Del Vecchio (guitar maker)

Casa Del Vecchio Ltda. of São Paulo, Brazil, has produced a wide range of guitars and other string instruments since its founding by Angelo Del Vecchio in 1902. In the 1930s, they began production of resonator guitars,^[1] 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 mandolins. They also produce standard acoustic instruments, as well as Hawaiian-style lap steel guitars.

Famous players of Del Vecchio instruments

• 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 the group Los Indios Tabajaras. ^[2]

• 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 Klugh, 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.^[3]

• Leo Kottke 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" ^[4]

Offshoots of the "Dinamico" resonator system

• Paul McGill builds resonator guitars inspired by the Dinâmico design^[5]
• The Japanese guitar company Shaftesbury produced a copy of the Dinâmico in the 1970s.

References

1. ^ James, Steve. Inside Blues Guitar. String Letter Publishing, 2001.
2. ^ Cochran, Russ. Chet Atkins: Me and My Guitars. Hal Leonard Publishing, 2003. Pg 178
3. ^ Acoustic Guitar, June 1996
4. ^ The Music Player.com interview with Leo Kottke, January 2006
5. ^ Acoustic Guitar, issue 58 (Oct 1997)

External links

• Del Vecchio (Brazil)