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I picked up a guitar over the holidays and truth be told, I was in the market for a deal on a fine Gypsy guitar. I have owned my share of Dell Artes and Gitanes and those guitars do not measure up for me (apologies to those of you who own and love those brands, but we each must play the instruments that inspire our playing).
In 2008, I thought I had my Gypsy guitar needs met with my 1993 Dupont MD-20 (still have her) and a 2001 Shelley D. Park Elan14. But a deal came up on a great JP Favino Modele S and to finance it, I sold my Shelley Park D hole (one of the few guitar sales in my life that I came to regret). Then a few years ago, fellow forumite Max405 sold me his D'Angelico New Yorker replica (that used to belong to Patrick2 RIP). I sold the Favino to finance that and bought a Dupont MDC-50 as my backup Gypsy guitar. A year later, Max405 sold me his 1935 D'Angelico Excel and a whole lot of guitars got sold to finance that one, including the Dupont D hole. For the last few years I have only had one Gypsy guitar and that has been an issue for me at times (I have two homes and do Gypsy jazz gigs in both locations). So I started looking, primarily for either a Dupont or another Shelley Park.
Just before Christmas, I pulled the trigger on this new one. She arrived right before New Years Eve and I couldn't be happier. It is Shelley's take on the classic Selmer guitar as played by none other than Django Reinhardt himself. Shelley uses solid Indian Rosewood and this example has a bearclaw Sitka spruce top. The guitar is loud, easy to play (Shelley's neck profiles are so wonderful for those of us used to American guitar necks) and has a rich tone. I wrote Shelley to tell her about my new guitar and she wrote back telling me the details about the guitar from her records and informing me that she is thrilled to have me back on her "team". Well, I am thrilled to be back (Shelley and I have known each other for many years from the Gypsy jazz festival circuit).
I often extol the virtue of Dupont Gypsy guitars and I do believe Duponts get you to the classic sound of the Selmer guitars as close you will find. If you want something a bit more modern sounding, Shelley's Gypsy guitars are the ticket. With their "archtoppy" leanings in their tone, her guitars are more versatile to be sure (and easier to play). While I miss my Shelley Park D hole (note to self: Don't sell this one!), being a lead player the petit bouche is a better fit for me in any case. I now have my Gypsy guitar needs met and I think I'll stand pat for the duration. Here are a couple of pics:
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01-12-2020 11:17 PM
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SS,
My man!
I hope your repeated attempts at becoming done with buying always fail.
We are all just little kids at heart who love getting new stuff. The difference is, you buy AND you give back to the music industry by purchasing these great instruments and then actually performing in front of 1,000’s of people with them. You want to give your audience the best possible product and you do so with your Great playing and you do it on legendary instruments. Some folks in your audience will appreciate that. I would.
Keeping going brother. And Happy New Guitar Day!
Joe D
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Looks great, SS. I can almost hear you play it!
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Sweet guitar Marc! It has the classic Park look of the early 2000s. It's hard to believe it's already nearly 20 years old. Looks to be in great shape! What number is it? Mine is #29 (1999); a lefty of course. I'm sure you've seen it since I use to take it regularly to DjangoFest NW and Samois. May you have sweet Gypsy Jazz moments with your new Shelleymaster!
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Originally Posted by Max405
My guitars all get shared with the public and they all have a few "battle scars" to prove it. But while they are certainly art, they are also tools, which I am proud to use for their intended purpose.
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Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop
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Looks great!
I actually think my next guitar purchase, probably a few years down the line, will be a "lifer" gypsy guitar. It's become my preffered style of acoustic guitar anyway, and honestly, there's so many more opportunities to play that type of music out there than there is straight up jazz, so I figure, why not have a really nice guitar for it?
In the meantime though, my $500 Cigano is doing fine. I like it better than a lot of $1500-2000 Asian made GJ guitars I've played...so when I buy another, I'm going up to the GOOD GOOD like you
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Originally Posted by archtopeddy
Shelley builds great guitars. It is inspiring to play one again.Last edited by Stringswinger; 07-05-2024 at 11:57 PM.
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Originally Posted by mr. beaumont
The Cigano's are amazing bang for the buck, but there are WAY better Gypsy guitars to be had. If all you will do is Gypsy jazz and you want to imitate Django, get a Dupont. If you want something with more crossover versatility, get a Shelley Park. Those two makers would be my suggestions. There are other great makers, Favino, AJL, Barault, Holo, Hahl all come to mind, but they cost more. A great Dupont or Park can be had in the $2500-$3000 price range used. There is no need to spend more......
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Originally Posted by Stringswinger
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Originally Posted by Stringswinger
Yeah, obviously there's a lot better guitars out there than my Cigano, but IMHO, the Cigano is a much better guitar sound wise than any of the more expensive Gitanes I've played, for example.
I'm probably a "D-hole" guy overall. That sounds dirty. But they are more versatile. And I'm usually the guy who says "versatility is overrated." But for me, this is "the" acoustic. Gypsy guitars have kinda ruined flat tops for me...they sound so small in the trebles compared to a GJ guitar.
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Originally Posted by mr. beaumont
I have owned many Gypsy guitars and have found that you cannot make any generalizations when it comes to Grande bouche (D hole) vs. Petit bouche (oval hole). I have heard oval holes with more bass than some D holes and I have heard D holes with more "cut" than some oval holes. The scale length, sound hole, materials and skill of the builder all come together with a synergy that confounds the generalizations. In general, the short scale D hole will have more bass (making them somewhat similar to a flattop) and an oval hole will have more focus and projection (making them somewhat similar to an archtop). I like them both, but as I am primarily a lead player, the oval hole is probably the better choice for me. But you never know, another D hole (I have owned 6 of them in the past) might be in my future. I hope not though, I have too many guitars as it is! (A true first world problem)
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Congratulations on your NGD Marco, we should all love to hear it
in due course, ( and thank you again for the two CD's which you
generously sent to me, featuring Bruce Forman , & yourself )
If it was feasible i'd love to join Rob on a trip to California to hear
you, but it will remain a pipe dream unfortunately , I suspect.
Best 007
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Originally Posted by silverfoxx
The offer I made to Rob applies equally to you. You are welcome to sit in on any of my gigs (excluding those where I am a sideman of course), and you may play any of my guitars that you wish.
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Originally Posted by Stringswinger
John
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Looks dead minty. I didn't see you at the last Guitars Anonymous meeting. Now I know why. Not too many can make it through the entire 12 fret program. Back to the 1st fret. Hi I am Marco and I am a guitaroholic. Hello Marco.....
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Marco- nice back story and do enjoy this guitar. I remember when I started my search for a gypsy style guitar John Monteleone put me in contact with Shelley. Even though I wound up with an early Dupont instead ( based on your suggestion) - I really enjoyed my conversations with Shelley and the many audio clips she provided.
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Originally Posted by vinnyv1k
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Originally Posted by QAman
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Congrats Swing!!! Looks awesome. I still regret not buying your Dupont Dhole when you had it up for sale. Really need to find just the right Dupont. Hopefully someday!
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Originally Posted by callouscallus
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Originally Posted by Stringswinger
I think it's grand that you are friends with the builder and have performed with her. I am in regular contact with Bob Benedetto and he agrees that his instruments live a happy life when they are out there doing what they were built for- making music.A few battle scars only add to the soul of the guitar and tell a story.
I am very, very happy with my 1998 Dupont MC 30 14 fret. It is not pristine-I'm the second owner, the first owner was Raul Reynoso. She's seen some campfires in her life!
Enjoy and play in good health!
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Originally Posted by Stringswinger
Keith
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Originally Posted by SierraTango
I met Raul once, when he was playing with John Jorgenson (who at one time had a signature Dupont model). At the time I met Raul, he was playing a Dell Arte. I bet your Dupont is superb, as I doubt a player with Raul's skill would pick anything less.
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Originally Posted by floatingpickup
RIP Nick Gravenites
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