SAVE17%

D’Aquisto Jazz Line DQ JZ Antique Sunburst (Japan Custom Shop)

Description

One of the greatest guitar luthiers in history, James L. D’Aquisto, started his career in archtop guitar building at the age of 17 as an apprentice at John D’Angelico’s studio on Kenmare Street on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.   His mentor died in 1964 at the age of 59 and Jimmy immediately founded his own D’Aquisto brand.  He built guitars for the next 31 years first in Huntington and later in Greenport, Long Island.   In this period he is known to have created some of the best-sounding, most sought after archtop guitars available then or now.  He died, unpredictably and much to early at the age of 59 in 1995.  Jimmy always had a premonition that he might pass away at the same age that John D’Angelico did.   The instruments he created in his later years are especially desired and are highly regarded as the “Holiest” of archtop guitars. They are still the inspiration for many arch-top guitar builders.  His creativity in archtop guitar building is apparent in his design of the “Accutone” ebony bridge and his ebony tailpiece. Those innovative D’Aquisto archtops of the past are now revived to become part of the new history of archtop guitars, incorporating Old World craftsmanship with 21st century technology.

JAZZ LINE was designed as an electric model from the beginning of its development. To create a very warm sound D’Aquisto decided that it would better to use laminated rather than solid timbers. He chose maple for the top, back and sides and, reflecting the guitar’s purely electric design, a humbucker is mounted directly on to the body .
Legendary Jazz guitarist Jim hall loved to use this model and the DQ-JZ features the same finish as Jim’s original guitar.

One of the first to refine the concept of the gigging jazz guitar was Jimmy D’Aquisto, who slimmed the depth of the body in the 70’s to improve player comfort, added the handsome Venetian cutaway and streamlined soundholes, and retained the laminate body and built in pickup for improved sustain and feedback resistance. Now, a new generation of players and builders have rediscovered the design, and this smartly designed guitar is the result.

The D’Aquisto Jazz Line (DQ-JL) is an instrument co-designed by Jimmy D’Aquisto and jazz legend Jim Hall. Like its cousin, the body of the JLJ is constructed of highly flamed arched maple, specifically crafted to optimize amplified tone while suppressing feedback.

The JL also retains the “Chippendale” headstock with pearl scroll inlay, along with the effortless shallow D neck profile, with smooth low action. Those who prefer position markers in the fingerboard will appreciate the pearl block inlays in the solid ebony board, and the slim 2 1/2 ” body depth is particularly comfy under the arm. Tone is rich and warm with the faithfully designed humbucking pickup. Built by the same craftsmen as the costly Sadowsky version, this guitar is built of handsome bookmatched tiger flame maple, and is brand new. One of the iconic guitars in jazz history, at a price for hardworking players everywhere

specs

Body: 16 inch width Full acoustic, with Ivory multipl e binding
Top: Laminated Flamed Maple, pressed arch
Back: Laminated Flamed Maple, pressed arch
Neck: Maple 1 piece
Fingerboard: Ebony with Ivory binding
Number of Frets: 22, #213
Scale Length: 24-3/4 inches
Pickups: 1 x Original Metal Covered humbucker
Controls: 1 x Volume, 1 x Tone
Bridge: Ebony, height adjustable
Tailpiece: Ebony
Machineheads: Gotoh SG301 with Ebony Keys

Plush lined D’aquisto original hardcase included

 

2,499.00

Out of stock

Want to try it?

    Let us know what time you'd like visit us. We'll have this item ready for you to play.