Description
By 1940–1950, the guitar had already become central to jazz, swing, and emerging “gypsy jazz” styles. This decade saw both jazz archtops (in the U.S. and Germany) and Selmer–Maccaferri style guitars (in France, for Django Reinhardt’s gypsy jazz).
By the 1940s, the american archtop guitar was the backbone of jazz rhythm sections. During and after WWII, European makers started to built jazz guitars inspired by Gibson. Key Brands are Höfner (founded 1887, Germany), Framus (Germany, founded 1946) and Roger (Rodebald Hoyer). like their American models these guitars featured laminated or carved archtops, often with ornate headstocks. Some fitted with early pickups (DeArmond, later German-made). These became very popular in post-war Europe as imports from the U.S. were limited.
In France, the Selmer–Maccaferri guitar (1932–1952 production) defined gypsy jazz. Features are the Oval (petite bouche) or D-shaped (grande bouche) soundhole, the long scale (670mm), ladder bracing with pliage (folded top).. They were lightweight, with a loud, dry, cutting tone. Best know for playing these models is Django Reinhardt (1910–1953). His Hot Club recordings in the 1940s made this guitar iconic. After WWII, Selmer stopped production (1952), but the style continued with makers like Busato, Favino, and later Dupont.
Go to collection Jazz & Gipzy Guitars 40’s & 50’s
