Castelluccia Giambattista Gypsy

Model with a Gypsy (3rd generation) version smallmouth, it is handmade by the workshop Castelluccia the image of the Selmer 30s. It has a spruce soundboard folded up with a barrage of three crossbars image Castelluccia some 50 years and the famous Selmer # 503 that belonged to Django Reinhardt.
The head is reported as the original Selmer guitar is equipped with a new siglé tailpiece with ebony plate.
The handle has a comfort game with maximum width at Nut 44mm and 21mm thick at the first box. It is equipped with a double-action trussrod, an ebony fingerboard with 21 frets and radius.

UTILIZATION

Playing comfort is optimal thanks to an optimized handle a curve, the guitar is lightweight and made with fine woods such as ebony, walnut and rosewood from Brazil.
It is equipped with an easel with an ingenious system of removable ebony nut to make adjustments heights strings without having to intervene at the base of the bridge (which is very handy).

SOUNDS

The sound is very balanced, full and well-typed, always in the spirit of Selmer guitars. The guitar is powerful and throws a lot while being very percussive. It allows for the pump and the chorus without restriction.
It is therefore very versatile.

OVERALL OPINION

I have this guitar for about 4 months, and I must say it surprises me every day as it evolves daily acoustically.
Its price / quality ratio is unbeatable for me. Having tried many guitars in this budget during my research, I have to say that few are likely to compete. To find the equivalent in terms of finish and especially his I had to try some guitars worth more than double!
Anyway, I can not recommend this model to all guitarists who wish to practice gypsy guitar without breaking the bank.
Personally, I can not thank enough the luthier Castelluccia put at our disposal such instruments which for me represent the excellence that can exist on the market. If it again, I would do the same choice without hesitation.

Made in Italy, the table is made from Castelluccia rue de Rome.
Type guitar manouche small rosette.

UTILIZATION

Very comfortable to play, I was immediately captivated, and I was never disappointed.

SOUNDS

It responds quite what we expect from this kind of guitar.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 5 years, bought 1200 euros in 2007.
I tried several other models between Rome and rue Pigalle that day, it was in this price range, the best by far!

Only (big) downside, the tailpiece. First break two years later, I returned home Castelluccia, he changes it for 30 euros (normally it costs 60). The new case again two years later.
I'm going with my violin luthier, who commands a 20 euros and change me free. And it is, it keeps its bright while ropers Castelluccia oxidize in a few months.
So if you buy one, do not hesitate, remove the tailpiece and directly go look elsewhere, ropers Castelluccia are certainly signed his initials, but are perfectly zero.

That said, once this past trip, this guitar is a delight.