About.

Virgil Mandanici has been playing guitar for over 35 years and has made his living as a guitar teacher for several years.

In August, 2010, one of his students, Dominic, was taking lessons with Virgil. Dominic's father, Tony Bonaventura, who had already been working with wood for over 22 years at the time had challenged Virgil to build a guitar. At first, Virgil scoffed the idea, but eventually started designing a prototype on his computer. An artist most of his life, Virgil had never been short of ideas and started getting into the "virtual guitar" he was making on the computer.

Virgil decided to take the leap and started learning inlay on his own, eventually purchasing DVD's by Larry Robinson that would give him the confidence to tackle such a project.

Virgil had no idea how long it would actually take to create this guitar; he was more concerned about making it look phenomenal and play well. He never rushed the quality of this first build and his patience payed off, with a one-of-a-kind guitar. There is not a luthier on the planet that had made such a bold attempt for a first guitar, and Virgil proved that it could be done.

He ended up putting the most phenomenal woods as well as other materials into the inlay of the guitar to make the design jump out at you.

Virgil says:

"What I find most amazing is how well this guitar feels and plays. I will put it up against my PRS Custom 22, my Gibson Smartwood or my Fender Strat any day. The balance of the guitar, the action and the tone is amazing and all of the seasoned guitarists that have taken a stab at it are speechless after trying the guitar - they had expected just a nice piece of art to hang on the wall, but after playing the guitar, they had another appeal for the guitar that went way beyond the aesthetics. People can hear the guitar on the video - there is no question as to the playability of this guitar. I am looking forward to building guitar#2, The Silver Willow."

Virgil is currently working on his second build, the "Silver Willow" guitar. Visit the Guitars section to see all past & future builds. If you are wondering what the Duelling Dragons guitar SOUNDS like, visit the Video section.

If you are looking for custom inlay work on your guitar and are in the Tampa area, Virgil is an inlay artist that may be able to provide original inlay work for you. Please contact him for any questions you may have.