Traced down my D'Angelico's original owner's widow

[deacon Mark]

My 1949 New Yorker was made for Joe Arena in the ledger and for years I tried to trace him down. But when I got it back in 1985 the internet did not exist. So finally a stroke of luck I manage contact with his son and Joe's widow. I found he was a guitarist but more of an entertainer and singer in the 40's-60's in New Yorker. HIs son remember him having a Dangelico but not the one I have. Apparently he bought the guitar new in 1949 for John then sold it in around 1958. His son knew he had owned another one but never saw this New Yorker. His son also told me his dad's brother Tommy Arena, was much better player a fine jazz guitarist in New Yorker area too.

So I spoke today to his son Steve on the phone and sent him pictures of the guitar. He was pretty pleased to hear about his dad's guitar and wondered where it might be. Turns out the Joe Arena had another non-cut D'angelico that Steve did remember and he also sold that guitar. His son Steve remembers playing that one and he actually would like to find it and see if he could buy it back. Steve later texted me back saying he called his mother, she is 93 and still alive, and remember the first D'angelico that I have now. He bought the guitar new at the age of 22.

In any case probably does not mean much to most folks but I am a history nut on guitars and their life. Knowing a really old guitar s past has much meaning and stories that make for interesting discussion. Maybe some of the NY fellows on the forum have heard of Tommy?

[QAman]

What a great story Mark, thanks for sharing.

Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk

[neatomic]

cool!...check this

Screen composer Chris Arena carries on musical inheritance


cheers

[Stringswinger]

Good stuff Mark.

I have traced the history of all three of my vintage D'ANGELICOS as best as I could and did talk to the widow of the second owner of my 48 Style B.

I hope when I am gone (30 years from now sounds about right), future owners of these guitars might remember me, a loyal caretaker of these fine instruments.

[deacon Mark]

cool!...check this

Screen composer Chris Arena carries on musical inheritance


cheers

That is how I traced him down. I first contact Chris who finally saw my post to him. He called me gave me his Dad’s phone.

[BigMikeinNJ]

?It’s a terrific story.

[Max405]

Deacon,
Great story. And tracking down the lineage of your guitar is part of the ownership of these one of a kind masterpieces. I’m glad you found people who can help you carry the memories forward. And the original owners widow, 93 years old! That is fantastic Deacon.
Thank you for sharing with us.

[Rob MacKillop]

Great story, and it gives a little bit more magic to the guitar. I'd like to do the same with a guitar I have that dates from 1765! No, that's not a typo!

[fws6]

Cool story. I know the original owners of a few and have spoken to the grandson of one.

[vinnyv1k]

Good stuff Mark.

I have traced the history of all three of my vintage D'ANGELICOS as best as I could and did talk to the widow of the second owner of my 48 Style B.

I hope when I am gone (30 years from now sounds about right), future owners of these guitars might remember me, a loyal caretaker of these fine instruments.

Hey can you believe that these fine guitars used to be owned by biker trash ?
Just kidding my friend.

[sgcim]

I didn't have to do much research to find out who owned the '35 D'A 'Snakehead model I inherited from my father. Here's my post about it, plus a revelation about the original owner that I had posted on the RMMGJ many moons ago:
"I was reading "Acquired of the Angels" today and this time I decided
to actually read the more technical
section of the book that dealt with guitar design.Years ago, my father told me that the "New Yorker" model's headstock
was designed by a close friend of his, whom he bought his
"Snakehead" model from, way back in the 30s.
He said the guy's name was Duke (real name: Hugo Cimelli), and he was
a great guitarist, but chose to make his living as a jewelry designer.
I remember looking in the index for his name, but not being able to
find it.
I figured this little guy (he was 5 foot tall) was bullshitting my
father or something and forgot about it.
Then I turned to page 64 today and sure enough it says:
"The step design for the headpiece was taken from the Empire State
Building.
It was designed by a jewelry designer friend of John's (D'Angelico)
named Duke, who also made the templates John used for the split
block fingerboard inlays."
Holy Shit!
The guy wasn't bullshitting!
I was also surprised to find the name of a guy who posts here, Mark
Cleary, who let the author (Paul William Schmidt) use pictures of his
1949 New Yorker.
Small world!"
Since then, someone posted two years ago that John D. had written a letter vouching for Ugo (the correct spelling of his first name) Cimelli, when he applied for citizenship in the US in 1934, so they were indeed close friends.

[deacon Mark]

I didn't have to do much research to find out who owned the '35 D'A 'Snakehead model I inherited from my father. Here's my post about it, plus a revelation about the original owner that I had posted on the RMMGJ many moons ago:
"I was reading "Acquired of the Angels" today and this time I decided
to actually read the more technical
section of the book that dealt with guitar design.Years ago, my father told me that the "New Yorker" model's headstock
was designed by a close friend of his, whom he bought his
"Snakehead" model from, way back in the 30s.
He said the guy's name was Duke (real name: Hugo Cimelli), and he was
a great guitarist, but chose to make his living as a jewelry designer.
I remember looking in the index for his name, but not being able to
find it.
I figured this little guy (he was 5 foot tall) was bullshitting my
father or something and forgot about it.
Then I turned to page 64 today and sure enough it says:
"The step design for the headpiece was taken from the Empire State
Building.
It was designed by a jewelry designer friend of John's (D'Angelico)
named Duke, who also made the templates John used for the split
block fingerboard inlays."
Holy Shit!
The guy wasn't bullshitting!
I was also surprised to find the name of a guy who posts here, Mark
Cleary, who let the author (Paul William Schmidt) use pictures of his
1949 New Yorker.
Small world!"
Since then, someone posted two years ago that John D. had written a letter vouching for Ugo (the correct spelling of his first name) Cimelli, when he applied for citizenship in the US in 1934, so they were indeed close friends.

Paul is a friend of mine we go back a long way. At the time we were younger and the world was different. You corresponded by postal mail a landline phones. No videos on how to play guitar or licks to learn. I thought guitar playing was you could blow through Lazy Bird at 260bpm and come out alive. There was Gibsons, Barkers, Benedettos, Daquisto s, a few others but few and far between.

You could buy an L5 acoustic mint for about $1800. Joe Pass, Barney K, and Herb Ellis were out playing well. I was able to run a sub 6 min mile any day I wanted.

Now I like a great stated melody that keeps my ear going back again. A million guys can play bebop at 300 bpm and smoke. Dangelico guitars are getting much older and show more age. They many times need some fixing up. Oh, and somedays in 6 minutes I can go 1/2 mile. I need fixing up daily Aging.....the best thing about it is so far we still playing guitar.

I am rambling.....