Patenotte for sale

klaatu · August 2014

Well, I'm not desperate to sell, but I also don't want to wait around for something that may or may not happen, if a buyer should turn up sooner.

However, I have been known to work on the instalment plan - a nonrefundable deposit up front and delivery upon final payment.

bopster · August 2014

@Klaatu - I understand. I wouldn't wait around with other potential offers on the horizon. If I come up with the whole ball of wax, I'll contact you.

klaatu · August 2014

Sent you a private mail.

klaatu · November 2014

I've put the original bridge back on the Patenotte. After peering inside with a telescopic mirror, I discovered that there are no braces underneath where the bridge feet of the Selmer-style bridge sit. Usually you see two short braces running perpendicular to the ladder bracing in that area. I became concerned that the narrower bridge might be causing undue stress on the top, so it's back to the old full width bridge.

A well-known local musician - not a gypsy jazz player and with no experience of GJ guitars - looked at the guitar and thought the top had sunk, which is what prompted the inspection. I've never seen another Patenotte up close, so I don't know how they are supposed to look. There is a definite dome around the soundhole, and then it seems to flatten out. For all I know, this is how they were made. The bracing all seems to be secure, with no gaps in evidence. Action is low, but there are no buzzes, and it sounds great. Micahel Bauer used to have a 30s Busato with a top that had totally collapsed, and it was one of the loudest GJ guitars either of us had ever heard.

The guitar is still for sale - make me any reasonable offer by pmail or e-mail me at benATswingologyDOTca

AndrewUlle · November 2014

Very tempting...I was looking for a short scale 12 fret D hole to compare to my Asian Dell Arte DG-H1, but this is interesting. My Dell Arte rings a bit.

klaatu · November 2014

I think you would find almost all factory built D holes to be problematic. They tend to be muddy and boomy in the low end and lack definition in general, in addition to the excessive overtones common in Asian guitars.

Someone make me a decent offer and I'll throw in $100 toward the shipping.

constantine · November 2014

Andrew the patenotte is a short scale.

Craig Bumgarner · November 2014

klaatu wrote: »

There is a definite dome around the soundhole, and then it seems to flatten out. For all I know, this is how they were made.

It seems pretty common with Patenottes, and other guitars that do not have a pliage and even then if the top assembly gets light enough. If the bracing is light and the top thin, it will sags some under string pressure at the bridge and the peak of the top arch moves toward the sound hole. The lack of the little braces under the bridge feet is also not uncommon among some post-Selmer builders. None of this something to worry about as long as it is stable. The light structure that permits the sag can also result in a kick ass sound.

Gypsy guitars are about as lightly built as any steel string guitar and are played harder than most. The loads are substantial and frankly, its kind of a wonder more of them don't collapse from time to time :-)