Dupont Guitars - The D'Aquisto of Gypsy Guitars
tedg...@my-deja.com
latest is amazing! I have to say that if Selmer is the D'Angelico of
the Gypsy guitar world, than Dupont is the D'Aquisto. He's the only one
to recreate the classic look and style or the original, while enhancing
and bettering the sound. He's also pushing the envelope a bit by
introducing new models and styles like the Modele Swing, maple bodied
with a carved back. Here are my two:
It is a Dupont Eddie Freeman model with an internal sound chamber. The
back and sides are a highly figured Mahagony and the neck is walnut.
The sound of this guitar is thick, rich and cutting. It's a four-
stringed model, and I tune it a variety of ways and no matter how I
tune it sound fantastic. I use it for rhythm and it gets the perfect
tone. I would recommend a sound chambered model to anyone!
My other one is also a large soundhole Maccaferri model maple back,
sides and a 14 fret maple neck. The sound on this guitar is also
fantastic and equally as good as the other one. The tone is very
reminiscent of the original Selmers, but not as chunky - more of an
even toned sound. It can he seen on the John Jorgenson page at the
Dupont web site.
Ted
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Share what you know. Learn what you don't.
ROBERT NEWTON
Also very interesting is an American version called the Dell Arte, made in
southern california. I tried one a couple of weeks ago, it also played and
sounded like a real Django guitar. Very reasonable price too. does anyone
know much about these?
tedg...@my-deja.com
cheap. The Dupont MD-50 (lamintaed rosewood) is essentially Django's
guitar. The vast majority of Selmers were laminated woods but Dupont
has a tough time selling them over here. People tend to want to real
stuff. While the Dell'Artes are build the same way, it's not the same
thing.
Whenever someone mentions the budget contraints I tell them this story:
I know this jazz guitarist, always wanted a Benedetto. Several years
ago when a Manhattan was only about $6K he said they were too
expensive. I said spend the money now or you may never get the chance
again. Now he won't because the prices are so high, even for a used
one. Dupont uses the original Selmer molds. As I mentioned above, you
can order a Dupont MD-50 for somewhere in the 3K range and have a
Selmer with Dupont on the headstock. It's getting one of the early
D'Aquisto's which were essentially D'Angelico's. This will sound
*exactly* like Django'd guitar if that's what you're after. But what
most people tend to do with these is try and get their own sound. My
two Duponts are vastly different but I can get basically the same sound
out of both. That's easier said than done on an archtop!
Hope this helps,
McGroup
>reminiscent of the original Selmers, but not as chunky - more of an
>even toned sound. It can he seen on the John Jorgenson page at the
>Dupont web site.
What is the URL of the Dupont website?
Francois Rousseau
My main problem is that those guitars are not found at your local shop
and I will never order one by mail.
I wish I could try a few of them and then choose the one I prefer.
I have to chance to travel a lot in the US. I've found there was a place
in Palo Alto and I will stop next time I go.
France is next one the list but it's not next week...
--
Any idea in north america !!! Toronto ? Vancouver ? California ? Denver
?...
Francois Rousseau
Videotron (IP Telephony)
2000 Berri, 5th floor
Montreal, Quebec
H2L 4V7
tel : (514) 380-7324
fax : (514) 380-7337
tedg...@my-deja.com
Have fun!
tedg...@my-deja.com
You're web page is fantastic! I love all the photos of the guitars.
You've obviously played Duponts and the many other guitars in this
style. If you worried about receiving a guitar that has been broken, if
you ensure it than you are covered for the purchase price. If you're
worried that you won't like the guitar, many of the stores offer a 24
hour trial period where you test the guitar. If you don't like it the
only thing that you lose is the shipping costs back to the store.
I've never had a problem ordering a guitar through the mail. In fact
the first Dupont that I ever owned I ordered sight unseen and was
worried that I wouldn't like it, but when it came I knew that I made
the correct choice.
How is the Gypsy music scene in Quebec?
Cheers,
Ted
Russell Letson
place, and they've had several Mac-style guitars (including Michael
Dunn's excellent instruments) the times I've visited. Another place to
consider is Elderly Instruments, which currently lists Duponts, Dunns,
Dell'Artes and LeVois in its catalog. A few years back I played a
really stunning Dupont there.
tedg...@my-deja.com
deal in Dunn's guitars. I've never played one, though. He's two hours
north of me in Vancourver. He sounds like a real nice guy. He records
and plays with Bob Brozman.
David Moss
David Moss
Francois Rousseau wrote...
> I'm entertaining this idea of buying a Selmer-alike guitars.
>
> My main problem is that those guitars are not found at your local shop
> and I will never order one by mail.
>
> I wish I could try a few of them and then choose the one I prefer.
>
> I have to chance to travel a lot in the US. I've found there was a place
> in Palo Alto and I will stop next time I go.
>
> France is next one the list but it's not next week...
> --
>
> Any idea in north america !!! Toronto ? Vancouver ? California ? Denver
Here are four Canadian luthiers who build Selmer-style guitars
(all in the west, I'm afraid):
Michael Berg
4074 Interurban Road
Victoria, BC
V8Z 4W7
(250) 744-1658
bergg...@coastnet.com
http://www.coastnet.com/~bergguitar/
Michael Dunn
708 3rd Avenue,
New Westminster, BC
Canada V3M 1N7
(604) 524-1943
mailto:dja...@portal.ca
http://www.portal.ca/~django/guitars.html
Lawrence Nyberg (student of Michael Dunn)
6320 Bond Road,
Hornby Island, B.C.,
V0R 1Z0 Canada
mailto:nyb...@island.net
http://www.ice.el.utwente.nl/~han/bouzouki/nyberg.html
Charles Shifflett
124 - 7 avenue West,
High River, Alberta,
Canada T1V - 1A2
(403) 652-1526
CShif...@Compuserve.Com
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/CShifflett/
The source of that information was the Django Reinhardt Swing Page,
at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/SRoyall/homepage.htm
Finally, there's a list of U.S. dealers of Maurice Dupont guitars at
http://www.lutherie.net/dealers.htm.
CRASS
If you go to the Django Reinhardt Swing Page 'Stuff for Sale'
section you will find several gypsy style guitars for sale.
One guy called Bob Clay, in the UK, has several including
original Selmers for silly money, and more modern (and
probably better) Selmer repros at more sensible prices. I got
an Anastasio from him a couple of years ago and it is GREAT!
The URL is:
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/SRoyall/loot.htm
* Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet's Discussion Network *
The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet - Free!
Francois Rousseau
everybody.
For the question on Gipsy Jazz scene in Quebec (I'm departing from the
original thread here, sorry).
Well for Gipsy Jazz there is only one band that plays Django music (Band
named Swing Dynamique). It's been a while I've seen them. Their
orchestra is quite large (guitars, bass, drums, violin, clarinet,
sometimes singers, cello).
There is many traditionnal Gipsy music bands. This is more popular
around here.
A recently met a journalist who is spending (i guess) all its free time
promoting gipsy style music. He organize shows in the Province of Quebec
for his Gipsy friends. He knows them all...the great manouche
guitarists. He seems to go in France once in a while.
I've met him only once and we promise we'll met again just to chat about
it all.
my Django experimental tribute site : http://pages.infinit.net/reinhard/
Thanks again everybody
tedg...@my-deja.com wrote:
>
> In article <37E84FE3...@videotron.net>,
> francois...@videotron.net wrote:
> > I'm entertaining this idea of buying a Selmer-alike guitars.
> >
> > My main problem is that those guitars are not found at your local shop
> > and I will never order one by mail.
> >
> > I wish I could try a few of them and then choose the one I prefer.
> >
> > I have to chance to travel a lot in the US. I've found there was a
> place
> > in Palo Alto and I will stop next time I go.
> >
> > France is next one the list but it's not next week...
> > --
> >
> > Any idea in north america !!! Toronto ? Vancouver ? California ?
> Denver
> > ?...
> >
> > Francois Rousseau
> > Videotron (IP Telephony)
> > 2000 Berri, 5th floor
> > Montreal, Quebec
> > H2L 4V7
> > tel : (514) 380-7324
> > fax : (514) 380-7337
> >
> Hi Again!
>
> You're web page is fantastic! I love all the photos of the guitars.
> You've obviously played Duponts and the many other guitars in this
> style. If you worried about receiving a guitar that has been broken, if
> you ensure it than you are covered for the purchase price. If you're
> worried that you won't like the guitar, many of the stores offer a 24
> hour trial period where you test the guitar. If you don't like it the
> only thing that you lose is the shipping costs back to the store.
>
> I've never had a problem ordering a guitar through the mail. In fact
> the first Dupont that I ever owned I ordered sight unseen and was
> worried that I wouldn't like it, but when it came I knew that I made
> the correct choice.
>
> How is the Gypsy music scene in Quebec?
>
> Cheers,
>
> Ted
>
> Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
> Share what you know. Learn what you don't.
--
bobm...@my-deja.com
sounding of all the django type guitars, plus Michael is one of my
favorite musicians, a great, open-minded and passionate player! I have
learned a lot of great music from him. The Duponts are also very nice,
more traditional looking, but i really feel the Dunn is double the
instrument.
tedg...@my-deja.com
you think about it) is that *no one* pay the crazy amounts for Selmers
except Americans. Example - a Grande Modele 4-Cordes (tenor guitar with
regular sized guitar body and a four string neck) will sell forapprox.
17K over here while in France you can get one for about 5K depending on
condition. Those guitar a *ultra rare* because most were converted to 6
strings by the Selmer factory. Same thing with the Eddie Freeman model.
Although the body was made by Dupont, the neck, tuners and tail piece I
bought from a guy who was having an original MINT CONDITION Freeman re-
necked! While I'm happy that I got original parts, WE SHOULD BE
PRESERVING THE ORIGINAL INSTRUMENTS!! <sermons over>
When you say more modern copies, are you refering to copies better than
Selmers or Duponts?
tedg...@my-deja.com
CRASS <crass_ma...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> Hi there
> If you go to the Django Reinhardt Swing Page 'Stuff for Sale'
> section you will find several gypsy style guitars for sale.
> One guy called Bob Clay, in the UK, has several including
> original Selmers for silly money, and more modern (and
> probably better) Selmer repros at more sensible prices. I got
> an Anastasio from him a couple of years ago and it is GREAT!
> The URL is:
> http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/SRoyall/loot.htm
>
> * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet's Discussion
Network *
> The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet -
Free!
>
>
I know about the Selmers he has. The sad thing (or good depending on how
you think about it) is that *no one* pay the crazy amounts for Selmers
except Americans. Example - a Grande Modele 4-Cordes (tenor guitar with
regular sized guitar body and a four string neck) will sell for approx.
17K over here while in France you can get one for about 5K depending on
condition. Those guitar a *ultra rare* because most were converted to 6
strings by the Selmer factory. Same thing with the Eddie Freeman model.
Although the body Eddie was made by Dupont, the neck, tuners and tail
piece I bought from a guy who was having an original MINT CONDITION
Freeman re-necked! While I'm happy that I got original parts, WE SHOULD
tedg...@my-deja.com
bobm...@my-deja.com wrote:
> Yes, I have two Michael Dunn guitars, and they are the loudest,
richest
> sounding of all the django type guitars, plus Michael is one of my
> favorite musicians, a great, open-minded and passionate player! I have
> learned a lot of great music from him. The Duponts are also very
nice,
> more traditional looking, but i really feel the Dunn is double the
> instrument.
>
him and his guitars, have always wanted to play but never had the
opportunity. I'd love to play one. What models and woods do you have?
Where are you located?
tedg...@my-deja.com
"David Moss" <david...@ifia.fzk.de> wrote:
>
> Francois Rousseau wrote...
> > I'm entertaining this idea of buying a Selmer-alike guitars.
> >
> > My main problem is that those guitars are not found at your local
shop
> > and I will never order one by mail.
> >
> > I wish I could try a few of them and then choose the one I prefer.
> >
> > I have to chance to travel a lot in the US. I've found there was a
place
> > in Palo Alto and I will stop next time I go.
> >
> > France is next one the list but it's not next week...
> > --
> >
> > Any idea in north america !!! Toronto ? Vancouver ? California ?
Denver
>
is Dunn, the rest learned from him and the guitar they make are, in my
opinion, are cheap, ugly knock-offs. If you're looking for a
traditional looking Selmer Guitar at a reasonable price that is hand
made, try Shelley Park, guitarist with Pearl Django. She also learned
from Dunn but is developing her own style:
http://www.users.uswest.net/~tgotts/ParkGuitars.htm
I've played three of her guitars and they are great.
CRASS
>When you say more modern copies, are you refering to copies better than Selmers or Duponts?
Bob's list includes an Ibanez Gypsy and a Saga I think (the
site is down right now), these are probably not as good as
Selmers and Duponts (BUT I must admit I have never played a
Selmer or a Dupont!) The guitars on Bob's list worth checking
out for their quality are the French ones. Typically Favinos
and Anastasios. As I mentioned I have an Anastasio built in
1988 which cost me about 1100 US dollars and alledgedly once
owned by Angelo Debarre. It is not an absolute Selmer copy
but it is loud, bright and fabulous (unfortunately it has me
playing it!!)
Gypsylover
famous Selmer-guitars, the 504. The same model as Django Reinhardt used in
his famous period, his guitar had number 503.
Last week Stochelo played in the dressingroom, waiting to go on stage for
the Django Reinhardt Festival in the Netherlands. A young Dutch guy Leo
Eimers showed him the guitar that he built himself. Stochelo played on it
and was so surprised. even Jan Akkerman, the famous guitarist who was there
as well, was overwhelmed and asked Leo Eimers to build him a guitar like
that. In fact the same happened to Robin Nolan, also a very good
gypsy-swingguitarist. He played for fun on a Rob Aylward guitar and he fell
in love with it immediately. So I only want to tell that the Selmer-models
of many luthiers are very good, but you must have a chance to feel it.
tedg...@my-deja.com
What it boils down to is this: Whatever inspires the player to pick-up
the instrument daily is what that person should.
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
tedg...@my-deja.com
recordings and know how he plays sounds like a great guitar! However: I
would not say that the Ibanez or Saga models ever approach the Duponts
or Selmers in terms of quality and playability! Not even close. That
would be like comparing a Vintage Gibson L5 to a Harmony.
CRASS
ABSOLUTELY!!
CRASS
Yes yes I know. I only wanted to mention the Favino and
Anastasio guitars as being quality instruments. It is just
that Bob had a Saga and a Ibanez Gypsy for sale.
I have heard that the Ibanez is actually pretty good and they
ain't cheap!