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Jacques Favino label, dated September, 1983Home / Instruments /Accessories / Ordering / Tips / Friends
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1983 Favino Petit Bouche
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SN# 895,
Jacques Favino label, dated September, 1983
Body size at lower bout: 16.5" (420mm). Scale length: 26 3/8" (670mm) Nut Width: 1 11/16" (42mm) Body depth: 4" (102mm)
Materials: Bookmatched solid European spruce top; figured Brazilian Rosewood back and sides; 3 piece neck; solid ebony fingerboard; rosewood bound body.
Hardware: All original hardware including solid ebony bridge; contoured chrome tailpiece; 3 on a plate tuners with pearloid buttons
Notes: Of all the luthiers working in the wake of Selmer, none are more renowned than the Favinos, who for over 60 years have made instruments for virtually every Gypsy jazz guitarist of note, starting with Django himself. Franco-Italian master luthier Jacques Favino opened his atelier in Paris in 1946, building big bodied guitars in the style of Busato, where he had apprenticed before the war. His son Jean-Pierre joined the workshop in the late 70's, and has continued the family tradition to this day. Favinos remain among the most highly coveted of gypsy jazz guitars, and JP produces no more than about half a dozen of this model per year.
The Favino Petit Bouche style guitar has the long 670mm scale for exceptional punch and projection. We understand that the body was made by Jacques Favino, the neck was completed by Jean-Pierre, and this example was made for a player named Dorian Cvetkovic. The extra deep and wide body is significantly larger than the Selmer style, with greater bass response and phenomenal projection. With top of warmly ambered fine grained European spruce, the guitar is remarkably light in weight, just 4lb. 10 oz (2.08kg). Using the materials found in the original Selmers, the Favino has a solid Alpine spruce top and back and sides of highly figured bookmatched Brazilian Rosewood. A very well balanced instrument, the Petit Bouche has a slim, lightweight three-piece neck, apparently of European maple, which joins the body in a slim, elegant heel.
Well played and well loved, this guitar has the wide open voice of a superbly played-in instrument. The voice is extremely powerful, with a clarity and bark unique to this body design. The neck is unlacquered, in the style of a cello, and two short hairline cracks near fingerboard and tailpiece have been soundly resealed. A patch of vigorous gypsy style pickwear has been retouched near the soundhole and protected with a clear scratchplate, and a bit of body wear is visible on the back and the lower bass bout of the soundboard. The neck profile is a gentle D in shape, with smooth low action over freshly crowned fretwork. A rare opportunity to own a true gypsy legend.
Setup: This instrument is strung with light gauge silvered steel strings, and will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference.
Case: Original Hiscox hardshell case.
