Product: Dell'Arte Jazz Frank Hicks
Price Paid: US $2900 in year 2000
Submitted
06/25/2002
at
05:13pm
by
Greg Walker
Email: greg<at>wswcpa dot com
Features
:
10
A super elegant jazz type guitar, made in San Diego, California. You are best off finding a picture of this instrument, in order to understand how beautiful it is.
Unlike many jazz guitars, this instrument has a back and top that is not carved into shape. The Sitka Spruce top and highly figured Maple back have been pressed into shape, yielding a compound curve that is less pronounced than the competition. The body has a single Venetian cutaway. It has f holes that look modern and streamlined. The neck, which is also higly figured Maple, feels similar to a Gibson neck. It has thin frets. The peghead is classy looking. The only metal parts on the guitar are the Schaller M6 tuners and the output jack/strap button. The buttons on the tuners are ebony, as is the fretboard, pickguard, tailpiece, and volume and tone controls. Multi ply white binding is on the neck, body, and f holes. It has a floating Kent Armstrong pickup.
Sound
:
10
If you have ever tried out a normal arch top, you may have noticed that they sound too brite and small when not amplified. This guitar has volume and tonal range closer to a good flat top. In other words. it is loud and full, with big dymanic range. I think it is because it has a flatter top and back, and it has thinner wood than most guitars. The acoustic guitar sound is just great.
When amplified, it comes alive. Of couse, you can get a nice jazz box vibe by turning the tone control. It has a full, clean, bell like pop music tone if you leave the tone control up . Think classic pop tunes from the 50's.
The big surprize is the rock sound of this guitar. I needed to have a crunch track on a recording I was doing. My G&L Commanche plugged into the clean channel of my Bogner Shiva was small sounding, so I plugged in the Dell'Arte. The Dell'Arte drove the amp into overdrive with a huge and compelling sound. I think this overdrive is atributable to the rich tone combined with high output volume.
It also interacts with the amp at much lower volume. It can go into feedback like any other hollow body, but I find that it is above average at being under control. It is alot of fun to use the Dell'Arte on the overdrive channel. You feel like its alive. Notes sustain forever, but you are in complete control.
The pickup has no real hum to speak of.
I bought it for the jazz sounds, but I am really impressed with the other cool tones that can come from it.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
This is the most beautiful thing I own. It is a work of art. It could easily be in a museum as a study in balance and beauty.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
One thing about many jazz guitars is the gold plating. My experence is that the gold wares off in the areas that you touch, like the tuners. This guitar only has gold plated parts that are not ususally touched. For instance, the tuning peg buttons are ebony. I expect this guitar to keep its great looks.
Having said that, keep in mind that is is delicate because it is made with a very thin Sruce top. That is the trade off, because the thin top gives greater volume.
Customer Support
:
10
Dell'Arte is a small company in San Diego. You can call them on the phone if you need to.
Overall Rating
:
10
I have played guitar for over 30 years. I play jazz/blues and rock. I have lots of gear. Just so you know, I am picky about my gear, and I don't cut slack whan a manufacturer lets me down.
I would replace the guitar if stolen.
Here is what I really like about the guitar:
+ it is beautiful and modern looking
+ it sounds great un-amplified
+ it is super versatle when amplified. Use for jazz, pop, or rock.
+ it feels great to play.
The only things I don't like:
- the case is a little tight. I heard they have changed cases now.
- there is no strap button for the top of the strap, so you have to play sitting down. I know I can install one, but I'm going to have a hard time bringing myself to aim a drill motor at this instrument.
- the output jack is combined with the bottom strap button. This is a common design, but it means that you can't put the guitar on a chair because it would be sitting on the plug.
- I guess what I really have a problem with on this guitar is that it is so beautiful, I'm hesitant to touch it. Life could be worse.
I compared it to many other competitors and nothing less than $15,000 came close.
Dell'Arte's main product line is Maccaferri type guitars. I'm suprised that no on has reviewed any of the Maccaferri types on this web site.
