. Front.
Some Background
John S. Kinnard is half owner and master luthier at Dell' Arte Instruments. He grew up in San Diego's north county during the sixies. California in that era was an especially fertile environment for those with a creative spirit. It was during that time that John first began building stringed instruments.
Later in the seventies, John and his then business partner, Peter Webster (now owner of a music store in Calif.), owned Heritage Guitar Works, located in Clovis, CA. While there, he also learned how to restore vintage stringed instruments.
He took a sabbatical from guitar making & repairs during the late 1980's and became involved in the jewelry business. John credits that time spent fabricating jewelry and cutting precious stones as helping to further hone his guitar making skills.
For a period of 4 years in the early 1990's, John went to work for Taylor Guitars. applying his knowledge and skills in the body department. In 1996, in quest of more artistic freedom, John opened a small shop under the name of Finegold Guitars and Mandolins.
In 1998, John met Alain Cola, a Frenchman living in the U.S. for twenty years. Alain, a long time jazz guitarist (in the style of the Hot Club of France) with a lifetime passion for Selmer/Maccaferri type guitars, was dealing in tone woods and musical instrument parts. Under the Dell' Arte Instruments brand, Alain had copies of Selmer/Maccaferri guitars and other instruments made in Mexico. Expanding his clientele of musical instruments dealers all over the world, Alain found himself in need of better workmanship for his guitars, and a more soldi base for his business. Alaoin & John began to talk about a partnership. In October 1998, Findgold Guitars and Mandolins and Dell' Arte Instruments merged. As of May 1999 all production of Mexican made instruments was stopped.
Nowadays, Dell' Arte Instruments offers a full array of stringed muscial instruments finely handcrafted in our shop with the best materials.
Discover the quality of a genuine artistic pursuit.
IN STOCK
- Dell' Arte Homage: USED ~ Near Mint condition. This model was created in "homage" to Jacques Favino, one of the legends of Gypsy jazz guitar making. Hence the name of the model "Homage de Favino". Indian Rosewood back and sides with a European spruce top. Deep Cutaway. Laminated Maple neck. Ebony fretboard that measures 1 3/4" at the nut. Slotted headstock with gold tuners and MOP buttons. Mother of pearl headstock logo and position dot markers. Multiple purfling lines form the rosette and accent the top, back and sides. Oval soundhole. Upgraded fiberglass case. Very fun, very cool guitar to play. If you have a large stable of guitars, this is a unique sound for you to add. $2500. Front... Closer... Back... Headstock... Fretboard... Down Front... Down Back... Soundhole... Side.
DELL' ARTE GYPSY JAZZ STRINGS
- Light Guage, loop end. (.010 .012 .022W .029W .036W .042W) ~ blue silk winding at loop ends, silver plated copper wound on steel, designed for Selmer & Maccaferri style guitars. $7.95 / set.
- Dugan Picks Imported from France, these truly ergonomic picks are catching on with guitar players of many music styles. Available in Horn, Coconut shell, bone, Acrylic and Acetate. In this pic, 2 coconut shell examples on left, and 2 bone examples on right. In this pic, acrylic on left and acetate on right. $10.99 / each.
Previously Sold
- Dell' Arte Homage: New. This model was created in "homage" to Jacques Favino, one of the legends of Gypsy jazz guitar making. Hence the name of the model "Homage de Favino". Indian Rosewood back and sides with a European spruce top. Deep Cutaway. Laminated Maple neck. Ebony fretboard that measures 1 3/4" at the nut. Slotted headstock with chrome tuners and MOP buttons. Mother of pearl headstock logo and position dot markers. Multiple purfling lines form the rosette and accent the top, back and sides. "D" soundhole. We upgraded to a fiberglass case. Very, Very cool box! SOLD !
