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Italia Monza Red Sparkle with AMP! Has an attachable amp, they call a pod. To use the amp pod, you simply plug it into the standard 1/4 inch input jack on the guitar & turn a few millimeters so that the two screws (on each side of the amp’s plug) hold it in place… an amp dock… very cool!

Looks like it belongs in a 1950s diner!

Amp pod goes from “clean” at low volume to “distortion” when the volume knob is turned up and uses a single 9-volt battery. You can use this practice amp to warm up before a show and then leave it backstage when it’s time to play.

Italia makes some of the most unique guitars which take you back to the 1950s and 1960s. The Italia Monza was made in South Korea. Italia has been building retro guitars since 1998.

These Italia guitars are designed by British guitar builder Trev Wilkinson. The Monza is inspired by several Italian makers… The amp pod inspired by Wandre, the body by Eko, headstock by Galanti, the inlays and tuner keys, from old Eko guitars. It features a Wilkinson tremolo and three Wilkinson pickups.

Earl Slick with Italia Monza

The Italia Monza has been seen played by Earl Slick (David Bowie, John Lennon, John Waite, Robert Smith, etc.) and Rick Vito (Fleetwood Mac).

I love that the back tremolo plate is the same shape as the guitar. Nice touch Italia!

The Italia Monza, discontinued came in some really rad sparkle colors. I fell for the red sparkle as it was the first one I seen in this color. Not an expensive guitar, but very unique and fun.

  • Body: Agathis
  • Neck: Bolt-on Maple
  • Fingerboard: Rosewood, 22 Frets
  • Scale: 648mm
  • Nut: Graphite / 42mm
  • Pickups: (Neck) Wilkinson WVS, (Middle) Wilkinson WVS, (Bridge) Wilkinson WVS
  • Bridge: Wilkinson VS-50II Tremolo
  • Controls: Master Volume, Master Tone, 5-way pickup switch
  • Tuners: Gotoh
  • Weight with amp pod is 8-lbs 8.5-ozs and without amp pod is 7-lbs 9.5 ozs

Guitar needed a setup and a slight adjustment to the truss rod. To get to the truss rod adjustment screw, you need to take off the neck like a lot of Stratocaster guitars. Adjusted the neck and the tremolo and got the action dialed in with some new D’Addario 10-46 gauge strings. Plays very well. This guitar being from around 1998 – 2000 has no fret wear. Overall just one small blemish on finish on the back and I think the tops of the volume and tone knobs on the amp pod are missing. From looking at several online that seems to be most of the Monza amp pods I saw.

I bought a new Gator Deluxe Wood Case (GW-JAG) and the Italia Monza fit perfectly even with amp pod attached.