2005 Hahl Super de Luxe "La Lumiere"

This 2005 la Lumiere by Stefan Hahl represents the ultimate in contemporary Selmer guitar design. Most builders today obsessively try to replicate the design and building techniques of "golden era" guitars like the original Selmers, Busatos, and Favinos. Hahl has dared to be different by using the Selmer design, which he has studied extensively, as a starting point for something new and unique. His guitars characteristically combine the complexity, warmth, and listenability of archtops and flatops with the punch and clarity of Selmers. The real genius of his work is that he has succeeded in making a contemporary, sophisticated sounding Gypsy guitar without loosing the essence of the Selmer sound. Others have tried to make such a guitar, but the end result is that warmth and complexity are traded for clarity and punch, which results in a very muted and dull sounding guitar. Not so with Hahl. His guitars produce notes with a rounded, satisfying tone that are still springy enough to project in volume challenged situations.

The Gitano Super de Luxe is Hahl's flagship Gypsy model. It features the finest woods available: 60 year aged spruce top, 60 year aged Brazilian rosewood back and sides, flamed mahogany neck with German maple spline, rosewood fingerboard and body binding, Brazilian rosewood bridge, and a master grade ebony fingerboard. The superior woods on this guitar are not only gorgeous to look at, but also give the guitar a complex, refined tone that younger woods lack. The only other new Selmer type guitar that has such exquisite aged woods is the Dupont Vieille Reserve.

The Super de Luxe is also Hahl's most ornate guitar. It is decorated with stunning diamond shaped abalone fingerboard inlays, abalone truss rod cover, and a rosette featuring alternating blocks of mother of pearl and abalone.

The specs are what you'd expect of a typical Selmer copy: 670mm scale with a 15 3/4" body. However, the precision neck geometry allows for much lower action than is typical on a Gypsy style guitar. This instrument is currently setup with 2.4m action which yields the kind of playability you'd expect of an electric archtop guitar. It's no wonder Bireli Lagrene chose this model as it's well suited for the highly technical, modern style of Gypsy jazz that he is famous for. This guitar will allow you to play so much more than just the standard Django style phrases. Its easy playing neck and low string tension will enable you to execute the sorts of complex ideas that you could only dream of with other guitars.

The sound of this instrument is among the best I've ever had in the shop. It's rare that a guitar of such a young age possess the qualities that this instrument does. First off, it's incredibly loud, with even the lightest touch producing torrents of sound. But more importantly, the tone is rich, complex, and thick yet still punchy enough for good lead projection. It has a wonderful openness that colors each note you play with interesting overtones that thicken and enhance the sound. This is one of those guitars you'll play just once and never forget. It posses that elusive "wow" factor that you hear in only the most select instruments.

Hahl's work has been well received by the very finest Gypsy guitarists today. Most notably, by Bireli Lagrene who owns three Hahl guitars and has used them on most of his recent recordings. check out: Move, Just the Way You Are, To Bi or Not to Bi, and Live in Paris.

Gypsy legends Dorado Schmitt and Hono Winterstein also play Hahl guitars.

This guitar has been extremely well maintained over it's relatively short life. It looks almost new, with just a few scuff marks on the side and some light pick wear on the top. The frets are new.

This instrument is priced significantly lower than a new Super de Luxe (around $18,500.) A fantastic deal for one of the best modern Gypsy guitars in production.

This is the CASH price...add 3% if you'd like to pay with a credit card. 4% for International orders.