Tonante

Tonante, initially called Ao Rei dos Violões Limitada (To the King of Acoustic Guitars in English), is a Brazilian guitar manufacturing company founded in 1954 by the Portuguese brothers Abel and Samuel Tonante, who artisanelly built musical instruments, thirteen years after their arrival in the country.

Tonante
TypePrivate
IndustryMusical instruments
Founded1954 (1954)
FounderAbel and Samuel Tonante
Headquarters
Brazil
ProductsElectric and acoustic guitars, banjos, cavaquinhos
ParentGrupo Oderço [1]
Websitehttps://tonantebrasil.com.br/

Tonante is well known for making highly affordable stringed instruments in Brazil, together with companies such as Giannini, Del Vecchio and Di Giorgio.[2] Tonante's range of products include electric and acoustic guitars, banjos and cavaquinhos.

History

During the military dictatorship in Brazil, import substitution policies forbade or restricted imports, which led local manufacturers (like Tonante guitars) to achieve a dominant market position. Tonante guitars were notable for being cheaper than other local competitors such as Giannini, Snake or Finch electric guitars which made it one of the most popular stringed instruments manufacturer in Brazil.[2]

Models

Guitar models manufactured by Tonante includes:

Tonante Finder, inspired on Fender models

Cult status

Although early Tonante instruments were plagued by low quality electronics, rough, uncomfortable shapes and bad finish, they have attained cult status due to their historical significance. A vintage Tonante guitar can be worth as much as R$170 (approximately $32).

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tonante.
  1. "Os violões e guitarras da Tonante estão de volta!" (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2022-08-26.
  2. Tonante Guitars on Music Minder.com
  3. O Rei dos Violões Rare vintage Brazilian nylon-string guitar! on Reverb.com
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