Dell'Arte Dark Eyes

**rsclosson** · 04-24-2023, 12:37 PM

Got a deal I couldn't refuse. A luthier built made in USA Gypsy Jazz guitar. Needed some proper strings and some tweaking but it now sounds absolutely fantastic.

Also has a Big Tone piezo bridge pickup.

Sacriced 2 guitars to get it.

**olejason** · 04-24-2023, 02:57 PM

They are nice guitars. Is the fretboard on that one blank? IIRC many of the hand built Dell'Arte guitars had the dot on the 9th fret which tends to irk some people invested into Selmer style guitars.

**rsclosson** · 04-24-2023, 03:02 PM

Yes the fretboard is blank. At first I was concerned, but I saw one on the Djangobooks site with a blank fretboard. 2001-dell-arte-dark-eyes. My side dots did have one on the 9th fret, which I did indeed find irksome. I hid it with a Sharpie and put on a stick on dot at the 10th.

**Stringswinger** · 04-24-2023, 03:55 PM

The John Kinnard built Dell Arte Gypsy guitars can be splendid and they can be disappointing. I had a D hole (Anouman) that was terrific and I had an oval hole (Jimmy Rosenberg) that while beautifully crafted was an extremely dark and quiet acoustic guitar.

It sounds like you got a good one. Congrats!

**rsclosson** · 04-24-2023, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by Stringswinger

The John Kinnard built Dell Arte Gypsy guitars can be splendid and they can be disappointing. I had a D hole (Anouman) that was terrific and I had an oval hole (Jimmy Rosenberg) that while beautifully crafted was an extremely dark and quiet acoustic guitar.

It sounds like you got a good one. Congrats!

I have to say that at first, I was worried and disappointed. The tailpiece was a cheap one that was probably used to accommodate the Big Tone pickup. And of course, Guitar Center had absolutely no idea what the proper stings were so they were strung with regular acoustic strings.

It also had some sort of inserts to raise the action. They no doubt absorbed a bunch of the vibration that was supposed to transmit to the top.

My luthier friend actually had a proper tailpiece that he purchased from France which he installed. After replacing the tailpiece, removing the inserts and installing the correct strings, it really took off.

**JSanta** · 04-24-2023, 06:44 PM

Originally Posted by rsclosson

I have to say that at first, I was worried and disappointed. The tailpiece was a cheap one that was probably used to accommodate the Big Tone pickup. And of course, Guitar Center had absolutely no idea what the proper stings were so they were strung with regular acoustic strings.

It also had some sort of inserts to raise the action. They no doubt absorbed a bunch of the vibration that was supposed to transmit to the top.

My luthier friend actually had a proper tailpiece that he purchased from France which he installed. After replacing the tailpiece, removing the inserts and installing the correct strings, it really took off.

Not uncommon for these instruments to require shimmed bridges unless you have them made for the expected seasonal shifts with temperature and humidity. One of my Gaffiero guitars really needs shims because the truss rod doesn't do enough, and my other Gaffiero just needs the occasional seasonal tweaked truss rod. I have some ebony veneer in the case of the guitar if I ever need them.

**rsclosson** · 04-24-2023, 08:31 PM

Originally Posted by JSanta

Not uncommon for these instruments to require shimmed bridges unless you have them made for the expected seasonal shifts with temperature and humidity. One of my Gaffiero guitars really needs shims because the truss rod doesn't do enough, and my other Gaffiero just needs the occasional seasonal tweaked truss rod. I have some ebony veneer in the case of the guitar if I ever need them.

I agree that shims can be very useful and sometimes necessary. Removing the shims on my guitar brought the action down more than customary for this kind of guitar. I’m leaving it as is for now as it is comfortable to play.

The shims on mine looked like cardboard or something similar, so I know it had to be absorbing the sound. Eventually I will look for some ebony veneer just in case. But for now, the improvement is considerable.

**olejason** · 04-25-2023, 10:39 AM

IIRC Django was known to use a matchbook to shim his bridge! I'm using card stock as a shim on one of my guitars right now, it does dampen the high end a bit but it isn't dampened in an unpleasing way.

**mr. beaumont** · 04-25-2023, 10:49 AM

popsicle sticks work great. I need them for about 3-4 months a year.

**Stringswinger** · 04-25-2023, 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

popsicle sticks work great. I need them for about 3-4 months a year.

I am told that popsicle sticks are made of spruce. I have used them and they work great. Angelo DeBarre uses guitar picks. Bob Holo, the celbrated luthier of Gypsy guitars gave me a supply of Brazilian Rosewood shims that I use on my Gypsy guitars.

**jazzshrink** · 04-25-2023, 02:22 PM

Originally Posted by Stringswinger

I am told that popsicle sticks are made of spruce...

I think you might be misinformed. Beechwood is the type of wood most often used for popsicle sticks. I couldn't find any references to spruce being used for this purpose.

**Stringswinger** · 04-25-2023, 02:29 PM

Originally Posted by jazzshrink

I think you might be misinformed. Beechwood is the type of wood most often used for popsicle sticks. I couldn't find any references to spruce being used for this purpose.

i never verified that. The only thing I know for sure is that popsicle sticks work.