Del Vecchio (guitar maker)
Encyclopedia
Casa Del Vecchio Ltda. of São Paulo
, Brazil
, has produced a wide range of guitar
s and other string instruments since its founding by Angelo Del Vecchio in 1902. In the 1930s, they began production of resonator guitar
s, resulting in their most famous model: the "Dinâmico," their trade term for resophonic instruments.
In addition to the Dinâmico guitar, which is still in production, Del Vecchio also produced Dinâmico cavaquinhos, approximately like a resonator ukulele
, and resonator mandolin
s. They also produce standard acoustic instruments, as well as Hawaiian-style lap steel guitar
s.
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, has produced a wide range of guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s and other string instruments since its founding by Angelo Del Vecchio in 1902. In the 1930s, they began production of resonator guitar
Resonator guitar
A resonator guitar or resophonic guitar is an acoustic guitar whose sound is produced by one or more spun metal cones instead of the wooden sound board . Resonator guitars were originally designed to be louder than conventional acoustic guitars which were overwhelmed by horns and percussion...
s, resulting in their most famous model: the "Dinâmico," their trade term for resophonic instruments.
In addition to the Dinâmico guitar, which is still in production, Del Vecchio also produced Dinâmico cavaquinhos, approximately like a resonator ukulele
Resonator ukulele
A resonator ukulele or "resophonic ukulele" is a ukulele whose sound is produced by one or more spun aluminum cones instead of the wooden soundboard...
, and resonator mandolin
Resonator mandolin
A resonator mandolin or "resophonic mandolin" is a mandolin whose sound is produced by one or more metal cones instead of the customary wooden soundboard . These instruments are sometimes referred to as "Dobro mandolins," after pioneering instruments designed and produced by the Dopyera Brothers,...
s. They also produce standard acoustic instruments, as well as Hawaiian-style lap steel guitar
Lap steel guitar
The lap steel guitar is a type of steel guitar, an instrument derived from and similar to the guitar. The player changes pitch by pressing a metal or glass bar against the strings instead of by pressing strings against the fingerboard....
s.
Famous players of Del Vecchio instruments
- One of the most famous players of the Del Vecchio Dinâmico resonator guitar was country musician Chet AtkinsChet AtkinsChester Burton Atkins , known as Chet Atkins, was an American guitarist and record producer who, along with Owen Bradley, created the smoother country music style known as the Nashville sound, which expanded country's appeal to adult pop music fans as well.Atkins's picking style, inspired by Merle...
. Atkins was initially introduced to the instrument by the music of Nato Lima of the group Los Indios TabajarasLos Indios TabajarasLos Indios Tabajaras was a guitar duo of two brothers from Ceará, in the Northeast of Brazil.Their beginnings are not clear, though most stories have them becoming accomplished guitar players after finding a guitar near Ceará, Brazil. Playing in Rio de Janeiro, they found success as Natalicio and...
.
- On his 1965 RCA Victor album RD-7710 "My favourite 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 af 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 CD.
- 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...
, a protege 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.
- Leo KottkeLeo KottkeLeo Kottke is an acoustic guitarist. He is widely known for his innovative fingerpicking style, which draws on influences from blues, jazz, and folk music, and his syncopated, polyphonic melodies...
also picked up a Dinâmico which happened to be sitting in the studio, and played it for its unique sound on the track "The Grid" on his 2005 recording "Sixty Six Steps"
Offshoots of the "Dinamico" resonator system
- Paul McGillPaul McGillPaul McGill is an American luthier, specializing in classical, steel string as well as the originator of a unique type of resonator guitar based upon the Brazilian Del Vecchio designs of the 1930s....
builds resonator guitars inspired by the Dinâmico design - The Japanese guitar company ShaftesburyShaftesburyShaftesbury is a town in Dorset, England, situated on the A30 road near the Wiltshire border 20 miles west of Salisbury. The town is built 718 feet above sea level on the side of a chalk and greensand hill, which is part of Cranborne Chase, the only significant hilltop settlement in Dorset...
produced a copy of the Dinâmico in the 1970s.