Artelab Guitars

The Unique World of Antonino Dell’Arte

Antonino Dell'Arte Luthier - Artelab Guitars

The story of ArteLab Guitars began from the passion and experimentation of Antonino Dell’Arte, who as a teenager started dismantling and improving his own instruments to understand their construction physics. In 1999, he built his first guitar and, after 25 years of experience, today he is a benchmark for unique custom instruments, designed and crafted like a tailor creates a bespoke suit.

Each guitar is the result of a combination of artisanal tradition and modern technologies: CAD design, CNC pre-processing, and strictly handmade finishing. Antonino’s philosophy is to create instruments with a unique character, beautiful, lightweight, vibrant, and perfectly adapted to the musician.

The Collection

Artelab Guitars
The ArteLab collection includes two main lines:

  • ICONIC Series: STAR and T-Ely models, with classic design reinterpreted. Bodies in ash or cherry with internal micro-chambers for weight relief without structural compromise. Necks in maple or ash, fingerboards in maple or rosewood, Gotoh hardware, and pickups of choice.
  • MODERN Series: original models JOVY and MICK Headless, 100% made in Italy. Bodies in mahogany or poplar, Riviera Gear hardware, and MAMA pickups for MICK, Gotoh and Seymour Duncan for JOVY. Weight under 3 Kg thanks to the headless structure.

ArteLab instruments stand out for superior resonance, sustain, and attack, thanks to meticulous selection of top-grade woods, use of roasted variants, and thin finishes that ensure maximum natural vibration.

Construction Philosophy, Techniques, and Materials

Construction Techniques - Artelab Guitars

ArteLab’s philosophy is simple: every instrument is custom-made. Like a tailor’s suit, each guitar is built according to the musician’s specifications: choice of woods (ash, mahogany, maple, walnut, rosewood, cherry), radius, frets, electronics, hardware, finish, and final aesthetics.

  • CNC pre-processing and manual finishing: a blend of technological precision and artisanal sensitivity.
  • Natural finishes: oil and beeswax for instruments with a natural feel or thin polyurethane to enhance touch and vibration.
  • Top-quality Italian woods: quarter-sawn where possible, with internal micro-chambers designed to reduce weight without losing stiffness.

Collaborations and Recognitions

Chitarrista Riccardo Bertuzzi - Artelab Guitars
Riccardo Bertuzzi
Chitarrista Andrea Rigonat Artelab Guitars
Andrea Rigonat

ArteLab Guitars has collaborated with top-level musicians such as Riccardo Bertuzzi, guitarist for artists like Rita Pavone, Adriano Celentano, Ornella Vanoni, and Elisa, and Andrea Rigonat, who has performed with Elisa, Giorgia, Tiziano Ferro, Angelina Mango, Ultimo, and Noemi, creating custom instruments tailored to the specifications of demanding professionals.

Every collaboration stems from a direct relationship with the musician, listening to their sonic and ergonomic needs to create a truly personal instrument.

Authentic Experience

Artelab Guitars Workshop

Although the workshop is not open to the public, ArteLab Guitars offers personalized consultations to guide musicians in designing their custom instrument. Each guitar is a unique piece built with direct contact with the artist, from material selection to final detail definition.