Django’s Epi

Nicolai Foss

Though usually associated with the SelMac, his main instrument, Django Reinhardt played many other guitars during his career, including a Gretsch Synchromatic, a Gibson L5, and an Epiphone Zephyr. Django played the archtops during US tour in 1946, but apparently only the Zephyr went back to France with him. Here is the story of Django’s Epi #3442.

Apropos: Are any of the O&M readers able to identify those Django recordings where he is playing the Zephyr and those where he is playing his Selmer with the Stimer pick-up?

Life is Cruel

Nicolai Foss

OK, at the moment I am Sundance, Utah, for a conference. It is a highly interesting conference, and I don’t want to leave. Besides, I have to deliver a talk. While chilling out in my log cabin today, I happened to come across the site of Intermountain Guitar and Banjo — located … you guessed it, in Salt Lake City.Why is this a problem? Well, IGB has an inventory that features the most amazing classic Epiphones (check out those two Emperors) plus lots of great Gibsons. And as readers of this blog know, I am an Epi nut. Hmmm, perhaps I can find a way to sneak out tomorrow.

Mundell Lowe’s Site

Nicolai Foss

One of the most stylish players of the first generation of bebop guitarists, Mundell Lowe, has his own site. Definitely worth a visit.

Cleanest SelMac I Ever Saw

Nicolai Foss

Here. The auction is over, and it is not clear whether the guitar was sold. The “Sofort Kaufen” price of 11,500 Euros doesn’t strike me as excessive at all (this one, much less clean, is still on offer for 20, 000 Euros) . Perhaps the guitar was traded outside of ebay.

Frets.com Museum

Nicolai Foss

Here is a nice online collection, maintained by Frank Ford, of pics of various interesting guitars (and banjos and mandolins), including some archtops, a 1902 cutaway guitar, a very pretty custom-made L5, and, gasp, a Super 400 Tenor!

Most Bizarre Archtop I Saw Today

Nicolai Foss

Here.

UPDATE: OK, this guy is also pretty strange.