Artie Narvaez of the Artie Shaw Band loaned this 1939 Gretsch Synchromatic 400 (opposite) to Django Reinhardt to record guitar duets with Harry Volpe in 1946. Django also used this instrument to prepare for his American concert tour with the Duke Ellington Orchestra. This is the first year of issue of the Synchromatic 400 which was discontinued during the Second World War due to restrictions on material.

Considering Harry Volpe's close connections with Gretsch as sponser it would seem that he would have had had more than one of their models and whether the Navarez guitar was employed or not it seems unlikely as he had his own name emblazoned on to the Scratch Plate. This appears to be an acoustic Instrument. 

If Volpe was given these guitars readily by Gretsch would he not readily lend them for recording or allow Django to practice with them for the Ellington Band. - what was the basis for the intended Gibson ES300 purchase or the alleged  free Epiphone saga?

Only Artie Shaw's Guitarist - Artie Narvaez it is claimed had the temerity and leeway to do that.

The Gretsch Synchromatic 400, with its teardrop tone holes, conforms closely to the streamform ideals. The cat's eye tone holes were designed to project sound from the inner chamber with maximum velocity and volume. This resulted in an instrument with fast transient response and considerable cutting power. The guitar was equipped with other streamlined features such as a curvilinear pickguard, chromatic compensating tailpiece and curvilinear "lightbulb" shape suggests through and creativity. The peghead inlay juxtaposition of a pearl teardrop and an engraved "synchromatic" lightening bolt, captured the spirit of power and motion inherent in streamform design. Gretsch catalogues from that period incorporated the streamform vocabulary, which reads like an art movement manifesto. Clearly, the Synchromatic was a milestone in 20th century artistic expression and achievement.

Django with Harry Volpe

The Guitar

A classic acoustic archtop, large bound tortoise pickguard, gold stairstep tailpiece and script inlaid paddle headstock. The flamed maple body is finished in a Vintage Sunburst as is the solid Spruce top.  Introduced in 1940. 18" wide, non-cutaway body with maple back and sides, double bound cat-eye sound holes, stairstep bridge, harp tailpiece, pickguard with white and gold sparkle binding that almost covers the treble sound hole, white and gold sparkle fingerboard and body binding, 26" scale, gold plated parts, 5 piece neck of maple and rosewood, ebony fingerboard, slanted script "Gretsch" logo, crossed "Synchromatic" chili-pepper inlay ornament, slashed humptop block inlays. Available in sunburst or blond.

Gretsch
Synchromatic Series
604x
U.S.A.
Available 1940 to 1955
Standard Colours: Sunburst (6040), Natural (6041).
Body: Spruce Top, Maple Sides.
Neck: 5 Piece Laminated Maple.
Fingerboard: Ebony.
Number of Frets: 22.
Scale Length: 26 inches.
Options: Slanted Script "Gretsch" Logo
Crossed "Synchromatic" Chili-Pepper Inlay Ornament
Slashed Humptop Block Inlays
Pick guard With White And Gold Sparkle Binding
13 Ply White And Gold Sparkle Fingerboard And Body Binding
Synchrosonic Stairstep Bridge
Harp Tailpiece
Gold Plated Hardware
Grover Imperial Tuners
From it's cat-eye sound holes (2 one almost lost behind the pick guard) to it's thirteen layers of binding, the Synchromatic was a visual feast. Luckily for players, it had a sound and playability to match it's red-hot looks. Built to one-up the Gibson Super 400, the Synchromatic 400 debuted in 1939 at the top of the Synchromatic line. It was obviously descended from the earlier Model 250, but the 250 never had he Synchro's art-deco style, or it's "Seven Points of Supremacy, as the marketing folks liked to tout. The Synchromatic's distinctive styling was carried from the 400 down through the Synchromatic 300, 200 and 160 models, differing mostly in the size of the guitar and level of ornamentation. A entry-level Synchromatic 100 was also offered, although it had to do without the styling of the higher-end Synchros. The Synchromatic 400 "Chromatic Tailpiece" is an exclusive Gretsch feature. The tailpiece is designed to compensate for differing string gauges, thereby reducing tension and equalizing playing finger pressure. The tailpiece makes playing easier with uniform finger action.  The Synchromatic "Synchronized bridge" is another exclusive Gretsch feature. The bridge is graduated to provide progressively broader contact between the vibrating strings and the top, or sounding board. The result is perfect harmonious balance between the fast vibrating treble strings and slower vibrating bass strings.

Price then $450 including Case

Compare carefully these two guitars from the Gretsch stable -
Volpe has the Patented 'French' Triangular Soundhole without added Pick-ups -
Django the Cats Eye Soundholes which were standard. This picture was dubbed for the Souvenir album Poster.

• An home movie filmed by Harry Volpe

• Filmed in New-York while Django was there (as part of the Duke Ellington tour)

• Rumours spread around that the movie was not available (destroyed ?, lost ?), but I doubt it...

• The movies shows Harry Volpe walking down a street with Django adjacent to the Henry Hudson Hotel where Django was staying.

• There is a scene where you see Django and Harry having spaghetti with friends...

• There is a scene with Django and Harry playing...no sound though  There is no soundtrack (a real home movie of those days)