Som D’ouro ( Sound of Gold ) was a guitar factory in Brazil during the 1970s. The factory shared some connection with the Di Giorgio Company & were possibly acquired by Di Giorgio.
From the mid 1970s Di Giorgio & Som D’ouro branding appears on some factory models. These guitars have the standard 1970s Di Giorgio circular inner label with “Som D’ouro” stamped on the back of the headstock.
The headstocks are also a slightly different shape & commonly found with a printed flower motif replacing the standard carving.
The printed flower motif is not exclusive to Som D’ouro stamped guitars & may be found on full branded Di Giorgio models.
It would appear the Som D’ouro factory were manufacturing the guitars and then finishing with the Di Giorgio inner label.
Additionally, Som D’ouro continued to make full branded guitars in their own name.
The base of the Som D’ouro label reads:
R Proetti
product of high artistic luthiers handcrafted by appointment of EUROMUSIKAL Italy
This suggests the Som D’ouro guitars we manufactured exclusively for export. ( Other websites refer to Som D’ouro being sold exclusively by EuroMusikal in Ancona, Italy ) It is still common to find these guitar in Italy today.
Som D’ouro guitars with black labels without a year of manufacture also exist. We suggest these models were made are prior to the circular dated label shown above.
The Som D’ouro brand does not appear much after 1980. Both the Di Giorgio branded versions and Som D’ouro’s own guitars are not commonly found in Brazil.
Known Som D’ouro brand models:
- Bahia
- Rio
- Ritimo ( Santana )
- Brasìlia
- Conservatório 1/2 ( Conservatório )
- Rancho & Bora Bora ( 6 & 12 String Clock Shape )
Comments Open: Own a Som D’ouro model or know more about the relationship between the factories? Leave a comment below or send a note via the Contact page.
I own a Son d’ouro model Bahia, with sn 0000512 and black label with written la nuova melodiosa I think it should be made before 1975.
From Italy
Francesco
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Thanks Francesco, Yes we agree the Black Label Som D’ouro Guitars are likely made early to mid 1970s, before the dated circular label was introduced.
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