A review of Francois Charle’s Book
The Story of Selmer-Maccaferri Guitars
By Kevin Doherty
With literary verve and artistic finesse, the talented Parisian luthier and author Franois Charle has at last given us the definitive book on the subject of Selmer "Maccaferri" guitars.
I received my signed and numbered copy of this limited edition cloth bound pressing in early July and spent several days reviewing each detailed chapter while admiring the wealth of vintage photos and Selmer ephemera that grace each page. In the modest space of two hundred and fifty five pages, Francois not only offers us the first comprehensive history of all things Selmer but wisely humanizes his accounting with biographies of the businessmen, craftsmen and musicians who were pivotal to the guitar's development and ascending popularity.
After a brief overview, the author begins his story by introducing us to Henri Selmer and company followed by a requisite chapter outlining the life and times of the illustrious guitarist, luthier, and inventor Mario Maccaferri, without whom there would probably have been no Selmer guitar or story at all.
In a carefully ordered sequence, Mr. Charle then examines the origin and evolution of the Maccaferri designed guitar models with essays detailing the guitar's character enhancing resonator and other appointments and construction methods utilized in their creation . Brief biographies of the legendary jazz guitartist Django Reinhardt and those of his gypsy "cousins," lyrically penned by Alain Antonietto, are interspersed throughout the book and temper the discussions relating to craft.
In chapters entitled: Transitional Period and The Second Period 1936-1952, Francois points out key design changes made to the guitar by Selmer craftsmen after Mario Maccaferri left the company in 1933. In doing so, he outlines exactly what differentiates a Selmer guitar from a Selmer "Maccaferri" model and helps us understand what has heretofore been an obscure body of esoteric guitar knowledge.
A section devoted to the luthiers who built Selmer related guitars in the wake of the company's decision to close it's atelier in 1952, illustrates a variety of interesting interpretations made by the Favino's, Joseph Di Mauro, the Gerome brothers and a variety of younger luthiers. The author carefully adds that among all these luthiers only Maurice Dupont of Cognac, France builds historical replicas of the original Selmer guitars that reportedly sound very close to the originals.
The book gradually comes to a close with a reprise of Mario Maccaferri handsomely pictured in a suit and tie holding one of the Japanese made orchestra models distributed by his friend and associate, Maurice Summerfield in the mid-1970's. Alain Antonietto, who wrote the preface,offers a conclusion that affirms a continuance of the acoustic tradition established by Django in the 1930's. In the book's closing he lists a plethora of acoustic gypsy jazz devotees who continue to keep the flame alive through their innovation and experimentation with new musical ideas and approaches to traditional material.
The beauty of this limited edition pressing lies as much in the details as it does in the overall effect. Each page is uniquely arranged and well balanced. Small touches such as the familiar Selmer head stock logo grace the bottom of each page and unify the book as a whole. I was particulary taken with the stylized Selmer guitar atelier photos and also with the small photo of "Texas Dan, The Singing Cowby" which reminds me of the often overlooked musical applications to which these guitars are so well suited.
While the book is not entirely free of imperfections, they are too small to note. I have scarcely experienced a guitar history book so lovingly and beautifully presented from cover to cover. It sings and swings like the free spirited music and people associated with Selmer guitars and at the same time conveys the author's deep reverence for Maccaferri, his guitars, and the Gypsy culture that made them famous. Indeed, it is a deep seated affection and devotion shared by many that Francois Charle has so eloquently captured and as such, he seems the perfect person to have written this book. The Story of Selmer Maccaferri Guitars is destined to become the key reference book on the subject for scholars, musicians, and collectors alike and it is sure to delight readers for decades to come.
Francois Charle: The Story of Selmer Maccaferri Guitars. 256 page limited edition printing, May 1999. Cloth bound 450 Francs. Available only through Francois Charle
All enqueries to Francois Charle
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Review composed by: Kevin Doherty: artist/educator and musician.
Long Beach, California
Submitted 15th July 1999
