Jimmy D'Aquisto
Encyclopedia
James L. D'Aquisto was an American
guitar maker
best known as the premier maker of custom guitar
s. He served as an apprentice to John D'Angelico
from 1952 and was considered his successor after the latter's death in 1964.
From his shop in Huntington, New York
then in Farmingdale, New york
and later during his "golden period" in Greenport Long Island, New York, D'Aquisto became known as the world's greatest guitar maker from the late 1960s until his death in 1995. D'Aquisto's name is attached to many guitar models from brands like the Fender "D'Aquisto Elite" "D'Aquisto Ultra" and the Hagström Jimmy
, and his blue "Centura Deluxe" was the inspiration for the book Blue Guitar. There is another book titled "Acquired of the Angels:The Lives and Works of Master Guitar Makers John D'Angelico and James L. D'Aquisto Today, his guitars sell for tens of thousands of dollars to over $400,000. And the first to be worth a million dollars.
D'Aquisto was a 2006 inductee to the Long Island Music Hall of Fame
. His tools and work bench — passed down to him from D'Angelico — are on display at the National Music Museum
. 'The D'Aquisto Foundation - Help to complete the D'Aquisto Exhibit by donating to the National Music Museum .
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
guitar maker
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...
best known as the premier maker of custom 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. He served as an apprentice to John D'Angelico
John D'Angelico
John D'Angelico was a luthier from New York City, noted for his handmade archtop guitars and mandolins.In 1952, he hired Jimmy D'Aquisto as an apprentice, who would eventually buy the business from the D'Angelico family...
from 1952 and was considered his successor after the latter's death in 1964.
From his shop in Huntington, New York
Huntington, New York
The Town of Huntington is one of ten towns in Suffolk County, New York, USA. Founded in 1653, it is located on the north shore of Long Island in northwestern Suffolk County, with Long Island Sound to its north and Nassau County adjacent to the west. Huntington is part of the New York metropolitan...
then in Farmingdale, New york
Farmingdale, New York
The Village of Farmingdale is an incorporated village on Long Island within the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York in the United States...
and later during his "golden period" in Greenport Long Island, New York, D'Aquisto became known as the world's greatest guitar maker from the late 1960s until his death in 1995. D'Aquisto's name is attached to many guitar models from brands like the Fender "D'Aquisto Elite" "D'Aquisto Ultra" and the Hagström Jimmy
Hagström Jimmy
The Hagström Jimmy is archtop jazz guitar built by Hagström in partnership with the American guitar luthier Jimmy D'Aquisto .-Original run 1969 to 1979:...
, and his blue "Centura Deluxe" was the inspiration for the book Blue Guitar. There is another book titled "Acquired of the Angels:The Lives and Works of Master Guitar Makers John D'Angelico and James L. D'Aquisto Today, his guitars sell for tens of thousands of dollars to over $400,000. And the first to be worth a million dollars.
D'Aquisto was a 2006 inductee to the Long Island Music Hall of Fame
Long Island Music Hall of Fame
The Long Island Music Hall of Fame is an organization whose office is located in Port Jefferson, New York. It was incorporated in July 2005 under the New York State Board of Regents as a non profit organization and holds a provisional charter to operate as a museum in the state of New York...
. His tools and work bench — passed down to him from D'Angelico — are on display at the National Music Museum
National Music Museum
The National Music Museum: America's Shrine to Music & Center for Study of the History of Musical Instruments is a musical instrument museum in Vermillion, South Dakota, USA. It was founded in 1973 on the campus of the University of South Dakota...
. 'The D'Aquisto Foundation - Help to complete the D'Aquisto Exhibit by donating to the National Music Museum .