PAUL VERNON CHESTER

Manouche Maestro

Fred Guy's Levin Guitar - Django's Prop

While visiting Göteborg during a tour of Sweden in April, 1939, Fred Guy, guitarist in the Duke Ellington Orchestra purchased a Levin De Luxe at Waidele. This is the guitar that Django Reinhardt is playing in the famous William Gottlieb photos. They were taken backstage at the Aquarium in New York City when Django was on tour with the Duke Ellington Orchestra in 1946.  Django arrived without his instrument expecting manufacturers to fall at his feet with offers of Guitars - 'Casserole' Guitars he discovered.  Guy's Swedish Levin Acoustic Archtop Guitar was used for the Photo Shoot by Gottlieb in 1946

Specifications: 1937-39
Non-cutaway.
Body width: 440 mm.
Body length: 530 mm.
Body depth: 85 mm.
Hand carved top & back.
Romanian spruce top.
4-ply bound f-holes.
Flame maple back & sides.
6-ply bound top with single-bound f-holes.
4-ply bound back.
5-ply bound pickguard.
Flame maple neck - non-adjustable T-shaped duraluminum truss rod.
Triple-bound headstock with mother-of-pearl inlay.
Triple-bound ebony fingerboard with mother-of-pearl block inlay.
Fingerboard ends with a tip.
Grover Sta-Tite or Imperial tuners.
Gold plated hardware.
Sunburst finish.
Ten year warranty.

 

Vintage Guitars Sweden

1940 Levin De luxe

Fred Guy on another date with another Guitar (Stromberg G1-3 or Deluxe?) The Stromberg name, a family that was famous for making acoustic archtops in the thirties and forties. These guitars were sought-after in their pre-amplification day for their ability to be heard over an entire dance orchestra without amplification. Count Basie’s guitarist, Freddie Green, was a well-known player of Stromberg's. Between 1932 and 1964, Charles and son Elmer Stromberg sold high end, handmade instruments bearing their name.

Perhaps a Stromberg Deluxe - 17 3/8" wide, Tailpiece with 3 cut-outs and Y-shaped centre section, bound pickguard with stair-step on treble side, bound F-holes, bound ebony fingerboard with pointed end, "Deluxe" on peghead, natural or sunburst finish, gold plated parts.

The Stromberg's (Charles and Elmer) made approximately 640 instruments up until 1955 when they both died. They used their business cards as labels in the guitars, the telephone number on the card helps to determine the approximate year the instrument was made...1932-1945...CA 3174

1947 Stromberg G1 - Scotty Moore from Nat 'King' Cole's Trio played a Stromberg. without the pick guard and an added Pick-up

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Last modified: 25/08/2010