Veleno Guitars

Veleno Guitars is an American company which specializes in creating electric guitars made out of aluminium, known for their unique sound quality. These guitars were designed by metal craftsman John Veleno, who also built the original models from 1970 to 1977. In 2023, Veleno Guitars would reissue their Veleno Original model.

History

Throughout the years of 1961 and 1962, John Veleno worked as a guitar teacher, also having a day job as a machinist. In 1963, Veleno would move to Florida, where he would be offered a job by the Universal Machine Company in St. Petersburg, to which he accepted. During his time at the Universal Machine Company, he would be instructed to make aluminum boxes that would be used to hold electronic components on rockets launched from Cape Canaveral.[1]

While working at the Universal Machine Company, Veleno obtained a license which allowed him to give guitar lessons in his house. To advertise his guitar lessons, Veleno decided to create a guitar-shaped mailbox out of aluminum to bypass local ordinances that would only allow him to put up a sign that was one foot by one foot in size. After being approached by his aluminum supplier, asking him "Why not make a guitar out of aluminum?", Veleno would then begin working on the prototype for the first Veleno guitar.[1]

A prototype was completed in 1967. The first guitars were built in 1972.[1]

Veleno Original

Veleno Original
ManufacturerVeleno Guitars
Period1970-1977, 2023-present
Construction
Body typeHollow
Neck jointBolt-on
Woods
BodyAluminum
NeckAluminum
FretboardAluminum
Hardware
Bridge
Colors available
Chrome finish, gold plated, polished aluminum, anodized red, anodized blue, anodized green, anodized black, anodized gold, ebony, and "super finish".

The Veleno Original is Veleno Guitars' first guitar model, as well as its main guitar model. Being made almost entirely out of aluminum, a benefit that comes from its material would be that the guitar itself is very sturdy. The neck does not contain a truss rod, and the body is able to protect the electronic components from any damage on the outside.[2]

List of notable artists who own Veleno guitars

References

Wheeler, Tom. American Guitars: An Illustrated History. Harper Perennial. New York. 1992. ISBN 0-06-273154-8

  1. ^ a b c Wright, Michael. "Veleno Guitars: Shiny Metal (Rare) Birds". Vintage Guitar Magazine. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  2. ^ Bacon, Tony. "6 Guitars That Tried to Predict the Future—and Failed". Reverb. Reverb. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  3. ^ "Review the Veleno guitar (Guitarsite)".
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