Craig Bumgarner

With all this talk about Castelluccia style guitars, I thought I would post a little about one of my Selmer style guitars.    This one was completed in the spring of 2011 and was purchased by Ben Wood of Franglais fame at Django in June, 2011.   Here is how Ben describes it.

“I had been play gypsy jazz on a seven string guitar for ten years, and as a professional musician for around 6 of those ten years;playing that guitar with everyone from Stephane Wrembel to Titi Bamberger to Ritary to Jack Soref, my own band Franglais and so many more. However I had reached the conclusion that to get further along in my playing; and correct my sound in a more authentic direction using correct voicings I needed to switch to the six string guitar. I was looking for a six sting that had a great bark, full bass and less high end bright tones; something that sounded mature and like a Olivier Marin or early Bob Holo guitar. My favorite players were playing on these.

I was lucky to run into Craig at Django in June, and after spending some time playing the guitar; I became convinced that it might work. The clincher was having my wife Eve a jazz vocalist who works with me in Franglais as well as leading her own band hear the guitar. She liked the sound; and said the magic words- your sound has more bass on that guitar then the 7 string! I thought wow . . that guitar has a tone
fully a fifth lower and yet this one sounds rounder and more rich. I know then that it was the guitar for me!”
Thanks Ben!  Here are a few more pictures, followed by a link to an interview of  Ben & Eve by Patrus and a couple of songs.

This guitar is modeled after the early 500 series Selmers  nd features a Western Red Cedar top with a true heat formed pliage, Selmer style bracing reminiscent of  Django’s #503, four main braces, four minor braces.   Back and size are laminated Moabi.    Varnish sealer, French polish finish.    Weighs less than 3.5 lbs.

Interview and Performances by Ben and Eve on Patrus, Fall 2011