Tag Archives: Cambio¸ Todd

Todd Cambio

Fraulini Guitars

Four-year GAL member Todd Cambio builds guitars and mandolins that focus on traditional techniques and materials like ladder bracing, French polishing, and hide glue, as well as domestic woods like birch, white oak, walnut and poplar, which were once frequently used but which have fallen out of favor in modern times. Todd started the Fraulini Guitar Company in 2000 and has worked to provide instruments for traditional musicians. He has also done extensive research on Italian and Mexican immigrant luthiers who built instruments in the early 20th century. He works with his sons Felix, Oscar, and Leo.

▪ bio current as of 2024

Finding Inspiration in Early 20th-Century Instruments

2024
AL#151 p.6               
Todd Cambio                                                                                           

▪ From his 2023 GAL Convention lecture. For decades, it was received wisdom that the inexpensive steel-string guitars, made in their millions before WWII in American factories using American woods, were crap. Todd Cambio has been taking another look, and finds a lot to like and even to emulate. Hear him out; it’s a ripping yarn. Mentions Gibson, Martin, Lyon and Healy, Harmony, Sears, Wilhelm Schultz, Oscar Schmidt, Stella, Galiano, poplar, tulip tree, oak, parlor guitar, ladder bracing, bajo sexto, R. Crumb, Lead Belly, John and Alan Lomax, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Blind Willie McTell, Blind Blake, Lonnie Johnson, Carter family, Bristol sessions, Ernest Stoneman, Nick Lucas, Eddie Lang, Raphael Ciani, John D’Angelico, Lydia Mendoza, Guadalupe Acosta, Luis Acosta, Mike Acosta, Miguel Acosta, 12-string guitar, Michael Iuchi, mandolin, John Greven.

Meet the Maker: Todd Cambio

2019
AL#137 p.4               
Federico Sheppard   Todd Cambio                                                                                       

▪ Federico has traveled the world to bring us news of excellent and unusual luthiers and their work. This time he journeyed from Green Bay, Wisconsin all the way to Madison, Wisconsin to meet a guy who keeps his work on the cutting edge of innovation by closely following the century-old work of American guitar factories, and Italian-American luthiers who worked in New York City before WWI. A word to the wise: Tulip poplar is not, and never shall be, banned by CITES or the Lacey Act. Mentions the Acosta family; John D’Angelico; Lydia Mendoza; Lonnie Johnson; Stella; Regal; Oscar Schmidt; Harmony; Lyon & Healy; Lead Belly; Favilla.