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Top 10 Best Gypsy Jazz Guitars

Gypsy Jazz is a prominent genre pioneered by “Gypsy” musicians, notably Django Reinhardt. This style was popular in France and other European countries before and after world war 2.

Guitar in Gypsy Jazz is crucial as it uses a specific strumming technique known as La Pompe, which provides the foundation for the gypsy style. 

The Gypsy-jazz guitar, like every other guitar style, has seen a wide variety of styles and modifications over the years.

These guitars have a larger hollow body, a distinct look, and longer necks than regular acoustic guitars.

This article has assembled a list of the best guitars for gypsy jazz, ranging from classic to m dern varieties.

What makes an excellent gypsy jazz guitar?

Gypsy jazz guitars have a long-extended neck, a slightly bigger body, and an oval or big D-hole, providing a gypsy sound. This design enables the production of a distinctive crispier, and more metallic sound to support the famous “La Pompe.”

What sort of guitar is used in Gypsy jazz?

The classic Gypsy Jazz is performed on an acoustic Sel er Maccaferri Style guitar, providing its unique tone and beauty. The Gypsy guitar, in contrast to the Western-style guitar, features a small, oval sound hole (petit bouche) or a large hole in a D-shape (D-hole).

Where did Gypsy jazz originate from?

Gypsy jazz began in France in the 1930s. Django Reinhardt was a crucial figure in the development of the style. Today’s gypsy jazz performers emulate Reinhardt, who performed in Quintette du Hot Club de France with Stéphane Grappelli and other artists.

How is Gypsy Jazz different from jazz?

Gypsy jazz feels more grounded, with melodies easily traceable, understandable, and catchy as there are frequent arpeggio notes throughout the solos. Perhaps this is why individuals of all ages enjoy Gypsy Swing so much.

Our Top Pick
Gitane-DG-370-Modele-Dorado-Schmitt-Signature-Gypsy-Jazz-Guitar-Source-instrumentalley

Gitane DG-370 Modele Dorado Schmitt

Best Value
Dupont-Nomade-Gypsy-Guitar

Dupont Nomade

Premium
Eastman-DM1-Gypsy-Jazz-Guitar-Source-elderly-com

Eastman DM1 Gypsy Jazz Guitar Classic

Brand:GitaneDupontEastman
Sound Hole:D Hole OvalOval
Fret Neck:14 Fret14 Fret14 Fret
Scale Length:680mm670mm670 mm
Top Material:Adirondack SpruceEuropean SpruceSitka Spruce
Back and Sides Material:Maple (Laminate)EtimoéIndian Rosewood
Neck Material:Maple (Three Piece)Mahogany (Bolt-On)Maple
Fingerboard:EbonyIndian RosewoodEbony
Binding: WalnutEbonyIndian R sewood
Finish:Natural GlossSatinClassic
Tailpiece:Saga GoldGoldEastman Nickel
Pickup:NoneNoneNone
Weight:4.45 lbs4.1 lbs4.6 lbs

10. Kadence Acoustica Series Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Kadence is dedicated to creating more functional and comfortable acoustic guitars and offering quality products and services.

These guitars are an excellent choice to start learning to play this style of music.

With a gorgeous ash brown design and construction quality that is remarkable in this price range, the Kadence Acoustic line offers a sound and feel for performing gypsy jazz.

This guitar also includes built-in pickups with a two-band EQ and a tuner in this price range.

The guitar has an exact head shape and a rich pore paint finish. The bridge is made of rosewood, which gives it a steady and rich tone.

Though this isn’t a complete jazz gypsy guitar, the Kadence Acoustica has a cutaway corner design that helps practice and play gypsy jazz style.

Specifications
Brand:Kadence
Color:36″ Ash Wood, Ash Wood
Guitar Dimensions: 41.5 x 18.5 x 4 inches
Back Material:Ash Wood
Top Material: Ash Rosewood
Body Material:Wood
Pickup:Yes
Finish:Polished
Item Weight:9.44 Pounds

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Well-designed guitar
  • Pickup included

Cons

  • Relatively average tone

9. Cigano GJ-0 Petite Bouche

The GJ-0 Petite Bouche guitar provides the feel of a traditional 1930s instrument without being excessively costly.

This instrument is based on the mid-century Selmer and Maccaferris. Many consider it Gitane’s best student-level guitar.

The GJ-0 features a strong Sitka spruce top and a slender mahogany neck for simple gameplay and long-term stability.

The back and side materials of this guitar are made of Mahogany, which maintains the expressive timbre of the guitar.

This guitar has a typical brass tailpiece, mustache bridge, and a smaller soundhole than other variants that create a bright percussive gypsy tone.

Specifications
Brand:Cigano
Sound Hole:Oval
Fret Neck: 14 Fret
Back and Side Material:Mahogany (Laminate)
Top Material: Spruce (Laminate)
Neck Material:Mahogany
Fingerboard:Rosewood
Binding:Ebony
Finish:Satin
Weight:3.8 lbs
Scale Length:680 mm

Pros

  • Playability
  • Traditional Tone
  • Budget Value

Cons

  • Not suitable for Rhythm, as it has a smaller sound hole

8. Dell Arte Manouche Latcho Drom

The Manouche Latcho Drom guitars created for Dell’Arte are undoubtedly the best in the realm of Gypsy jazz guitars.

This instrument has a distinctive Gypsy tone, loud and dry. All through the delicate C-shaped neck, the playability is excellent.

The back and sides materials are laminated East Indian Rosewood, the top is solid European Spruce, and the neck is Mahogany with an Ebony fingerboard.

The walnut neck is covered by an Ebony fingerboard and features a thin, soft “D” shape that makes it simple to move your hand around it fluently.

The guitar has a light body, but it has a powerful tone. At a reasonable price, the Manouche Latcho offers the tone and playability of the top instruments. 

Specifications
Brand:Manouche Latcho Drom
Sound Hole:D Hole
Fret Neck: 14 Fret
Back and Side Material:Indian Rosewood (Lami ate)
Top Material: European Spruce
Neck Material:Walnut
Fingerboard:Ebony
Binding:Indian Rosewood
Finish:High Gloss
Weight:4.6 lbs
Scale Length:670 mm
Tailpiece:DR Gold

Pros

  • Playability
  • Traditional Tone
  • Budget Value

Cons

  • Not suitable for Rhythm, as it has a smaller sound hole

7. Cigano GJ-15 Grande Bouche 

The GJ-15 model was produced by Saga Musical Instruments and Gitane Guitars, two of the leading manufacturers of Gypsy Jazz guitars.

The GJ-15 Cigano Student Gypsy Jazz guitar features a solid Sitka spruce top, well finished Asian rosewood back and sides, and a neck contributing to its excellent playability and tone.

Other distinctive features of this gypsy jazz guitar are a D-shaped soundhole with a rosette, a deep horizontal cutaway, a slotted headstock, an ebony mustache bridge, and a brass tailpiece. The neck is made of solid Mahogany.

Overall, the construction of this model ensures durability while keeping the build simple to perform and affordable for beginners.

You will get a guitar that does not lose quality for a considerably lower price than regular guitars designed explicitly for Gypsy Jazz.

Specifications
Brand:Cigano
Sound Hole:D Hole
Fret Neck: 14 Fret
Back and Side Material:Mahogany
Top Material: Spruce
Neck Material:Mahogany Neck
Fingerboard:Rosewood
Finish:High Gloss
Weight:3 lbs
Scale Length:640 mm

Pros

  • Great price
  • Great build
  • Comfortable for beginners

Cons

  • Not as versatile with genres

6. Gitane DG-255 Acoustic Guitar

The Gitane DG-255 is a revival of the Selmer-style jazz guitar, which replaced the original Maccaferri design in the early 20th century.

This guitar has a longer scale length making it easier to play, while the smaller soundhole gives the guitar its proper gypsy tone.

DG-255 features a solid spruce top with the perfect oval soundhole for a bell-bright attack and a characteristic Gypsy Jazz sound.

The Santos rosewood back and sides give deep bass and power.

At the same time, a mahogany neck with a premium ebony fingerboard adds easy playability, action, and a beautiful appearance.

Specifications
Brand:Gitane
Sound Hole:Oval
Fret Neck: 14 Fret
Back and Side Material:Rosewood ( Laminate )
Top Material: Spruce
Neck Material:Mahogany Neck
Fingerboard:Ebony
Finish:High Gloss
Weight:4.15 lbs
Scale Length:6 0 mm
Tailpiece:Saga
Binding:Ebony/Maple/Walnut

Pros

  • Excellent Built Quality
  • Value for Money
  • Loud and Snappy for Rhythm
  • Ideal for intermediate/advanced musicians

Cons

  • Not the easiest for beginners to use
  • The mids can sound a little hollow

5. Gretsch Guitars Jim Dandy Flat Top

Gretsch guitars are well-known for their high-quality tone and attractive design.

Gretsch Jim Dandy Acoustic Guitar is a lovely instrument with good quality on the lower end of the market.

The Jim Dandy is built of surprising materials. This guitar is built of solid Basswood rather than laminated wood pieces like other guitars in this price range.

Jim Dandy’s top, back, and sides are all made of Basswood, and the aged white body binding adds a vintage retro appearance.

It has a beautiful walnut fretboard with 18 frets but no cutaway on the body.

It also has an in-built pickup for amplification and recording. It mixes a vintage Gretsch sound with a contemporary vibe.

This is a compact gypsy jazz guitar that is great for travel.

These vintage-style instruments are ideal for playing gypsy jazz and other musical forms.

Specifications
Brand:Gretsch
Sound Hole:Circle Standard
Fret Neck: 18 Fret
Back and Side Material:Basswood
Top Material: Basswood
Neck Material:Nato
Fingerboard:Walnut
Finish:Vintage Semi-Gloss
Weight:3 lbs
Scale Length:609 mm
Tailpiece:Traditional Acoustic Bridge
Binding:White
Pickup:Yes

Pros

  • Built-in Pickup
  • Smaller Size, Portability
  • Retro look and sounds

Cons

  • Little tight tuning knobs

4. Godin Multiac Gypsy Jazz Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Godin’s Multiac Gypsy Jazz guitar is a remarkable acoustic-electric with incredible tonal flexibility, comfort, and playability.

This gypsy jazz guitar is equipped with a Seymour Duncan lipstick single-coil, an under saddle piezo, and an inbuilt microphone that can all be mixed or performed individually, delivering extraordinary tonal diversity.

This flexible guitar, which bears some resemblance to the swing/gypsy jazz era, creates a link between the aesthetics of earlier and the requirements of today’s players.

The Godin’s Multiac also has a solid spruce top, Mahogany back/sides, and a mahogany neck for a robust in-hand feel and solid wood tone.

It is an outstanding guitar in every way. Finally, the Multiac Gypsy Jazz allows players to generate authentic Gypsy Jazz tones at any loudness.

Specifications
Brand:Godin
Fret Neck: 21 Fret
Back:Two-Chambered Mahogany
Top Material: Solid Spruce Top
Neck Material:Mahogany
Fingerboard:Richlite
Finish:High Gloss
Weight:4.6 lbs
Scale Length:660.4 mm
Bridge and Tailpiece:Richlite with Nickel Gypsy Jazz Tailpiece
Neck Pickup:Seymour Duncan Lipstick pickup
Controls:On Board Preamp, Volume, and Tone

Pros

  • Tonal Versatility
  • Authentic Gypsy Jazz tone
  • Internal Pickup Included
  • Perfect for Modern Guitarist

Cons

  • Quite Expensive
  • Not Strictly Traditional

3. Dupont Nomade

Maurice Dupont is one of France’s most well-known guitar makers specializing in manufacturing the Selmer Maccaferri guitar.

The shape of this guitar is traditional, with a small oval soundhole with a cutaway.

The body is laminated walnut, with the top made from solid spruce. A crisp matte finish is given to the guitar.

At a tremendous cost, the Nomade offers the tone and performance of Dupont’s top instruments.

The neck is bolted on and detachable, which helps travel.

The bolt-on neck has no impact on the sound or usability of the instrument. The sound is remarkably close to the MDC-50, which costs twice as much.

Specifications
Brand:Dupont
Sound Hole: Oval
Scale Length:670 mm
Top Material: European Spruce
Neck Material:Mahogany (Bolt-On)
Fingerboard:Indian Rosewood
Finish:Satin
Weight:4.1 lbs
Tailpiece:Gold
Binding:Ebony
Back and Side Material:Etimoé

Pros

  • Reasonable Price
  • Sound Quality
  • Playability

Cons

  • Not much

2. Eastman DM1 Gypsy Jazz Guitar Classic

Eastman guitars have long been recognized for their high-quality archtop and flattop guitar designs.

The DM1 Traditional is primarily built on Selmer’s classic petite bouche model, which Django Reinhardt popularized.

The DM1 Classic reflects Selmer’s original design, with the spruce top and Indian rosewood back and sides.

The DM1 Classic features Eastman’s stunning classic finish.

This guitar is designed to fulfill the needs of professional and modern Gypsy jazz musicians, with the capacity to generate excellent volume and traditional tone.

DM1 is an aggressive old-school sound, evoking a raw, forceful tone.

This guitar also has ample neck space clearance for magnetic pickups.

Specifications
Brand:Eastman
Sound Hole:Oval
Fret Neck: 14 Fret
Back and Side Material:Indian Rosewood
Top Material: Sitka Spruce
Neck Material:Maple
Fingerboard:Ebony
Finish:Classic
Weight:4.6 lbs
Scale Length:670 mm
Tailpiece:Eastman Nickel
Binding:Indian Rosewood

Pros

  • Quality Tailpiece
  • Thick Ebony Fretboard
  • Tonal quality and power

Cons

  • Not much

1. Gitane DG-370 Modele Dorado Schmitt

The Gitane DG-370 is a high-end gypsy jazz guitar with a distinctive gypsy sound and attacking flair. 

The Gitane DG-370 was created to meet the exacting standards of famed gypsy jazz guitarist Dorado Schmitt.

This guitar boasts a contemporary, comfortable neck for outstanding handling and a richer tone.

This guitar has an exceptionally long scale of 680 mm compared to other gypsy jazz guitars.

This guitar is also distinguished by its use of solid spruce for the top and heavily raged maple for the back and sides.

The finish is natural gloss, and it boasts gold-plated tuners and a trapezoid tailpiece. 

This guitar has fantastic looks with its unique tone for performing level gypsy artists and intermediate players.

Specifications
Brand:Gitane
Sound Hole:D Hole
Fret Neck: 14 Fret
Back and Side Material:Maple (Laminate)
Top Material: Adirondack Spruce
Neck Material:Maple (Three Piece)
Fingerboard:Ebony
Finish:Natural Gloss
Weight:4.45 lbs
Scale Length:680 mm
Tailpiece:Saga Gold
Binding:Walnut

Pros

  • Amazing Built Quality
  • Unique Gypsy Tone
  • Looks Fantastic

Cons

  • Quite Expensive

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