2022 Jean Barault Studio Model

This beautiful guitar was built by the renowned French luthier Jean Barault. Biréli Lagrène, Tchavolo Schmitt, Dorado Schmitt, Angelo Debarre, and Stochelo Rosenberg currently play and endorse Barault guitars. With an All-Star list of endorsements, there's no doubt Barault is building the sort of guitar that meets the criteria of the world's most discerning players.

This guitar includes:

• Mahogany back and sides
• A real pliage (the top is heat bent just like the older Selmers!)
• European spruce top
• 670mm scale
• 14 fret neck
• Walnut neck
• Body specs (15 13/16" body, 3 13/16" deep)
• Lacquered interior (just like the vintage Selmers)
• Barault tailpiece

The sound of this instrument is among the best Selmer copies being made today. It's no wonder Biréli and Stochelo chose to endorse Barault guitars as his instruments produce a very traditional Selmer sound but have the playability of an ultra smooth archtop.

Barault's specialty is building instruments which sound very close to the early, pre-war Selmers like Django's Selmer #503. The tops were somewhat flatter on these guitars and the result is a warmer tone with a rich bass and a lush, satisfying midrange. This instrument possess those qualities in abundance, making it the perfect instrument for someone trying to emulate Django's classic tone. Furthermore, it produces this full bodied sound without sacrificing projection, which is so often the tradeoff with lesser guitars.

Barault is one of the very few luthiers today actually making Selmer copies with a real pliage. He uses the method that Selmer did...the top is bent with a hot iron which creates a fold, or "pliage," in the top just under the bridge. 99% of Selmer copies being made today have forced tops which generally don't have the punch, volume, and quick attack that the pliage tops have.

Barault certainly wins the award for weight...this guitar is feather weight at only 3.6 pounds! Hard to find anyone making guitars that lightweight today. The lower weight allows the guitar to resonate freely....no wonder it sounds so good!

This instrument has some pickwear on the top, including one larger scratch that is visible in the right light. There is some very mild fretwear as well, but is otherwise in excellent condition.

As one of the, if not the top luthier in Gypsy jazz, Jean's guitars have usually been priced in the upper range of Gypsy jazz guitars. With these new Studio Models, Jean has made exceptional sound and craftsmanship of his instruments available to students and pros alike!

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