A chunk of wood can make an awesome guitar
SPECIES FEATURED IN THIS ARTICLE: Bubinga
FIND INFORMATION ON THIS AND ADDITIONAL SPECIES AT WWW.IWPAWOOD.ORG
When he’s not piloting planes for JetBlue Airways, Louis Cibelli enjoys woodworking and playing guitar. Several years ago, he resolved to combine his two hobbies and make his own guitar. Since that time, he has designed and created custom guitars for friends and clients using the highest quality wood species to produce beautiful one-of-a-kind instruments.
“I had worked with wood to make cabinets and furniture and I had the tools, so a guitar was sort of the next step,” Cibelli explained. “I love wood as a medium. It is warm and expressive, and each piece has its own individual character.”
Cibelli credits Joe Jessilli, a luthier with more than 30 years of guitar-making experience, as a mentor. “Joe has helped me learn the trade, offered many tips and techniques, and imparted a lot of wisdom.”
Today, Cibelli designs the guitars he produces and hand selects the wood species for each individual instrument. He plays and builds mainly solid body electric guitars. “With a solid body guitar, you are working with a solid chunk of wood, so you have more flexibility and more forgiveness but there is not as much tone in the wood,” he said. A semi-hollow body, which is a hybrid between an acoustic and an electric guitar, has hollow chambers and delivers warmer, more jazzy tones, while a hollow body acoustic guitar is constructed with four separate sides braced together and produces soft, articulate tones that resonate more naturally.
“Sometimes, I start with a design concept. For example, I may want to create contrast with a Maple neck and Walnut inlays. Other times I may see a cool piece of wood in the lumberyard, such as a piece of Ebony or a chunk of Bubinga Pommele, and just know that it would make an awesome guitar.”
When selecting wood for an instrument, color, weight and stability are key considerations. Cibelli looks for species that are stable and will not warp or twist. He has worked with exotics including Rosewood, Mahogany, Ebony and Bubinga Pommele.
Cibelli’s business has grown mainly through word of mouth, and clients often come to him with ideas about wood species, colors and shapes as well as the heft and style they want in a custom guitar. He is able to realize his clients’ visions by specializing in highly intricate, detailed work that makes his guitars true works of art. iw
See more on Louis Cibelli’s Pinterest Page.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Louis Cibelli and what kind of guitars does he build?+
Louis Cibelli is a JetBlue Airways pilot who designs and builds custom guitars as a hobby and for clients. He primarily creates solid body electric guitars, hand-selecting premium wood species for each instrument.
What wood species are used to build custom electric guitars?+
Cibelli has worked with exotic species including Rosewood, Mahogany, Ebony and Bubinga Pommele. He also uses Maple for necks and Walnut for inlays to create visual contrast.
What is the difference between solid body, semi-hollow and hollow body guitars?+
A solid body guitar is built from a solid chunk of wood, offering flexibility but less tonal resonance. A semi-hollow is a hybrid with hollow chambers that delivers warmer, jazzier tones, while a hollow body acoustic has four braced sides and produces soft, articulate tones that resonate naturally.
What should you look for when selecting wood for a guitar?+
Color, weight and stability are the key considerations when choosing tonewood. The wood must be stable so it will not warp or twist over time.
Why is Bubinga Pommele a good choice for guitar building?+
Bubinga Pommele is an exotic species prized for its striking figure and visual character, making it an attractive tonewood for custom instruments. Cibelli notes that seeing a chunk of Bubinga Pommele in the lumberyard can inspire an entire guitar design.
Who mentored Louis Cibelli in guitar making?+
Cibelli credits Joe Jessilli, a luthier with more than 30 years of guitar-making experience, as his mentor. Jessilli has shared techniques, tips and trade wisdom throughout Cibelli's guitar-building journey.