukkuleles. Augie continues to build instruments full time with his daughter, Donna LoPrinzi. |
We are expecting more soon!
