1994 Giannini Craviola GWSCREA 12 String

$2,500.00

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Larry Preston

Not a store, nor a reseller. I just bought too many great guitars in an effort to find the right ones for me.

Questions? (303) 968-1714

Description:

1994 Giannini Craviola GWSCREA 12 String

Donated by Mark Trokanski

  • Original Case
  • Upgraded hardshell case

 

I first learned about this guitars just a few months ago, and of course what peaked my interest was I got to try a 1970 version owned by Mark Trokanksi and fell in love with it on the first strum. Then I found out that Jimmy Page used them. That was all I needed – I wanted one.

The only problem is that they do not show up for sale very often and they show up in good condition even less. So imagine my surprise when I walked into Black Mountain Guitar a couple months later and Mark Trokanski handed me this Giannini Craviola, and said “I want you to have this!”

This is an amazing sounding guitar and once you get used to pushing down on that extra string, it is very nice to play. Sounds fantastic!

If you’ve never heard of Giannini, they were founded in 1900 by Italian luthier Tranquillo Giannini in São Paulo, Brazil. Tranquillo Giannin immigrated to Brazil in 1896 at age 20, started crafting instruments using local woods like Brazilian rosewood, blending European craftsmanship with South American flair

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The family-run company expanded from classical nylon-string guitars to a wide range, including steel-strings and innovative designs, becoming one of Brazil’s “big three” historical guitar factories alongside DiGiorgio and Del Vecchio.

At the heart of Giannini’s legacy is the Craviola, an asymmetrical acoustic guitar co-designed with Brazilian musician Paulinho Nogueira in the late 1960s. Its unique pear-shaped body—with no waist on the bass side and a sharp curve on the treble—enhances resonance and playability, making it a favorite for fingerstyle and open tunings.

The 12-string version gained global fame through Jimmy Page, who used it for Led Zeppelin’s “Tangerine,” “Gallows Pole,” “Hey Hey What Can I Do,” and “That’s The Way,” and later by artists like Tom Petty.

I believe this one to be from 1994. Crafted in Brazil with premium rosewood back and sides, it features low action for effortless play and a rich, and ready to record tone. If you’re hunting vintage acoustics, the Craviola remains an unsung gem worth rediscovering.

Specs: