Phil Petillo
Encyclopedia
Dr. Phillip J. Petillo (September 4, 1945 – August 13, 2010) was a New Jersey-based luthier
, engineer
, restoration artist, and proprietor of Petillo Masterpiece Guitars. In the guitar circle, Petillo is most famous as the inventor of the "Petillo Precision Fret
." In a patent filed on June 22, 1976, the new fret was described as "a substantially T-shaped fret for a stringed instrument..which has an elongated stem topped by a triangularly shaped cap." Petillo's triangular frets result in more precise intonation; however, not all guitarists are comfortable with their rigid feel.
By an agreement with Kramer Guitars
in the late 1970s, all aluminum neck Kramer instruments were to be equipped with Petillo Frets, and they were: each guitar or bass sported exactly one Petillo Precision Fret, as the zero fret
.
Among the list of Petillo's many past and present clients include:
In addition to his work with frets, Petillo has also developed his own line of strings, pickups, parts, and electronics. Petillo is also an expert of wood technology, which he uses in refurbishing antique or damaged instruments, as well as in designing and fitting his custom work. His son, David, is an expert of marquetry
, and inlays complex symbols and figures into the body, neck, and headstock of the instruments using mother-of-pearl, abalone, and various types of metal and wood.
Petillo is also an inventor,holding 29 patents with 7 more pending, whose work can be found in hospitals throughout the world. He also contributed to the design of a hydrogen internal combustion engine(with Steven C. Amendola).cit:(U.S.patent #6683025 and the newer one of Dr. Phillip J. Petillo's US Patent #6998188)
He also restored museum pieces. He was fondly known as one of the kindest men who ever lived. He was a Christian and actively evangelized in order to help people find love and meaning in their lives.
Luthier
A luthier is someone who makes or repairs lutes and other string instruments. In the United States, the term is used interchangeably with a term for the specialty of each maker, such as violinmaker, guitar maker, lute maker, etc...
, engineer
Audio engineering
An audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
, restoration artist, and proprietor of Petillo Masterpiece Guitars. In the guitar circle, Petillo is most famous as the inventor of the "Petillo Precision Fret
Fret
A fret is a raised portion on the neck of a stringed instrument, that extends generally across the full width of the neck. On most modern western instruments, frets are metal strips inserted into the fingerboard...
." In a patent filed on June 22, 1976, the new fret was described as "a substantially T-shaped fret for a stringed instrument..which has an elongated stem topped by a triangularly shaped cap." Petillo's triangular frets result in more precise intonation; however, not all guitarists are comfortable with their rigid feel.
By an agreement with Kramer Guitars
Kramer Guitars
Kramer Guitars is an American manufacturer of electric guitars and basses. Kramer produced aluminum-necked electric guitars and basses in the 1970s and wooden-necked guitars catering to hard rock and heavy metal musicians in the 1980s; Kramer is currently a division of Gibson Guitar Corporation...
in the late 1970s, all aluminum neck Kramer instruments were to be equipped with Petillo Frets, and they were: each guitar or bass sported exactly one Petillo Precision Fret, as the zero fret
Zero fret
A zero fret is a fret placed at the headstock end of the neck of a banjo, guitar, mandolin, or bass guitar. It serves one of the functions of a nut: holding the strings the correct distance above the other frets on the instrument's fretboard...
.
Among the list of Petillo's many past and present clients include:
- Rodney Dangerfield
- Bruce SpringsteenBruce SpringsteenBruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
- Tom PettyTom PettyThomas Earl "Tom" Petty is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and was a founding member of the late 1980s supergroup Traveling Wilburys and Mudcrutch. He has also performed under the pseudonyms of Charlie T...
- Keith RichardsKeith RichardsKeith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting...
- Gene SimmonsGene SimmonsGene Simmons is an Israeli-American entrepreneur, singer-songwriter, actor, and rock bassist. Known as "The Demon", he is the bassist/vocalist of Kiss, a hard rock band he co-founded in the early 1970s.-Early life:...
and KISSKISS (band)Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,... - Sting
- 311311 (band)311 is an American rock band from Omaha, Nebraska. The band was formed in 1988 by vocalist/rhythm guitarist Nick Hexum, lead guitarist Jim Watson , bassist Aaron "P-Nut" Wills and drummer Chad Sexton...
- Jim CroceJim CroceJames Joseph "Jim" Croce January 10, 1943 – September 20, 1973 was an American singer-songwriter. Between 1966 and 1973, Croce released five studio albums and 11 singles...
- Tal FarlowTal FarlowTalmage Holt Farlow was an American jazz guitarist. Nicknamed the "Octopus", Farlow's extremely large hands spread over the fretboard as if they were tentacles. He is considered one of the all-time great jazz guitarists. Michael G...
- Steve Miller BandSteve Miller BandThe Steve Miller Band is an American rock band formed in 1967 in San Francisco, California. The band is managed by Steve Miller on guitar and lead vocals, and is known for a string of mid-1970s hit singles that are staples of the classic rock radio format.-History:In 1965, Steve Miller and...
- FuelFuel (band)Fuel is an American rock band formed by guitarist/songwriter Carl Bell and bassist Jeff Abercrombie in 1989. Originally known as Small the Joy, they changed the group's name to Fuel sometime in 1994...
In addition to his work with frets, Petillo has also developed his own line of strings, pickups, parts, and electronics. Petillo is also an expert of wood technology, which he uses in refurbishing antique or damaged instruments, as well as in designing and fitting his custom work. His son, David, is an expert of marquetry
Marquetry
Marquetry is the art and craft of applying pieces of veneer to a structure to form decorative patterns, designs or pictures. The technique may be applied to case furniture or even seat furniture, to decorative small objects with smooth, veneerable surfaces or to freestanding pictorial panels...
, and inlays complex symbols and figures into the body, neck, and headstock of the instruments using mother-of-pearl, abalone, and various types of metal and wood.
Petillo is also an inventor,holding 29 patents with 7 more pending, whose work can be found in hospitals throughout the world. He also contributed to the design of a hydrogen internal combustion engine(with Steven C. Amendola).cit:(U.S.patent #6683025 and the newer one of Dr. Phillip J. Petillo's US Patent #6998188)
He also restored museum pieces. He was fondly known as one of the kindest men who ever lived. He was a Christian and actively evangelized in order to help people find love and meaning in their lives.