I’ve built many guitars as a hobby over the years, more than 20…
Here are the latest pair:
Guitarists may recognize certain telltale signs.. hint:
Django Reinhardt
OK, I confess – my idea of the perfect guitar is based on the Macaferri/Selmer design. I had a D35 for 25 years that was to die for. For a long time I thought it was the best guitar that ever was. Then I got into jazz guitar. If you’ve ever taken any flat top guitar to a jam with jazzers, you know what I’m getting at. These would blow it away. If you play jazz, a flat top guitar will not do. Here I must state that Macaferri was not the only person who was onto this design. The odd thing is, Martin did it too! As did Washburn. There are arched plate models going back to the 1930′s from both these American companies that had much the same construction as the Macaferri design. However, there was one difference – they used x-bracing. Macaferri used ladder braces. They both work, and I have made both designs. After dozens of tries I have to say that my preference at the moment is for the x-braced design. So we’ve come full circle. More coming up.
JANUARY 10, 2012
Photo from 2006 of some of my stable. From L-R:
Favino style/petite bouche/cedar top/670 scale/mahogany body
Selmer style/petite bouche/douglas fir top/670 scale/ bubinga body
Selmer style/petite bouche/cedar top/650 scale/ mahogany body
di Mauro style f hole/cedar top/650 scale/mahogany body
This must be worth millions.
I played a cedar top with f holes of your design and build today at Guitars Plus in Victoria. Loved it!
What would you do to put a pickup in it?
Interested.
Dean
Dean, thanks – the simple way is to use a bridge pickup of some sort. You could put one on the inside too with the right sort of apparatus.
Still got the D35? I’d love to see a pic!
Gone to a good home long ago, but sometimes I do miss it.
They certainly look beautiful.
I think so, but then again I love to browse guitar stores just to look!
Me too, me too.
Very beautiful work. I trust they sound great too.
Played your Selmer style… Cedar with f holes… In Victoria last week. Love that guitar! Sounds great , looks beautiful. If only I could play jazz…
Wow, you are sending some machines out into the world that make music and look great. Wonder who will play what on them decades from now?
That is of course one of life’s great mysteries! I hope that whatever is played will provide someone the same kind of pleasure I get from making music.