Which Dell'arte Hommage? Help...

Fernando

Hey guys, I'm about to purchase a new guitar. The problem is that I can't decide between the Ovall Hole Dell'arte Hommage or the D hole (long scale). I played the Oval Hole and liked it a lot but I also read that Michael Horowitz thinks the D hole is the best Dell'arte out there. Any comments? I haven't tried the D hole... They don't have 'em in New York...

Best

F.

djangology

i have a cedar topped D-hole hommage. thats what i would recommend because it is the perfect sister to a oval hold spruce top guitar.

ive played about 8 hommages and I think they all feel almost exactly the same in how they play. very little difference in them i think. if you are hard of hearing i would get a D-hole because you get a bit more sound projection up towards your face. i think the D's and O's are pretty much equivilant though.

the choice of wood would be the biggest difference i think.

B25Gib

I've heard Jon Thor's cedar top in jams a couple times and it is Very Nice sounding! As Michael has said, the Dell 'Arte Hommage is the best sounding
replica of the Favino sound made next to the real thing. As prefering an Oval or D-Hole I don't have an opinion other than I'm very happy with my Oval Hole '04 model, Sitka Spruce top. There have been many Hommages out in players hands and they are a solid built guitar that doesn't move about as much with humidity changes. The humidity in my house ranges between 65% to 75% year round and I've never had any buzzing problems with the Hommage, a Saga Gitane 250M, or my new Bob Holo Busato style even though I like my string height about 2.5 mm which is at the low end of the recommended range for this genre sound.
I think you'll be happy with either choice.
Jam on, Rocky

Fernando

Thanks a lot. The cedar D hole is the Tchavolo Schmitt model?

djangology

i believe that yes, they now call it the Tchavalo Schmitt model... but mine is actually just a straight hommage...

artillerie_lourde

A question for Michael,

The following is from the description of the latest Hommage from the Djangobooks Store:

This particular Hommage has everything you could ask for in a Favino style guitar! Honky mids with loads of bark. This guitar was built for power...it has exceptional volume. Chords sound huge and leads have a beautiful singing quality. Dell'Arte has really improved this model over the years...this is the best yet! What a great value....

At what point did they 'improve' significantly and how drastic is the difference between the early and current models?

Cheers,

MichaelHorowitz

artillerie_lourde wrote:

At what point did they 'improve' significantly and how drastic is the difference between the early and current models?

About a year ago Dell Arte transitioned from a large production situation to a smaller, boutique shop. They are now building far fewer instruments and are spending more time on what they build. The change has been very noticeable in the Hommage models over the last year. Much more pleasing tone and more attention to workmanship.

I used to generally prefer the D holes...but the new Hommages, both oval and D, are both amazing and a big step up from some of the older ones. These guitars, now more then ever, are the best deal in Gypsy jazz.

If you compare one of the older oval holes to the newer ones, you'll notice that the older ones are a bit grating in the high end and have some "metallic" overtone ringing. The newer ones have a more rounded, pleasing high end and less overtone ringing and wetness.

The old ones were still a great value....they just got better, that's all!

'm

artillerie_lourde

Thanks.