Daniel Slaman DS 250

**Fred Archtop** · 02-13-2016, 02:43 PM

Hello fellow jazz guitarists,

Just to share with you my feelings on my Daniel Slaman DS 250, greatly inspired by the Gibson ES 250 from 1939/40. I 've played it quite a lot over the last 5 months and the sound has improved that's sure. It was great from the starting but now it's more opened, less crispy and dry than it was in the beginning.

The sound is taking the way I was looking for when I decided to aquire this instrument, ie a 17'' carved body with a CC pickup (from CC PU UK) something close to the L5 CC from the great Kenny Burrell.

I am sure it will continue to improve. After all, it is was crafted just last year by Daniel.

You'll find here a new video featuring this babe.

Mr. Slaman is a nasty guitar luthier !

Cheers

**Flat** · 02-13-2016, 02:48 PM

Really, really nice! Great playing, delightful tone. Thanks for posting, Fred!

Love that Slaman!

**maggles55** · 02-13-2016, 05:09 PM

Just beautiful!!

Can I ask what amp you are using?

Thanks,
Andy

**Fred Archtop** · 02-13-2016, 05:17 PM

Originally Posted by maggles55

Can I ask what amp you are using?

You're welcome. Fender Super Sonic 60 W. I'm on the Bassman channel. It's a modern amp, pretty convincing for someone looking for classic Fender tone. Versatile sound too, since there's another Vibrolux channel. I've used a Shure SM 57 in front of the amp to capture the sound.

Cheers.

Fred.

**M-ster** · 02-13-2016, 07:24 PM

Sounds great!

**citizenk74** · 02-13-2016, 07:32 PM

Sweet, sweet, sweet. Congratulations, and play it in good health!

**helios** · 02-13-2016, 10:52 PM

Your video sounds nicer than the demo videos featured on the Slaman website!
I'd be interested to hear the DS-350:

* 17 inch wide cutaway body
* 3 1/4 inch side depth
* 25 1/2 inch scale length
* 25 1/2 inch scale length
* handcarved and tuned Sitka spruce top
* solid car
* acoustic hollow body with hand-bent maple sides
* ivoroid binding on front and back of body
* ebony fingerboard with ES350 style pearl inlays
* mahogany neck, C medium profile
* neck joins body at 14th fret
* hand-made rosewood bridge
* unbound f-holes
* Schaller vintage nickel tuners
* ES350 style nickel tailpiece
* P90 single coil Alnico II pickup
* volume and tone control with amber speed knobs
* ivoroid bound fingerboard
* Slaman logo in pearl in bound ebony faced headstock
* Black 5 ply pickguard
* blonde or sunburst nitro-cellulose finish
17 inch wide cutaway body
* 3 1/4 inch side depth
* 25 1/2 inch scale length
* handcarved and tuned Sitka spruce top
* solid carved maple

**targuit** · 02-14-2016, 08:50 AM

Fred - Beautiful playing and matching tone from that gorgeous guitar. I just love the sound! I don't know if it is the pickup, the guitar, the player ....whatever is in that magic sauce keep it cookin'!

Are you living in Europe or the US? I'm wondering how you worked things out with Daniel. Also is this recorded to a computer DAW?

**Fred Archtop** · 02-14-2016, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by targuit

Are you living in Europe or the US? I'm wondering how you worked things out with Daniel. Also is this recorded to a computer DAW?

I'm in France. I came accross Daniel's work by the internet, as a great fan myself of prewar Gibsons equipped with CC PU. I took the advantage of holidays in Holland, last summer, to visit his workshop. Then it was done for me...I had to get one of his historical Charlie Christian ES 250 series.

As for recording, yes, I am using a computer DAW. I have a studio that I use for my personal projects. Here I have a good recording chain which restitutes all the flavor of the sound.

Cheers.

Fred

**targuit** · 02-14-2016, 10:51 AM

Fred - out of curiosity when you visited Daniel's studio did you play one of his nylon string archtops?

I love playing nylon string classicals, but I have a serious desire for a nylon string that is optimized for jazz. I know there are some beautiful Buscarino nylon string instruments with cutaways, but I am curious about Daniel's art in that area.

Congratulations on your wonderful Slaman and your playing.

This may sound a bit odd out of the blue, but did you ever meet an American violinist by the name of David Rose? This would be decades ago in the Seventies or Eighties. He was a friend of mine from college days who ended up living in Paris or the environs with his wife who was French. He recorded an album under his name with Philip Catherine.

**Max405** · 02-14-2016, 11:09 AM

Fred, Outstanding! Outstanding! Outstanding!
Fantastic playing and the guitar sounds beautiful.
Thanks, Joe D

**Fred Archtop** · 02-14-2016, 11:21 AM

Originally Posted by targuit

I love playing nylon string classicals, but I have a serious desire for a nylon string that is optimized for jazz. I know there are some beautiful Buscarino nylon string instruments with cutaways, but I am curious about Daniel's art in that area.

This may sound a bit odd out of the blue, but did you ever meet an American violinist by the name of David Rose? This would be decades ago in the Seventies or Eighties. He was a friend of mine from college days who ended up living in Paris or the environs with his wife who was French. He recorded an album under his name with Philip Catherine.

Never heard about your friend David Rose. I will inquire about him and let you know if I come accross something.

As for jazz nylon string achtops, I didn't have the opportunity to try one of the models prepared by Daniel. As far as I remember, I didn't see such a guitar in his workshop. But maybe I just skipped them since I was very much oriented towards these DS 250 models. There, I tried the 16'' models such as the special series he made for Pat Metheny, or the more classical DS 150 (copy of the prewar ES 150). They all sound outstanding and Daniel has become a master luthier, that's sure. Don't hesitate to contact him if you're looking for a special information. He is very friendly and prompt to discuss with us guitarists.

Best to you.

**Fred Archtop** · 02-14-2016, 11:29 AM

Originally Posted by Joe DeNisco

the guitar sounds beautiful.

Joe, I'm so happy it's starting to sound like I was really looking for. Acquiring a luthier's instrument, as great as he/she can be, is always a bet. They never build two guitars that sound exactly the same manner and, if you're looking for a particular sound, you can never be sure that it will improve in the direction you are expecting. Thanks to Daniel, I've found my graal !

I'm glad to share this with you.

Cheers.

**pingu** · 02-14-2016, 12:51 PM

yeah thats fabulous
round and warm body of sound with
a small 'ding' on the front of the note

lovely ....

also you play great
love the chord work
are you into Barney ?

**Archtop Guy** · 02-14-2016, 01:05 PM

Fred that was beautiful. Awesome playing and sound.Sweet guitar. I've had the hots for your model in the distressed mode. Daniel does such a job with making everything look and sound just plain old. Between you and Joe D. with his Excel maybe you two can get the forum to swing towards non cuts. Who needs a cutaway anyway? Thanks for sharing.

**Max405** · 02-14-2016, 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by Archtop Guy

Fred that was beautiful. Awesome playing and sound.Sweet guitar. I've had the hots for your model in the distressed mode. Daniel does such a job with making everything look and sound just plain old. Between you and Joe D. with his Excel maybe you two can get the forum to swing towards non cuts. Who needs a cutaway anyway? Thanks for sharing.

We have to pull Stringswinger and Steve Longobardi in too.

**Fred Archtop** · 02-14-2016, 02:44 PM

Originally Posted by pingu

are you into Barney ?

I've always been. As for chords, I've mostly worked Wes and Kenny voicings. But the true paternity of my chord playing goes first to an Italian guitarist called Tomaso Lama with whom I studied 25 years ago. This guy helped me a lot to get fluidity for my chord solos.

Cheers.

**Fred Archtop** · 02-14-2016, 02:49 PM

Originally Posted by Archtop Guy

Who needs a cutaway anyway? Thanks for sharing.

My pleasure ! I'm not so fond of cuts, certainly because I'm more after prewar models. same for my flat-tops...no necessity for cutaway models, they just cut down some good frequencies of the tabletop...

Best.

**2bornot2bop** · 02-14-2016, 07:46 PM

Yeah, well you Daniel are one "nasty" playa! More like this!

Viva la France!

**Jabberwocky** · 02-15-2016, 12:10 AM

Originally Posted by Archtop Guy

...I've had the hots for your model in the distressed mode. Daniel does such a job with making everything look and sound just plain old...

Daniel's guitars even smell old in a good way. Smells like old lacquer. I have his Slaman 1923 L5. How is his name read in Dutch anyway; is it Sl-ay-man or Sl-ah-mahn?