Del Langejans
Encyclopedia
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
luthier
Luthier
A luthier is someone who makes or repairs lutes and other string instruments. In the United States, the term is used interchangeably with a term for the specialty of each maker, such as violinmaker, guitar maker, lute maker, etc...
. He handcrafts everything from reversible dualette guitars to harp guitar
Harp guitar
]The harp guitar is a stringed instrument with a history of well over two centuries. While there are several unrelated historical stringed instruments that have appropriated the name “harp-guitar” over the centuries, the term today is understood as the accepted vernacular to refer to a particular...
s.
A descendant of farmer immigrants from Bentheim, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Langejans was born and raised in Holland, Michigan
Holland, Michigan
Holland is a city in the western region of the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated near the eastern shore of Lake Michigan on Lake Macatawa, which is fed by the Macatawa River ....
, where his luthier shop keeps him busy building guitars for such notable musicians as Thom Bresh
Thom Bresh
Thom Bresh is a country music singer. He is the biological son of Merle Travis.Bresh did not begin his music career until his adult years. From age 3 to age 17, he worked as an actor and stuntman at Corriganville, where such programs as The Lone Ranger and the Billy the Kidd trilogy were filmed...
(Merle Travis
Merle Travis
Merle Robert Travis was an American country and western singer, songwriter, and musician born in Rosewood, Kentucky. His lyrics often discussed the life and exploitation of coal miners. Among his many well-known songs are "Sixteen Tons", "Re-Enlistment Blues" and "Dark as a Dungeon"...
's son) and Jars of Clay
Jars of Clay
Jars of Clay is a Christian rock band from Nashville, Tennessee. They met at Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois.Jars of Clay consists of Dan Haseltine on vocals, Charlie Lowell on piano and keyboards, Stephen Mason on lead guitars and Matthew Odmark on rhythm guitars...
.
His father being a homebuilder, woodworking was a skill Langejans picked up early in life. While in school, he developed a strong work ethic and an even stronger love of music. During his time in the US Navy, Langejans made regular practice of entertaining his fellow sailors with his accordion and guitar talents.
After his naval discharge, Langejans took a job at Meyer Music in Holland, where he was trained in the intricacies of instrument repair and electronics. In 1971, he began to design and build his own guitars, originally bearing the name Del's. He has made over 1200 guitars as of 2006, many of them custom-made-to-order, putting Langejans guitars in the hands of numerous stars from all genre of music.
The Langejans Dualette is a two sided guitar which was custom made for Thom Bresh. On one side is a steel string-guitar and on the other is a nylon-string. The harp guitar
Harp guitar
]The harp guitar is a stringed instrument with a history of well over two centuries. While there are several unrelated historical stringed instruments that have appropriated the name “harp-guitar” over the centuries, the term today is understood as the accepted vernacular to refer to a particular...
at the right was custom made for Hall of Fame Finger-picker Muriel Anderson. Langejans also makes banjo-guitars as well as standard type models. At one point, so many orders had been called in that there was a four-year waiting list for a Langejans guitar. The standard production time is generally one year.
Artist list
Musical artists who use guitars made by Langejans include:- Muriel Anderson: Country Harp-Guitarist http://www.murielanderson.com National Finger picking Guitar Championship winner (first female winner ever)
- Paul BalochePaul BalochePaul Baloche is an American Christian music artist, worship leader, and singer-songwriter. A native of Maple Shade, New Jersey, Baloche is currently the worship pastor at Community Christian Fellowship in Lindale, Texas. Baloche composes on piano and acoustic guitar, favoring guitar when leading...
: Praise & Worship http://www.leadworship.com/index.html - Thad Beatty
- Jeff Bodkins: Solo Artist
- Thom BreshThom BreshThom Bresh is a country music singer. He is the biological son of Merle Travis.Bresh did not begin his music career until his adult years. From age 3 to age 17, he worked as an actor and stuntman at Corriganville, where such programs as The Lone Ranger and the Billy the Kidd trilogy were filmed...
: Country/Folk http://www.bresh.com/breshbio.html National Thumbpickers Hall of Fame - Tyler Burkum (Audio Adrenaline)Audio AdrenalineAudio Adrenaline was a Christian rock band that formed in the late 1980s at Kentucky Christian University in Grayson, Kentucky. During the band's 17-year existence, they were awarded two Grammy awards, multiple Dove Awards and they released 17 number one singles. They were regular performers at the...
: Contemporary Christian http://www.audioa.com/ - Kyle Carden: Contemporary Christian http://www.kylecarden.com/
- Curt Coffield: Contemporary Christian http://www.helpingothersworship.com/bio.html
- Bruce Carroll: Contemporary Christian http://www.brucecarroll.com/us.html Grammy AwardGrammy AwardA Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
winner - Danny Click: Blues-Rock http://www.dannyclick.com/bio.html
- Billy Crockett: Gospel http://www.walking-angel.com/
- Scott Dente (Out of the Grey)Out of the GreyOut of the Grey is a husband-and-wife Contemporary Christian music project consisting of Scott and Christine Denté. Christine provides lead vocals, while Scott plays guitars and sings background, along with the occasional lead vocals. They have released six studio albums, one best-of compilation...
- Brad Duncan (touring with KutlessKutlessKutless is a Christian rock band from Portland, Oregon formed in 1999. Since their formation, they have released six studio albums including their latest, It Is Well. The band has also released a live album, Live from Portland. Currently, they have sold almost 2 million records.-Biography:Formed in...
) http://www.bradduncan.org/ - Peder Eide: Contemporary Christian http://www.pedereide.com/index.asp?pageID=7
- Matthew Fox: Bluegrass/Texas Swing http://www.matthewfox.net/promo.html
- Peter FramptonPeter FramptonPeter Kenneth Frampton is an English musician, singer, producer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. He was previously associated with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd. Frampton's international breakthrough album was his live release, Frampton Comes Alive!. The album sold over 6 million copies...
: Classic Rock http://www.frampton.com/flash.html - Steve Green: Christian http://www.stevegreenministries.org/pages/frames/about_index.htm
- Buddy GreeneBuddy GreeneBuddy Greene is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and harmonica player. Most of his recordings consist of gospel music, with a distinctly Southern flavor. Much of his music is influenced by country music and bluegrass music. Greene grew up in Macon, Georgia...
: Blues/Country/Folk/Hymnology/Gospel https://buddygreene.securesites.com/home_hi.html - Bob Hartman (Petra)Petra (band)Petra is a music group regarded as a pioneer of the Christian rock and contemporary Christian music genres. Formed in 1972, the band took its name from the Greek word for "rock"...
: Christian Rock http://www.houseofbob.com/ - Jamie Harvill: Contemporary Christian http://www.jamieharvill.com/meetjamie.php
- Buster B. JonesBuster B. JonesBuster B. Jones was an American guitarist specializing in the fingerpicking style.-Biography:Born Bradley F. Jones in Ames, Iowa, he first became known after entering Guitar Player Magazine's International Reader's Soundpage Competition in 1988 on a whim...
: Country http://www.busterbjones.com/ - Phil KeaggyPhil KeaggyPhil Keaggy is an American acoustic and electric guitarist and vocalist who has released more than 50 albums and contributed to many more recordings in both the contemporary Christian music and mainstream markets...
: Contemporary Christian Music http://www.philkeaggy.com/bio/ - Gordon KennedyGordon Kennedy (musician)Gordon Kennedy is a multi Grammy Award-winning songwriter and producer, world-class guitarist and visionary at the forefront of Nashville’s music community....
(Dogs of Peace, White HeartWhite HeartWhite Heart, also listed as Whiteheart, was a Contemporary Christian Music pop-rock band which formed in 1982. White Heart's discography includes thirteen albums, the most recent of which was released in 1997. Original members Billy Smiley and Mark Gersmehl worked with a continually-changing cast...
): Contemporary Christian - Dana Key (Degarmo & Key)Dana KeyDana Key was an American Christian rock guitarist, singer, and producer who was co-founder of the Christian rock group DeGarmo and Key with keyboardist Eddie DeGarmo, best friends since the first grade...
: Contemporary Christian http://members.aol.com/guitarron2/key/key.htm - Wes KingWes KingWes King , born in Winder, Georgia, is an American contemporary-Christian singer, songwriter, and musician. He is perhaps best known for his 1993 album The Robe. For a very brief period in the late 1980s, he attended Covenant College outside of Chattanooga, Tennessee...
: Praise & Worship http://www.wesking.com/bio.html - Earl KlughEarl KlughEarl Klugh is an American smooth jazz/crossover jazz/jazz fusion guitarist and composer.At the age of 13, Klugh was captivated by the guitar playing of Chet Atkins when Atkins made an appearance on the Perry Como Show. Klugh was a performing guest on several of Atkins' albums...
: Jazz http://www.earlklugh.com/main.html Grammy Award winner - Kenny MarksKenny MarksKenny Marks, born Kenneth Michael Marks, November 6, 1950, Detroit Michigan, has performed on 6 of the 7 continents world-wide over his music career....
: Contemporary Christian - Matt Odmark (Jars of Clay)Jars of ClayJars of Clay is a Christian rock band from Nashville, Tennessee. They met at Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois.Jars of Clay consists of Dan Haseltine on vocals, Charlie Lowell on piano and keyboards, Stephen Mason on lead guitars and Matthew Odmark on rhythm guitars...
: Contemporary Christian http://www.jarsofclay.com/site.html - Mac PowellMac PowellJohnny Mac Powell , originally from Clanton, Alabama, is an American singer-songwriter and producer who formed the Christian rock band Third Day with guitarist Mark Lee...
(Third DayThird DayThird Day is a Grammy award-winning Christian rock band formed in Marietta, Georgia during the 1990s. The band was founded by lead singer Mac Powell, guitarist Mark Lee and former member Billy Wilkins. The other band members are bassist Tai Anderson and drummer David Carr...
): Contemporary Christian http://thirdday.com/ - Jerry ReedJerry ReedJerry Reed Hubbard , known professionally as Jerry Reed, was an American country music singer, innovative guitarist, songwriter, and actor who appeared in more than a dozen films...
: Country http://www.alabamawildman.com/index2.html - Gary Sadler: Praise & Worship
- John Michael TalbotJohn Michael TalbotJohn Michael Talbot is an American Roman Catholic singer-songwriter-guitarist who is founder of a monastic community, the Brothers and Sisters of Charity.-Biography:...
: Catholic Contemporary - Laurra Fitzgerald: Contemporary Christian
Sources & external links
- Del Langejans Bio
- Testimonial from Phil Keaggy "prefers a Langejans for live performance"
- http://www.guitargal.com/langejans.html "Guitar Gallery - Authorized Langejans Dealer"