Writeup: Otto D'Ambrosio Allegro Special

[Gitpicker]

Hi guys, here's a writeup I did for one of the latest archtop creations by luthier Otto D'ambrosio. Many of you know his name from his collaboration with Eastman as he has designed some of their models like the El Ray series and the new Romeo guitar. Here is a feature on one of his original archtop guitars, the Allegro Special. Just stunning!

JGT Masterworks Spotlight: Otto D’Ambrosio's Allegro Special - Jazz Guitar Today

[Irez87]

Doug,

Your article reminds me why I've come to love Jazz Guitar Today. Great writing, interesting articles, no filler.

Beautiful Guitar, indeed.

[Hammertone]

I read the article, as your opening post interested me and I do love learning about new and custom-built archtop guitars. I was wondering if you had some additional information about the guitar, beyond all the excellent adjectives, such as:

-scale length
-width of nut and size/shape of neck
-size of body (width of bottom bout would be nice to know) - it appears to be fairly small in the pix
-depth or rims - it appears to be fairly shallow in the pix

I find this information to be useful in understanding the nature of any archtop guitar, be it a cheap production instrument or a custom-built instrument.

[Gitpicker]

The best person to address that information would be the man himself. I'll see if I can get him to come onboard!

[Rob MacKillop]

Good review, Doug, but no mention of a price. I imagined it wasn't discussed.

[jads57]

Always nice to see Custom Built guitars reviewed. But as stated above, Im more interested in the specs as opposed to a human interest type of narrative. Especially since we rarely get to actually play the instrument in person.

Thanks John D

[Jabberwocky]

It looks really good. To my eye, it looks similar to the Eastman ER4 in size and shape. No prizes for the fretboard inlay frou-frou though; things like that jack up the price unnecessarily to no benefits to sound, tone or playability. I don't understand the inlay art, I guess.

[QAman]

Gitpicker,
Gorgeous guitar. Was it available for sale - and if so what’s the price.

[WilliamScott]

love that tailpiece

[QAman]

I just wrote to Otto about pricing.

[Gitpicker]

I'm waiting to hear back from Otto with more specs and info. He did happen to mention that Bruce Forman will be demoing the guitar at the Rocky Mountain Archtop Guitar Festival in September! Perhaps Otto hasn't put it out for sale until he can show it at the festival. More specs coming soon anyway!

[ES125er]

Gorgeous guitar, and beautiful write up, Doug. Thank you for sharing.

Any chance that you would know what exact Bronze strings Otto is using?
I am asking for a friend who owns a fully acoustic Prelude

[OttoJazz]

Hi Hammertone,
Here are some dimensions of this guitar.

-scale length: 24.9 inches
-width of nut and size/shape of neck: 1 11/16" nut 2 1/16" 12th fret.
Shape is a fast "C" more like a electric speed neck. depth of neck w/fingerboard at 1st fret is like .75"
-size of body (width of bottom bout would be nice to know) - it appears to be fairly small in the pix: Body at lower bout is 16 inches.
-depth or rims - it appears to be fairly shallow in the pix: Depth of body is 2 7/8 inch

Thank you for the interest, Otto

[Max405]

Doug, That is gorgeous guitar. And a terrific article. Is there anything you cant do incredibly well? Wait, don't answer that. I prefer to rely on my own opinion here..
I have loved the shape of the El Rey guitar ever since I first layed eyes on it at Guitars N Jazz. In the case of the guitar you reviewed, "Functional Art" is exactly the terminology I would use when referring to a guitar so beautiful and playable (if I could come up with something so clever, but I cant - soo..). Listening to someone else play a guitar that you are evaluating is the BEST way to judge it. Unless you can remove your ears from your head and set them on a table in front of you, you should always listen to someone else play it. And when you are fancy Doug Martin, you just so happen to have the legendary John Pisano handy to help. That is, Extraordinary..
I loved the article. Your are a real guy and it comes out in your writing and your playing. Its gonna be cool one day when I tell my grandchildren, "Yeah that Doug Martin, I know that guy. He is my friend"..

Great job dude.
Joe D.

[Gitpicker]

Gorgeous guitar, and beautiful write up, Doug. Thank you for sharing.

Any chance that you would know what exact Bronze strings Otto is using?
I am asking for a friend who owns a fully acoustic Prelude

He told me what strings they were but I don't recall now. I should hear back from Otto shortly and he can fill me in on all the additional specs

[Gitpicker]

Doug, That is gorgeous guitar. And a terrific article. Is there anything you cant do incredibly well? Wait, don't answer that. I prefer to rely on my own opinion here..
I have loved the shape of the El Rey guitar ever since I first layed eyes on it at Guitars N Jazz. In the case of the guitar you reviewed, "Functional Art" is exactly the terminology I would use when referring to a guitar so beautiful and playable (if I could come up with something so clever, but I cant - soo..). Listening to someone else play a guitar that you are evaluating is the BEST way to judge it. Unless you can remove your ears from your head and set them on a table in front of you, you should always listen to someone else play it. And when you are fancy Doug Martin, you just so happen to have the legendary John Pisano handy to help. That is, Extraordinary..
I loved the article. Your are a real guy and it comes out in your writing and your playing. Its gonna be cool one day when I tell my grandchildren, "Yeah that Doug Martin, I know that guy. He is my friend"..

Great job dude.
Joe D.

Joe! You are one of the most complimentary people I know! Is there anything I can't do well? Wait, don't let me girlfriend be around when you ask that question, let her respond and you might be there for a while, ha! Glad you liked the writeup. Otto is absolutely meticulous in his work. Oh yeah and when John Pisano is testing out your axe, you've pretty much made it

[Sam Sherry]

Otto --

Thank you for taking an interest in JG.be and for posting accurate information about your gorgeous creation.

Thank you even more for creating the El Rey 4, which is my Number One. Please accept a low and long bow in your direction!

Depth of body is 2 7/8 inch

A deeper-body ER4 with relatively regular f-holes. That's attractive on paper, and in pics, and I bet in hand!

[OttoJazz]

Gorgeous guitar, and beautiful write up, Doug. Thank you for sharing.

Any chance that you would know what exact Bronze strings Otto is using?
I am asking for a friend who owns a fully acoustic Prelude

I like to use D'Addario 12-53 Phosphor or Nickel Bronze on this one.

[OttoJazz]

Thought you might like to hear what the guitar sounded like acoustically that day. Great playing Doug!
Recorded with a phone, and it was still just finished. It's been opening up quite nicely

[ES125er]

I like to use D'Addario 12-53 Phosphor or Nickel Bronze on this one.

Thank you Otto for your input. I have been using D’Addario EFT 16 Phosphore Bronze since I got it, but always wondered what strings you, the builder, would use.

I have always loved your designs - still wish I got an Eastman ER0 when they were available. I jumped on the opportunity when I saw a used 2008 Prelude for sale, and even though I am not worthy, never regretted it. Wonderful guitar to play, to hear, and to look at. Astonishingly responsive and balanced, in spite of its shallow body.
Even though there are differences in construction, I can hear that the Allegro Special is a sibling of mine indeed. And in much better hands than mine: lovely playing, Doug!

[jads57]

Thanks for the specs of the guitar !

[QAman]

Thought you might like to hear what the guitar sounded like acoustically that day. Great playing Doug!
Recorded with a phone, and it was still just finished. It's been opening up quite nicely

Nice guitar Otto- what’s the asking price.

[OttoJazz]

Nice guitar Otto- what’s the asking price.

Asking for this Cutaway Special is 15k, Model Allegro starts at 9,000 with all premium aged tonewoods.