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Fun Question Of The Month--May
What's the coolest gypsy jazz guitar you ever played? It can be one you own, one you used to own (doh!), a friend's, or one that you just came upon at some point in your journey. Let's keep it to a maximum of 2, I'll get it started:
1) My friend in Asheville's oval-hole cedar-top Shelley Park. Every time I jam with him & he lets me play it, I dread the thought of giving it back. It's truly a superb instrument in all the ways that matter most to me.
2) My other friend in Asheville's old Favino. It used to belong to our very own Scot Wise and is worth more than my last car. An old gem with lots of stories to tell, if only it could speak.
Comments
My two are:
Stephane Wrembel’s Bob Holo, which he let me borrow for a workshop.
A guitar that belonged to Roger Chaput, with a deep thumb groove in the upside of the first fret. I wouldn’t be surprised if Django had played it at some point.
All of Gian's vintage Django boxes but absolutely the Maccaferri, like playing a piece of history.
Coolest 3 - The amazing Michael Bauer's old D hole Selmer (several times at Django in June, and once at a gig in Chicago - man was he generous about letting me play it!) That is hands down the best Gypsy guitar I have ever played or heard. Just a wild guitar. Resonator and in wow condition - and potentially owned by J. Reinhardt (so goes the rumour).
@paulmcevoy75 that Blue guitar blew me away (dad joke intended)- man one of the best modern Gypsy jazz guitars. Round, punch, and bright - and easy to play. Just a brilliant instrument. Someone should buy his personal guitar that he just offered for sale too - that's a beast as well.
My Vladimir Les Effes. Still slays. Funny story about that is that I had it for a shared bill with Romane a few years ago where a lot of good guitars were. He picks up a guitar rather expensive vintage guitar (A busato), and makes a face and sets it down; picks mine up, plays for about 7 minutes, hands it back and nods and smiles. Lol.
Can't wait to see what Gian has to say here!
Selmer #760, which I had bought for $3,500. At the time I didn't know anything about Selmers, though, and I put phosphor bronze strings on it. Sold it on consignment in Japan and netted $3,000.
geez man. Made my day. At the moment I'm like why tf am I doing this, so I appreciate the kind words.
Fav guitars for me were a Favino that Fanou had, Sam's Rino and the Walnut guitar I took to Paris. Not going to lie, I like my guitars :) But those other two were fucking great.
TBH I don't feel like I've played all that many Selmer style guitars. Not enough, anyway.
I haven’t played many nice Selmer style guitars, but I got to play @marcelodamon Selmer #561 and it was fantastic. It definitely has the vintage mojo.
It's impossible to pick two (I had the same problem in your favorite music thread). So I'll just go to the last one that knocked me out. It's the Ivanovski that @lorenzop got. (maybe I should go back to the favorite music thread and do the same...) There were others that left an impression over the years but not that many,
Wish I could join in, but like Flaco, I just haven't had the chance to play that many.
I would love to know what Michael's top three are though!!
Playing Stephane's Busato (both pre-and post repair) is always special, though I will never make that guitar sound as good as he does.
He who shall not be named Selmer 824. Even cooler watching Sebastien Felix having a rip on it over morning coffee.
And of course shamelessly, my Jerome Duffell, which for me is the finest of the non-vintage guitars I have played. It was playing Josh Kaye's first Duffell that completely sold me on Jerome being the builder for me.
Some other super cool ones mentioned here too, Sam's Rino sticks out for sure.
I loved my 1984 Favino, a guitar made made by Jean-Pierre in the old workshop. It was loud, had plenty of bass and a fine dark overall sound. The only guitar I ever played that I would have traded it for was a Mazaud Vieux Paris, which was similar but even better. John Bajo's Selmer #163 was really something special. And the first guitar of this type that I ever played - the Selmer Favino once owned by David Grisman. It was 32 years ago but I still remember striking a G/B chord and being just knocked over by that sound.