Slaman DS 250 - Charlie Christian Commemorative series

**Fred Archtop** · 10-23-2015, 12:40 PM

Hello jazz guitarists,

Having long admired his guitars on YouTube, I finally got in touch with luthier Daniel Slaman over the last months. I am a long and incurable monomaniac about archtops mounted with Charlie Christian pickups and the visit of his workshop, last summer, was a kind of dream come true.

Since I own an original Gibson ES 150 from 1938, my idea was to go for real a 17' non-cutaway model, like the Gibson ES 250 from 1939/40. I had the chance to try out a real ES 250 a few months ago in Paris. The amplified sound was just amazing and made a lasting impression to me.

So I went to Daniel's workshop last august. He is a very friendly and humble man, extremely prone to receiving visitors. There I could try 3 different ES 250, actually DS 250 as Daniel has named them. Two were made out of European spruce and one from Sitka wood. I was looking for a guitar that would be acoustically very resonant, and I quickly chose the EU spruce tabletop models. The 2 remaining guitars were very close in terms of sound, but one was slightly superior, as regards to what I was seeking.

This guitar is part of the Charlie Christian 100th birthday series that Daniel has started to build. He has planed to make 11 in total, as a nice reminder of the famous tune '7 come 11' from Charlie Christian & Benny Goodman. This guitar is just incredible: I have to say that Daniel's DS 250 and others DS 250 I could try are superior to the original ES 250 I tested previously. Acoustically speaking they have much more projection and bass range. Once plugged the sound of DS vs ES is more balanced, since Daniel is adjusting each pole piece individually. Great job, no more B string bursting out.

I went to The Hague, two weeks ago, to pick up my guitar at Daniel's workshop. We had a nice afternoon together chating about guitars, woods, and guitar players. Now I have tested this DS 250 with my jazz quartet (trpt/guitar/bs/dr), with no special issue about feedback. She also shines on more intimate jazz like duos. True gem.

You'll find a bunch of pictures below. I also have prepared 1 demo for my YouTube channel (Fred Archtop)

Cheers

Fred

**wintermoon** · 10-23-2015, 12:53 PM

nice.
mahogany neck? the last variation of the ES-250 had mahogany necks.
RP got one recently, though I think his was a maple neck.

it's good to see someone making a 250 'reissue' as Gibson dropped the ball on their own design....again.

**rpguitar** · 10-23-2015, 12:58 PM

Mine's 'hog too. Daniel has been very excited about these CC 100th Anniversary guitars! I even scored a '30s Geib case for him on U.S. Ebay and shipped it over to Holland. Now I'm gonna listen to your clips...

**targuit** · 10-23-2015, 01:07 PM

Listening to your first clip - beautiful sound, tone and balance. And excellent playing to boot. The pickup sounds ...great!

I'll take two to go plus one of Daniel's nylon string archtops, too! (At the moment, in my dreams....)

**Fred Archtop** · 10-23-2015, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by wintermoon

mahogany neck? .

Yes absolutely.

**Fred Archtop** · 10-23-2015, 01:27 PM

Originally Posted by rpguitar

I even scored a '30s Geib case for him on U.S. Ebay and shipped it over to Holland

Yes, daniel is proposing original Lifton/geib cases from the 30's/40's. Since I already have original 16' cases, I went for a new case. here it is with 3 stripes painted by Daniel, to remind the tweed Geib case with the stripes.

**helios** · 10-23-2015, 02:12 PM

Great tone, demo & pictures! You and RP are turning me into a CC convert! Jeff

**Steve Z** · 10-23-2015, 02:20 PM

Great playing! The DS250 is indeed an incredible guitar.

Curious, what strings are you using? I have been playing an old '56 ES125 lately and finding it a struggle to find strings that sound nice with the old P90. So far 13 Chrome flats and some other 10 electric strings. The best has been bronze acoustic mediums, but trying to get a more classic tone.

Thanks.

**fws6** · 10-23-2015, 02:22 PM

Very nice I love the guitar & your clips too !

**Fred Archtop** · 10-23-2015, 02:35 PM

Thanks to all for your comments, I'm glad if I can contaminate some of you with my CC addiction...

Originally Posted by Steve Z

Curious, what strings are you using?Thanks.

Thomastick-Infeld swing 12-50. Daniel originally mounted a set of D'addario chrome round wound 12-52, and these strings went very well too, with more punch and brightness. I might go back to them depending on the way I will use the guitar (combo vs duo etc.).

Best to you.

**Jabberwocky** · 10-23-2015, 03:15 PM

Nice to see you posting here, Fred.

That's a beautiful looking and sounding guitar. Solid maple back or laminated maple back?

**Fred Archtop** · 10-23-2015, 03:27 PM

Originally Posted by Jabberwocky

Nice to see you posting here, Fred.

That's a beautiful looking and sounding guitar. Solid maple back or laminated maple back?

Hey Jabs,

it's laminated. That's the standard CC series made by Daniel. Of course, you can order a carved back with supplement and il you have patience.

**Jabberwocky** · 10-23-2015, 03:43 PM

Daniel uses solid maple for the rims, I am rather sure. That's a beautiful piece of rippled maple. Laminated or not, it looks and sounds really stonking!

Man, I gotta find the money fast for one of me own. Love that Tweed Case with the Racing Stripes too.

**stringmaster** · 10-23-2015, 03:59 PM

Congratulations! You certainly do it justice. I have a DS-250 that I love, and when I saw the new CC series I was tempted--just cause mine is so great!

**wintermoon** · 10-23-2015, 04:30 PM

just a note, most all 250s were pressed backs, save for Christian's blonde, which had a new back added after the orig was damaged

**wintermoon** · 10-23-2015, 04:41 PM

I really like DS' attention to detail.
he could have taken the easy route and made a guitar w/ a side mounted jack like the last version 250 but took the time and effort to recreate the tailpiece/cup jack of the original run.

same w/the extra thick top binding found only on the prewar 250 and J-100, not to mention making his own catalin type button tuners found on the originals.

now he's going the extra mile w/the striped Geib type tweed case...

**Fred Archtop** · 10-23-2015, 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by wintermoon

I really like DS' attention to detail.
he could have taken the easy route and made a guitar w/ a side mounted jack like the last version 250 but took the time and effort to recreate the tailpiece/cup jack of the original run.

same w/the extra thick top binding found only on the prewar 250 and J-100, not to mention making his own catalin type button tuners found on the originals.

now he's going the extra mile w/the striped Geib type tweed case...

DS sense of historical details is just amazing, and so respectful for the craftmen of the great Gibson era. As for the bakelite knobs, I know he is sourcing them from old radio stocks, meaning that they are historical. Just like the Geib/Lifton cases he currently proposes to add some extra mojo to his work.

By the way, when I visited him, I brought him a picture of the Alvino Rey's ES 250 which was mounted with a second CC pickup (the lapsteel model to cope with the limited space available). He told me that he is now after this model...

**stringmaster** · 10-23-2015, 05:22 PM

Originally Posted by Fred Archtop

DS sense of historical details is just amazing, and so respectful for the craftmen of the great Gibson era. As for the bakelite knobs, I know he is sourcing them from old radio stocks, meaning that they are historical. Just like the Geib/Lifton cases he currently proposes to add some extra mojo to his work.

By the way, when I visited him, I brought him a picture of the Alvino Rey's ES 250 which was mounted with a second CC pickup (the lapsteel model to cope with the limited space available). He told me that he is now after this model...

Now an Alvino Rey model--hmm?

**fritz jones** · 10-23-2015, 05:46 PM

the fingerboard is almost flush with the top like a flat top. methinks that would reduce weight and make it easier to play.

**Eddie Lang** · 10-23-2015, 08:55 PM

Great playing again, Fred!

Daniel posted his new Commemorative CC Collecion on his website today.

News 2015 - New Vintage Guitars

**Fred Archtop** · 10-24-2015, 12:00 AM

Originally Posted by Eddie Lang

Great playing again, Fred!

Daniel posted his new Commemorative CC Collecion on his website today.

News 2015 - New Vintage Guitars

Thanks Richard, I didn't know.

**Dedalus** · 10-24-2015, 02:08 AM

Since discovering this site I've quickly become a fan of CC pickups and definitely Slaman's guitars.
Your playing really does justice to a gorgeous guitar.