This is one of the very rare model #45 Busatos which was the the fancier, more ornate model in Busato's catalog. The rhinestone studded headstock is one-of-a-kind.

A guitar of this stature needs no introduction. Next to Selmers, Busatos are the most sought after guitars by today's top players. So many contemporary Gypsy jazz guitarists play these exquisite guitars:

Romane (he plays a Busato on most of his recordings over the last 5 years)

Stochelo Rosenberg (performs with his Selmer but is an avid collector and player of Busatos)

Yayo and Fanto Reinhardt (Romane's rhythm section get an amazing dry rhythm sound with their Busatos!)

Moreno and of course, Django himself! (see Django's Busato here: Django's Busato).

Django is rumored to have written the ballad Anoumanon his Busato.

So what makes a Busato so great? Generally speaking, it simply out performs other guitars in almost every way. First off, they are positively the loudest guitars ever made! I've compared Busatos to numerous classic Gypsy guitars such as Jacques Favinos and Selmers as well as new guitars by J.P. Favino, Dupont, ALD, and Dell Arte. A good Favino is pretty loud...but the Busato is just a cannon. A vintage Selmer is actually quite timid by comparison. The Busato has three tonal elements which really make it cut in acoustic settings. 1) It is extremely dry. It has little or no natural wetness (reverb.) This makes the guitar much more focused and is therefore much easier to hear in a loud jam setting. 2) The tone is very pure with very simple overtones. The fundamental pitch of single notes are very strong while the overtones are extremely clean and even. Very flute like in character. A Selmer sounds more complex, but is also somewhat "messier" sounding which dampens projection. 3) It responds to the slightest touch. Just barely strike the strings and you get a lightening fast bolt of sound. I really like this because you don't have to play these guitars hard to be loud. Busatos yield an exceedingly wide frequency response. They have a crisp, bright high end which gives your leads some sparkle and adds ambiance and clarity to rhythm work. There's not much mids, except for a slight upper midrange nasalness. But nothing like a Favino in that regard. Like a Favino, there is far more low end than a Selmer, and it's an incredibly tight, clear low end. Not mushy or ill defined in anyway. The tight low end of a Busato mixed with it's dry character really make it excel for rhythm playing. It's just so clear. The high end cracks like a whip and the bass notes are like a kick in the gut. The dimensions of this Busato is smaller than usual, close to that of a Selmer: Body is 15 3/4" across the lower bout and the scale length is 670mm. Busatos are also the curviest Gypsy guitars out there. The bombé (top arch) is the most pronounced I've ever seen on a Selmer type guitar. It's like a huge bubble under the bridge. The back is also beautifully arched.

This guitar has Brazilian rosewood back and sides, a spruce top, and mahogany neck. This guitar has the original clover tuners and tailpiece. The hardware is in excellent condition. The tuners are perfectly functional and turn very smoothly. There are at least 5 top cracks, all of which have been professionally cleated and are stable. the fingerboard looks to have been replaced (although the fingerboard dots look original?) and a truss rod was installed. The frets are new.

This guitar is currently strung with Argentine 10s and is incredibly easy to play. It plays like butter with no buzzes or other sonic problems. Action is very low at 2.8mm.

This instrument just has the sort of wear you'd expect of an instrument of this age (i.e. small scratches, dings, pickwear, etc.) It's extremely rare to find a Busato that is so well preserved, and even rarer to find the elusive Modele #45 in such good condition!

For more info or to buy see: https://www.djangobooks.com/Item/busato-grand-modele-deluxe-4

1940s Busato Modele #45

This beautiful guitar was built by the renowned French luthier Jean Barault. Biréli Lagrène, Tchavolo Schmitt, Dorado Schmitt, Angelo Debarre, and Stochelo Rosenberg currently play and endorse Barault guitars. With an All-Star list of endorsements, there's no doubt Barault is building the sort of guitar that meets the criteria of the world's most discerning players.

This guitar includes:

    Indian rosewood back and sides
    A real pliage (the top is heat bent just like the older Selmers!)
    European spruce top
    670mm scale
    14 fret neck
    Walnut neck
    Body specs (15 13/16" body, 3 13/16" deep)
    Lacquered interior (just like the vintage Selmers)
    Barault tailpiece

The sound of this instrument is among the best Selmer copies being made today. It's no wonder Biréli and Stochelo chose to endorse Barault guitars as his instruments produce a very traditional Selmer sound but have the playability of an ultra smooth archtop.

Barault's specialty is building instruments which sound very close to the early, pre-war Selmers like Django's Selmer #503. The tops were somewhat flatter on these guitars and the result is a warmer tone with a rich bass and a lush, satisfying midrange. This instrument possess those qualities in abundance, making it the perfect instrument for someone trying to emulate Django's classic tone. Furthermore, it produces this full bodied sound without sacrificing projection, which is so often the tradeoff with lesser guitars.

Barault is one of the very few luthiers today actually making Selmer copies with a real pliage. He uses the method that Selmer did...the top is bent with a hot iron which creates a fold, or "pliage," in the top just under the bridge. 99% of Selmer copies being made today have forced tops which generally don't have the punch, volume, and quick attack that the pliage tops have.

Barault certainly wins the award for weight...this guitar is feather weight at only 4 pounds! Hard to find anyone making guitars that lightweight today. The lower weight allows the guitar to resonate freely....no wonder it sounds so good!

For more info or to buy see: https://www.djangobooks.com/Item/jean-barault-2024-4

2024 Jean Barault

Maurice Dupont has long been one of the most respected luthiers in France and one of the first contemporary makers to specialize in producing the Selmer Maccaferri guitar. Maurice first gained recognition as a builder of classical guitars and in 1989 was bestowed with the honor of "Best French Craftsman." Maurice was an apprentice of the legendary Gypsy guitar maker Jacques Favino, and in 1986 he began building his own Selmer style guitars which quickly became the most popular choice of professional Gypsy guitarists. Countless Gypsy stars including Raphael Fays, Biréli Lagrène, Tchavolo Schmitt, and Romane have played Dupont guitars which appear on hundreds of recordings.

The MD50 is Maurice's standard Selmer copy which is based on the same specifications as the legendary Selmer guitars produced from 1932-1951. This instrument features Indian rosewood back and sides, a French spruce top, and a walnut neck. Duponts are known for their clear, dry tone and this instrument is no exception. Each note is well defined and projects well, without any of the annoying overtone ringing or muddiness that lesser guitars suffer from.

This example from 1996 was built when Maurice Dupont was building all of his instruments himself. It has the older square label that he used in this era. This instrument is literally in mint condition with not the slightest signs of use over it's long life!


Maurice's precision fretwork and neck geometry allow for easy playing low action which enables one to play even the most difficult passages with little effort. For these reasons, the MD50 has long been the "go to" guitar for professional Gypsy jazz guitarists. It has the most traditional Selmer tone and the best quality workmanship and materials that one can find in this price range. For these reasons it's our best selling guitar!

For more info or to buy see: https://www.djangobooks.com/Item/dupont-md50-1996-2

1996 Dupont MD50

Maurice Dupont has long been one of the most respected luthiers in France and one of the first contemporary makers to specialize in producing the Selmer Maccaferri guitar. Maurice first gained recognition as a builder of classical guitars and in 1989 was bestowed with the honor of "Best French Craftsman." Maurice was an apprentice of the legendary Gypsy guitar maker Jacques Favino, and in 1986 he began building his own Selmer style guitars which quickly became the most popular choice of professional Gypsy guitarists. Countless Gypsy stars including Raphael Fays, Biréli Lagrène, Tchavolo Schmitt, and Romane have played Dupont guitars which appear on hundreds of recordings.

Dupont's Gypsy models are built entirely in Cognac, France by master luthiers Patrick (who joined the Dupont team in 1994) and Mathias (since 2002) under the supervision of Maurice Dupont. The collective experience.of the Dupont team along with Maurice's stock of well aged, select tonewoods yields instruments of unsurpassed tone and playability.

The MD50 is Maurice's standard Selmer copy which is based on the same specifications as the legendary Selmer guitars produced from 1932-1951. This instrument features Indian rosewood back and sides, a French spruce top, and a walnut neck. Duponts are known for their clear, dry tone and this instrument is no exception. Each note is well defined and projects well, without any of the annoying overtone ringing or muddiness that lesser guitars suffer from.

Maurice's precision fretwork and neck geometry allow for easy playing low action which enables one to play even the most difficult passages with little effort. For these reasons, the MD50 has long been the "go to" guitar for professional Gypsy jazz guitarists. It has the most traditional Selmer tone and the best quality workmanship and materials that one can find in this price range. For these reasons it's our best selling guitar!

This example has been lovingly care for, and despite being over 20 years old, looks almost new! It has a few very light scratches on the body and some mild fret wear. Otherwise, very clean and also has a bigtone pickup installed (a $480 value.)

For more info or to buy see: https://www.djangobooks.com/Item/dupont-md50-2000-2

2000 Dupont MD50

2018 Park Montmartre

Dell Arte's Hommage model has long been considered one of the best Favino copies available. Handmade in San Diego by John Kinnard, this model features a European spruce top, a three piece highly flamed maple neck, and an ebony fingerboard. It has been fitted with a set of three on a plate Schaller tuners and a nickel DR tailpiece. A strap button was installed in the heel.

The Hommage model is nearly identical to Dell'Arte's Jimmy Rosenberg model, which Jimmy Rosenberg used on numerous recordings including: Rose Room, Djangos Tiger, and Trio.

The tone is pure Favino! Strong nasal upper mids, deep low end, and loads of BARK! Setup is perfect with action at a very slinky 2.8mm. It is strung with 11 gauge Argentine strings.

The condition is excellent, with a scuff mark on the lower bout and a few dings on the binding. The frets have some wear, but still have plenty of life left in them.

This is a rare opportunity to purchase a handmade instrument for less than $4K. The perfect guitar for the serious player on a budget!

For more info or to buy see: https://www.djangobooks.com/Item/2007-dell-arte-hommage

2007 Dell’Arte Hommage

The acclaimed luthier Riccardo Mordeglia hails from Ferrara, the Italian heartland of guitar making that also produced pioneering builders such as Luigi Mozzani and Mario Maccaferri. Riccarddo is a diligent student of the Emilian school of luthiers and has had the opportunity to restore original instruments constructed by Mozzani and Maccacferri. These luthiers laid the groundwork for the modern "Gypsy guitar." Riccarddo has taken it upon himself to take a look back at the original design principals of these groundbreaking luthiers and adapt them to make the best possible Gypsy jazz guitar.

This unique model is based on a unique Papiri and Burgassi guitar played by Django

Siro Burgassi was part of the mass emigration of master Sicilian luthiers (Di Mauro, Oliveri Anastasio, etc) who left Catania in the early 20th century. In the 1930s Burgassi and his countrymen setup a series of shops on the East side of Paris and quickly adapted their skills to making jazz guitars in the Selmer Maccaferri style. Burgassi worked as a banjo neck maker for the legendary luthier Bartolomeo Busato. Burgassi later went on to produce instruments in collaboration with another of Busato's proteges, Gino Papiri. They constructed many banjos, some very ornate, which bear the "SG" logo on the headstock. Papiri, who was the father in-law of Jacques Favino, later worked at the Favino workshop. Burgassi continued to build under his own name, earning a reputation as one of the most creative and innovative lutheirs from the Golden Era of Franco-Italian luthiere.

While based on the design principals of Burgassi, this instrument is no mere copy. The bracing, neck, and top arch are much improved resulting in a much more stable and melodious instrument. It features a bear claw spruce top, cherry back and sides, a mahogany neck with a wenge spline, a wenge fingerrboard, and pearwood binding. Hardware includes a vintage 40s era trapeze tailpiece and a set of three on a plate tuners.

Anyone who has ever compared 12 fret guitars to 14 fret guitars will always note the superior resonance, tone, and projection of the 12 fret model. However, most modern players require high fret access making the sonic trade off a 14 fret model a necessity. This ingenious Burgassi design has no heel, allowing for a 12 fret neck joint and a far deeper cutaway than possible on a convention neck joint. The result is all the benefits of tone, projection, and playability of a short 650mm 12 fret model with the high fret access of a 14 fret model.
The sound of this instrument seems to speak from a bygone era, with a voice more akin to the guitars built during the 1930s Golden Era of Franco-Italian luthiery. The aged spruce works its magic, producing a mature and open tone that fills the room with ease. The heat bent top allows for a quick, snappy attack and lots, and lots of volume. This instrument produces exceptionally crisp, singing leads that are chimey and beautiful. This is a result of this guitar's wonderful high end response which is colorful, rich, and cutting. The bass response is perfectly present, but not overwhelming, resulting in excellent clarity and definition across the entire range of the instrument.

This instrument has very easy playing 2.8mm action with a very slinky, smooth feel which makes it a joy to play!

This guitar is fashion statement that will standout both visually and sonically at any gig or jam. Go ahead and treat yourself to this wonderful, unique instrument that has all the old world charm you could ever ask for! 

For more info or to buy see: https://www.djangobooks.com/Item/mordeglia-wappen-papiri-burgassi

2023 Mordeglia Papiri Burgassi

John Kinnard earned a name for himself as one of the preeminent builders of Gypsy jazz guitars in North America while working as the head luthier for Dell'Arte in San Diego. Dell'Arte's Hommage model, designed and built by John, has long been considered one of the best Favino copies available and was widely regarded as Dell'Arte's best model. The Hommage model became the basis for numerous signature models including the Angelo Debarre model, the Jimmy Rosenberg model, and the Robin Nolan model. Dell'Arte closed it's doors in 2008, and since then John has been primarily building flatops. This rare foray back into the Gypsy jazz world is a boon for all those who appreciated his work with Dell'Arte. 

Like the original Hommage model, this guitar has a larger 16 1/2" Favino sized body and a longer 673mm scale. It features a European spruce top, rosewood back and sides, a mahogany neck, and a rosewood fingerboard. It has been fitted with a set of Kluson tuners and a brass Saga tailpiece.

This model is nearly identical to Dell'Arte's Jimmy Rosenberg model, which Jimmy Rosenberg used on numerous recordings including: Rose Room, Djangos Tiger, and Trio.

The tone is pure Favino! Strong nasal upper mids, deep low end, and loads of BARK! Setup is perfect with action at a very slinky 2.8mm. It is strung with 10 gauge Argentine strings.

For more info or to buy see: https://www.djangobooks.com/Item/2024-kinnard-hommage

2025 Kinnard Hommage

This beautiful guitar was built by the renowned French luthier Jean Barault. Biréli Lagrène, Tchavolo Schmitt, Dorado Schmitt, Angelo Debarre, and Stochelo Rosenberg currently play and endorse Barault guitars. With an All-Star list of endorsements, there's no doubt Barault is building the sort of guitar that meets the criteria of the world's most discerning players.

This guitar includes:

    Mahogany back and sides
    A real pliage (the top is heat bent just like the older Selmers!)
    European spruce top
    670mm scale
    14 fret neck
    Walnut neck
    Body specs (15 13/16" body, 3 13/16" deep)
    Lacquered interior (just like the vintage Selmers)
    Barault tailpiece

The sound of this instrument is among the best Selmer copies being made today. It's no wonder Biréli and Stochelo chose to endorse Barault guitars as his instruments produce a very traditional Selmer sound but have the playability of an ultra smooth archtop.

Barault's specialty is building instruments which sound very close to the early, pre-war Selmers like Django's Selmer #503. The tops were somewhat flatter on these guitars and the result is a warmer tone with a rich bass and a lush, satisfying midrange. This instrument possess those qualities in abundance, making it the perfect instrument for someone trying to emulate Django's classic tone. Furthermore, it produces this full bodied sound without sacrificing projection, which is so often the tradeoff with lesser guitars.

Barault is one of the very few luthiers today actually making Selmer copies with a real pliage. He uses the method that Selmer did...the top is bent with a hot iron which creates a fold, or "pliage," in the top just under the bridge. 99% of Selmer copies being made today have forced tops which generally don't have the punch, volume, and quick attack that the pliage tops have.

Barault certainly wins the award for weight...this guitar is feather weight at only 3.6 pounds! Hard to find anyone making guitars that lightweight today. The lower weight allows the guitar to resonate freely....no wonder it sounds so good!

This instrument has some pickwear on the top, including one larger scratch that is visible in the right light. There is some very mild fretwear as well, but is otherwise in excellent condition.

As one of the, if not the top luthier in Gypsy jazz, Jean's guitars have usually been priced in the upper range of Gypsy jazz guitars. With these new Studio Models, Jean has made exceptional sound and craftsmanship of his instruments available to students and pros alike!




For more info or to buy see: https://www.djangobooks.com/Item/jean-barault-studio-7

2022 Jean Barault Studio Model

This beautiful guitar was built by the renowned French luthier Jean Barault. Biréli Lagrène, Tchavolo Schmitt, Dorado Schmitt, Angelo Debarre, and Stochelo Rosenberg currently play and endorse Barault guitars. With an All-Star list of endorsements, there's no doubt Barault is building the sort of guitar that meets the criteria of the world's most discerning players.

This guitar includes:

    Indian rosewood back and sides
    A real pliage (the top is heat bent just like the older Selmers!)
    European spruce top
    670mm scale
    14 fret neck
    Walnut neck
    Body specs (15 13/16" body, 3 13/16" deep)
    Lacquered interior (just like the vintage Selmers)
    Barault tailpiece

The sound of this instrument is among the best Selmer copies being made today. It's no wonder Biréli and Stochelo chose to endorse Barault guitars as his instruments produce a very traditional Selmer sound but have the playability of an ultra smooth archtop.

Barault's specialty is building instruments which sound very close to the early, pre-war Selmers like Django's Selmer #503. The tops were somewhat flatter on these guitars and the result is a warmer tone with a rich bass and a lush, satisfying midrange. This instrument possess those qualities in abundance, making it the perfect instrument for someone trying to emulate Django's classic tone. Furthermore, it produces this full bodied sound without sacrificing projection, which is so often the tradeoff with lesser guitars.

Barault is one of the very few luthiers today actually making Selmer copies with a real pliage. He uses the method that Selmer did...the top is bent with a hot iron which creates a fold, or "pliage," in the top just under the bridge. 99% of Selmer copies being made today have forced tops which generally don't have the punch, volume, and quick attack that the pliage tops have.

This example has a fair amount of pickwear on the top as well some moderate fretwear. Otherwise, it's in excellent condition with easy playing low action and an amazing tone!

Barault certainly wins the award for weight...this guitar is feather weight at only 4 pounds! Hard to find anyone making guitars that lightweight today. The lower weight allows the guitar to resonate freely....no wonder it sounds so good!

For more info or to buy see: https://www.djangobooks.com/Item/jean-barault-2022-2

1996 Dupont MD50

DjangoBooks.com