budget favino sized?

HCQ

I was and to a lesser degree, still am in the same boat.

When I was looking around, I got to see and try out about 5 or 6 different Sel/Mac reproductions. Other than an amazing long scale D hole priced at $7K, the rest were Asian made. These guitars were spread out in locations from western Mass. down to the NYC area. Pretty slim pickings. At this time I didn't know about this forum.

The real problem I had with 3 or so Gitanes I tried was that they all strung with bronze strings. That made assessing them impossible. I did try out a 12 fret Shelly Park, but I think it was modified in some way. Mainly it had an adjustable arch top type of bridge and was extremely heavy in the lower midrange. At this time there was a Dell Arte Pigalle there at the same time and sounded much more authentic to me. So I pulled the trigger on this one.

The tone really improved after getting a bridge made by Josh and experimenting with picks to help with getting the tone and dynamics I like to hear.

So even though this forum has since presented me with a wealth of newer insights, actually trying out this stuff at any level is quite a chore.

Still, I'm happy with what I have even if I don't upgrade. It has gotten me into a tuneful form of music, expanded my melodic and creative senses and gotten me in contact with a whole new bunch of with players with great chops.

Lastly, I am wondering if there may be any more of those Latcho Drom guitars that Michael spoke somewhat highly of.

andmer

Hey,

I'm in NY/NJ area too, whereabouts did you find stores that had these kind of instruments? I'd love to testdrive some.

I was thinking of heading down to 48th street after work one of these days, but if you have any specific places with stock that you saw there that'd be great.

HCQ

I believe that Lark Street Music in Teaneck, NJ has one Dell'Arte Pigalle. They are closed on Saturdays but open on all the other days of the week.

http://www.larkstreetmusic.com

If you are into a bunch of vintage archtops, solidbodies and Martins this is a very cool place.

That said, Michael offers Pigalles at a much better price. I am fortunate in that I have good tools and can do all my own set up work. Fret leveling and crowning, action, etc. Mine needed it. BTW, intonation on mine is really good.

Basically the commercial end of this site offers this guitar and full setup work for almost the same price as the Pigalle at Lark Street. I guess you just have tell Josh what kind specific action hieght you prefer. Something to consider if you can't DIY.

andmer

yeah i would still order here, just like to test drive a bit.

thanks.

Tele295

What's the difference between the Favino style and the Selmer style?

Dr. Hall

Tele, et al, check this thread out which discusses the differences between Selmers, Busatos, and Favinos.

viewtopic.php?t=5967

Favinos are slightly larger in dimensions that Selmers and have four braces instead of five under the top. The neck angle is steeper, and the bridge is taller producing more force on the top. The sound is obviously different, but I won't attempt to describe it--it must be heard. The US made Dell'Arte Hommage Favino copy gets my vote for best guitar ever for under 3 grand.

You can hear my Hommage on our myspace page http://www.myspace.com/gypsytrip1234
The best recording quality is on the Bei Mir Bist Du Schon clip. The others are Zoom H4 recordings of a totally acoustic live performance, no amps. Just so there's no confusion, I'm playing the Hommage which is the louder of the guitars on the recordings and youtube vids. Nick is playing my DG-320 but hasn't figured out gypsy picking very well yet. The DG-320, Selmer style apart from the d-hole, is actually pretty loud too in my hands but doesn't have the same tonal quality as the Hommage.
-Stefan

andmer

anybody ever heard of this brand?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... TQ:US:1123

I asked the seller a little bit more about the size, and he says "exact dimensions of favino model 66, same sound" I assume he means 1966?

Texasrockabillyrebel

I've been wondering about those artluthier things on ebay too. That seller also has a vintage Stimer for sale. So he might be pretty legit.

But back to the Music Link Dell'Artes: If you're willing to put in the work or have the work done they can be pretty good. I hated my Robin Nolan when I first got it, in fact I felt ripped off. The thing was a mess (tuners barely functioned, I'm surprised the truss rod hadn't fallen out, some frets weren't even pressed in all of the way. There were weird light spots in the top that only the player can see, and to top it all off (and I find this pretty funny actually) on the back of the neck is a finger print from someone touching it before the laquer was dry.

Despite all of this it still sounded better than any of the three Gitanes I've owned, even before working on it, so I kept it. I lightened up the bridge a bit, shimed it, adjusted the truss rod and took care of the worst of the fret problems and it has turned out to be a great guitar. I really love it. I'm using 11's on it and playing it fairly hard and it sings. Great Favino tone.

There are three of these Nolans on ebay for $800.00 a pop. At that price it's well worth it imo. $400.00 less than I paid.

Just my two cents,
Travis

andmer

Yeah i saw those too. I'm sorta mulling about the angelo debarre model now, i love that maple body look.

The guy from artluthier said his shop is about 4 years old and he only sells on ebay, previously in france but he has since moved to texas and sells here in the states now as well. He claims to have played gypsy jazz for 35 years and has modeled his instrument after his own favino 66.

Wish I had some educated luthier questions to ask to get a better feel for how genuine he is. Maybe i'll search the forums.

Not sure, seems like a gamble without any trusted opinions or seeing it for myself. probably better of going with a musiclink setup by michael/josh or waiting for a us hommage.

CalebFSU

I don't know this guy and don't want to disparage his work but there is a picture on that e-bay add of the headstock of an AJL withthe "J" blacked out so the headstock says A L. Does this mean anything what so ever? no but it gave me a weird feeling. Ask him about his building materials? and if the guitar is hand made?