Dupont MC 30 14

**SierraTango** · 08-10-2025, 02:24 PM

I'm letting this fabulous 1998 Dupont MC 30 14 go. I was gigging with it with a great violinist that moved out of the area, so it's been somewhat idle and I don't like that.
Details:
This guitar was previously owned by Raul Reynoso. He installed a McIntire pickup which goes to a endpin jack. The 14 referrers to the neck join at the body. It also has a tuner installed at bottom of the D hole. This model is solid Spruce and solid Indian Rosewood, Walnut neck.
Like many of the Duponts from this era, it has quite a bit of finish checking everywhere except the neck. It's seen some giging and has a few very minor dings.
Asking $4,000 USD plus shipping, or a very near offer. Grab it before I put it on consignment with Tommy Davey at Django Guitars.

Dupont MC 30 14-98-dupont-jpg

**Joshk** · 08-10-2025, 04:11 PM

Bet that guitar has some pop.

Why do manouche guitars have the neck inlay on the tenth fret? It’s a never ending cause of confusion if I look down while playing.

**SierraTango** · 08-10-2025, 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by Joshk

Bet that guitar has some pop.

Why do manouche guitars have the neck inlay on the tenth fret? It’s a never ending cause of confusion if I look down while playing.

It has the bark in spades. My understanding of the fret marker position was that it came from the mandolin family in Europe in the old days.
Never bothered me.

**fws6** · 08-11-2025, 06:22 AM

the most common european / french way is to have marker at 10 so you have G A B and D , which maybe makes more sense than G A B C#

but actually, european gypsy guitars are all over the place. An original 1930s Selmer with the large D-soundhole will have the marker at 9, but later Selmers with the small oval o-hole at 10

modern makers, like dupont, give both options to their customers based on preference / what the player is used to. And replacing a marker on an existing guitar is very easy to do. Any competent luthier would be able to fix (completely invisible) in an hours work or so. I did twice, but the other way around from 9 to 10.

So…. how would you get along with this old gypsy (1950s, by French maker Mouly) then …. Look at that super handy 13 fret marker ???

Dupont MC 30 14-img_0592-jpeg

**Joshk** · 08-11-2025, 03:53 PM

Gorgeous Mouly. Curious that the scratch plate is in the form of a conventional pickguard. Below is one of the manouche I have the pleasure of stewarding from the same period, a busato sonora.

Most likely both would give rise to the same irritation for me. I’ll be hitting a groove in a c#7 scale, look down for an instance & my brain wonders did I unconsciously switch to a c7 scale. What happened to the black key notes my ears were hearing. Then within a few seconds I remember, oh yeah, it’s a manouche, now where did my groove go. Very annoying.

Maybe it would help if I learned to speak French or wore a beret while playing. Maybe eating a croissant or french fries or French’s classic mustard before playing is the solution I need. Moving the inlay to another fret just doesn’t seem the way to go.

**Sigmund451** · 08-12-2025, 05:55 AM

If you think guitar necks are marked weird in France try playing a game of billiards!

They have some seriously strange rules.

...either that or the Frenchmen are trying to hustle me

**Jsparr1983** · 08-13-2025, 06:59 AM

The 10th fret marker isn’t going to be the problem of owning this fine DuPont. It’s going to be the neighbors when you practice on it!

seriously fine guitar and giving strong considerations to team this up with my MD50! GLWS

**Stringswinger** · 08-13-2025, 10:20 AM

It is hard to beat a Dupont for a Selmer guitar replica. I have one and having owned many Gypsy guitars over the years, I think the Duponts are often every bit as good as the vintage Selmer guitars.

The original owner of my Dupont changed the fret marker to a 9th fret marker and I am quite happy that he did. If all my guitars had a 10th fret marker, it would be no problem, but going back and forth can result in an occasional clam for me. Some cats can go back and forth with no problem.

I would not let the 10th fret marker stop me from buying this fine specimen of a guitar. If you want a great Gypsy guitar at a fair price look no further than this one.