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2017 Castelluccia Nuages
Status: Pricing and hold status for all instruments currently available is shown on our Instruments page here. If this instrument does not appear on the Instruments page it has been sold, and is no longer available. Photos and descriptions of Previously Sold instruments may by found here. To be notified of examples of this model or similar instruments in the future, please contact [email protected],. Please be specific on which instrument(s) you're looking for, and we'll be happy to contact you as soon as they become available.
Serial #: 1025-13
Body size at lower bout: 15 1/2" (395mm) Body depth: 3 3/4" (95mm) Scale length: 26 3/8" (670mm) Nut width: 1 3/4" (44mm)
Finish: Nitrocellulose lacquer
Materials: Solid fine grained spruce top; bookmatched laminate Pau Ferro back and sides; 3 piece walnut neck, ebony fingerboard and bridge.
Hardware: Gold three-on-a-plate tuners; monogrammed "CJ" brass tailpiece with ebony inset, clear scratchplate, adjustable truss rod.
Notes: The oldest continous gypsy guitar luthiers in Paris, the Castelluccia family has been making fine fretted instruments for four generations, beginning in Italy at the turn of the 20th century. Jean-Baptiste, son of founder Francesco, settled in Paris in the late 30's, joining the fabled generation of Italian luthiers including Favino, DiMauro, Busato, Anastasio who followed Maccaferri in the heyday of the gypsy jazz guitar. The family workshop continues in Paris to this day under the direction of Jean-Baptiste II, and continues to specialize in the construction of both classical and Maccaferri style guitars.
The guitar is crafted with a solid European spruce top, and bookmatched back and sides of dramatically figured Pau Ferro (also known as Morado or Brazilian Ironwood.) The 3 piece neck is constructed of figured walnut, with a slighly flattened D profile, and smooth low action over a fresh high precision setup. The fingerboard is solid ebony, with dot inlays that decrease in size along the upper frets, like those of prewar Martins. And the solid ebony bridge is supplied with two ebony saddles of varying height, making quick action adjustments a breeze.
This Nuages model has the long Selmer scale and oval hole design favored by Django himself, with the classic snap and projection of the "Petite Bouche" Selmers. The voice is crisp and forward, with excellent clarity and projection. This example is in as-new condition, and includes its deluxe original hardshell case.
From the most venerable of the Parisian builders, and a true best buy in a genuine French gypsy jazzer, the Castelluccia is rarely seen on this side of the pond. One only: call now.
