Del Vecchio (guitar maker) explained

Casa Del Vecchio Ltda.
Industry:Musical instruments
Predecessors:-->
Successors:-->
Founder:Angelo Del Vecchio
Hq Location City:São Paulo
Hq Location Country:Brazil
Areas Served:-->
Products:Classical and resonator guitars, banjos, mandolins, cavaquinhos, viola caipiras
Owners:-->
Website:delvecchio.com.br

Casa Del Vecchio Ltda. is a traditional guitarmaking company headquartered in São Paulo, Brazil. Since its foundation by Angelo Del Vecchio in 1902, it has produced a wide range of acoustic stringed instruments. In the 1930s, Del Vecchio began producing resonator guitars,[1] resulting in their most famous model: the Dinâmico, (their trade term for resophonic instruments).

Current range of products manufactured by Del Vecchio includes classical and resonator guitars, banjos, mandolins, cavaquinho, and viola caipiras.[2]

Players

One of the most famous players of the Del Vecchio Dinâmico resonator guitar was country musician Chet Atkins. Atkins was initially introduced to the instrument by the music of Nato Lima of Los Indios Tabajaras.[3]

On his 1965 RCA Victor album My Favorite Guitars, Chet Atkins refers to his Dinamico as his "Los Indios Tabajaras" guitar and says that "the lead guitarist...sent his [to Atkins] and got himself another like it in his native land, where they are readily available." Tracks on the album, where Atkins uses the Dynamico, are Josephine and Moon of Manakoora.

Chet Atkins is credited with playing a Del Vecchio lead guitar on the tune "Turn Around" on Nanci Griffith's Other Voices, Other Rooms. Earl Klugh, a protégé of Chet Atkins, received a Dinâmico from Atkins. Though he enjoyed the sound, he was unimpressed with the quality, eventually asking luthier Paul McGill to build him a refined version.[4]

Offshoots

Notes and References

  1. James, Steve. Inside Blues Guitar. String Letter Publishing, 2001.
  2. http://www.delvecchio.com.br/instrumentos/ Instrumentos
  3. Cochran, Russ. Chet Atkins: Me and My Guitars. Hal Leonard Publishing, 2003. Pg 178
  4. http://acousticguitar.com/issues/ag54/gear54.html Acoustic Guitar
  5. http://www.musicplayer.com/article/leo-kottke/Jan-06/16604 The Music Player.com interview with Leo Kottke
  6. http://acguitar.com/issues/ag58/dear58.html Acoustic Guitar