Gypsy Jazz Guitar Modèle Vagabond ‘Grande Bouche’ No. 14
This commission came by way of Jim Harries, a classical guitar player from Mississauga, Ontario who contacted me about building him a custom Gypsy Jazz guitar.
After some discussion, we decided on a 14-fret-to-body connection as well as a longer 670 mm fret scale ‘Grande Bouche’, a custom ‘Whitney Guitars’ hybrid of the original Selmer-Maccaferri designs.
The Modèle ‘Vagabond’ features a longer scale length as well as cutaway accessibility while incorporating the ‘grande bouche’ D-shaped sound-hole.
With consistent clarity across the fingerboard coupled to a rich mid-range, this instrument is a superb choice for both soloists and accompanists, alike.
Here’s what Jim’s teacher and jazz musician, Mark Anderson had to say about the guitar:
I must say how VERY impressed I am…
I have had some good playing sessions with your Whitney and I must say how VERY impressed I am. From the very first note the volume was quite amazing, as you had said. I love that the volume however doesn’t seem to have any weak spots - from the lowest note on string six to way up high on string one, and all notes between. I also find the balance between the notes to be superb. I don’t see any spots that I need to compensate for with lighter or heavier picking. I have tried songs from all different styles - Jazz, Latin, Bossa, Classical, Pop, Blues. Not surprisingly, jazz and blues immediately sounded right, but after a little getting my ear used to it, I found them all to work wonderfully, with such unique character. I don’t think there is anything that won’t sound good on that guitar. It is a simply delightful and immensely enjoyable guitar to play! Thanks so much for letting me have some time to enjoy it!
A Fresh Take on the Selmer-Maccaferri Guitar
FEATURE LIST
- Modified Selmer-Maccaferri design
- D-shaped sound-hole
- 670mm scale length
- 14 frets-to-body (25 frets, total)
- Custom Tailpiece by Montreal Artisan
- Miller Swiss Selmer replica tuners
The Modèle Vagabond-14 (as featured here) is a hybrid design of the original Selmer-Maccaferri instruments. Constructed with a longer 670 mm scale length as well as a five-brace pattern, similar to the traditional oval-hole guitar or ‘petite bouche’, it offers greater accessibility as compared to the shorter scale, 12-fret model.
As the longer scale length creates greater string tension, I’ve chosen a five-brace system to best support the soundboard. The result is a more complex acoustic voice with confident trebles, well-balanced mids and a deep low-end presence. Additionally, both sound projection and volume are optimized due to the larger ‘D-shaped’ sound-hole, affectionately referred to as the Grande Bouche or Big Mouth.
'Miller' Swiss Tuning Machines
Hand crafted by Rainer Müller
For this upgraded Modèle Vagabond-14, Jim chose Rainer Müller of Switzerland’s closed-gear tuning machines for a classic Selmer style that is steeped in both precision and tradition.
These tuning machines are just one of several upgrade options available on my custom Gypsy Jazz guitars with others tuning machine options coming from either Schaller or Waverly.
From the oval Galalith buttons to the brass finish, Müller’s true-to-form tuning machines come with an already aged surface-finish complete with brass gear-hole bushings for an old-world and classic aesthetic.
Construction boasts machinist-level detail and together with the baseplate and the embossed logo, these tuners are exceptionally close to the vintage style of the original Selmer guitars and never fail to impress. These are a personal favourite of mine.
UPGRADE OPTION: Miller tuners are an add-on option to our 'base' Modèle Vagabond and replace the standard 'Schaller' open-gear tuning machines.
"It is superb in every way with beautiful acoustic sound and tone; and crafted with great quality."
-Jim Harries | "Whitney" Vagabond Gypsy Jazz Guitar Owner
One-of-a-Kind Handmade Tailpieces
Artistic Expression by Montreal Jeweller, Mathilde Tétreault
When details matter, the little ‘extras’ combine to create a piece of functional art.
While many standard hardware options exists when it comes to Selmer-style guitar tailpieces, Jim wanted something unique to compliment his new instrument.
While I do question whether it is the tailpiece complimenting the guitar, or the guitar complementing the tailpiece, one thing I’m certain of is that Mathilde’s work (aka @jeweler.on.the.road) is nothing short of exquisite in every way.
With each design being unique, her hand-cut, stamped and rubbed-finish tailpieces add a stunning embellishment to each custom ‘Whitney’ Gypsy Jazz guitar and I feel honoured to be able to collaborate with her.
UPGRADE OPTION: This custom tailpiece is an add-on option to replace our standard stamped bronze 'Django Trapeze Tailpiece with Ebony Insert' on our 'base' Modèle Vagabond.
Straight-up acoustic jazz ‘purity’... it sounds like Joe Pass is playing the chords and the notes!
-Jim Harries | "Whitney" Vagabond Gypsy Jazz Guitar Owner
STRIKING SANTOS ROSEWOOD
Superb Back and Side Veneers
Staying true to tradition, the laminated back and sides of this custom ‘Vagabond’ Gypsy Jazz guitar are comprised of a three-layer veneer as follows:
- Inner layer: Mahogany
- Middle layer: Poplar
- Outer layer: Santos Rosewood (aka ‘Pau Ferro’)
Laminated back and sides are known for their strength and for being exceptionally lightweight as compared to their solid-wood counterparts. This particular guitar weighed in at 3.8 pounds when finished.
Further, this type of construction lends itself to the overall tone and traditional sound that Gypsy Jazz guitars are known for. While the differenced are subtle, a laminated back-plate does vibrate differently than that of a solid back and in my opinion just sounds ‘right’ for the Gypsy Jazz or Jazz Manouhce style.
STANDARD FEATURE: 'Santos Rosewood' is just one of many external veneer choices for the back and side wood on any of my custom Gypsy Jazz Guitars and is included at no additional charge.
TORREFIED SITKA SPRUCE SOUNDBOARD
Clear tone and aesthetic warmth of well-aged vintage tonewood.
As ‘tonewoods’ such as spruce and cedar age, the cellular structure of the wood changes and facilitates a maturity in sound quality such as improved responsiveness and resonance. This process can take many years of both aging as well as playing in order to fully develop naturally, and is often described as a guitar sounding as though it has ‘broken in’ or ‘opened up’.
The vintage sound of an instrument that has realized this full potential is often sought after, and for good reason.
Torrefication is essentially a ‘pre-aging’ process that involves heat-treating the soundboard in an oxygen-free environment (i.e. a kiln) resulting in a highly resonant and extremely stable tone-wood with that much-desired ‘broken-in’ sound.
The rich colour as seen here on Jim’s guitar has been coloured only slightly with a very light blonde French polish. Most of the toasty warmth shown is the natural colour of the torrefied spruce and is absolutely stunning.
UPGRADE OPTION: 'Torrefied Sitka Spruce' is an upgrade option on my custom Gypsy Jazz guitars and would replace Sitka, Engelmann or Lutz spruce 'base' options on the Modèle Vagabond Grande Bouche.
UPGRADE OPTION: A 'French Polish' finish is another option on all 'Whitney' Guitars and would replace spray finishes that use nitrocellulose or water-based lacquers on our 'base model' guitars. Featured here is a garnet flake French polish on the back and sides, and blonde on the top, neck and head. Additionally, the neck has been rubbed out to a satin finish for a silky feel when moving up and down the neck.
ENJOY THIS POST ON THE GYPSY JAZZ GUITAR MODÈLE VAGABOND, GRANDE BOUCHE?
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