Selmer Jazz #652 Petite Bouche (1947) Previously Stochelo Rosenberg, Case

This is a previously owned by Stochelo Rosenberg Selmer jazz guitar, serial number #652 dating back to June 1947, Stochelo Rosenberg is considered perhaps the greatest Gypsy Jazz style player of our times, and he wanted to sell one of his Selmer jazz guitars and we were there to buy it. Vintage Selmer guitars have been highly appreciated over the years, and are becoming very collectible since only a small number of them is ever made, all in all less than 900, approx. half of them in Maccaferri D-style, and the other half in Selmer small sounhole style. They are tonally superiour to any other Gypsy style guitar ever made. We had them all, from Busato to Favino, modern makers like Dell Arte and Killy Nonis, and they all make/made fine guitars, but as soon as you pickup a guitar like this old Selmer and start playing it, you know there is no substitute for this tone. This is not a conversion either, the Selmer Maccaferri Book says the guitar is shipped on June 23, 1947, and described as a Guitarre Jazz 6 chordes, and bought by mr. Beaudoin. Is it rare.. yes it is rare, very rare, In rareness it outdoes a pre-war Martin D-28 or a 1959 Gibson Les Paul to give you a vague idea.

We had 2 other Selmer in the past, one of them was a Maccaferri Model, both were exceptionally fine condition, and both had a tone that was really amazing, with all the snap and bark, and that typical tone you only find in a Selmer. But we have to add this 1947 guitar outdoes every Selmer we ever laid hands on tonally, yes it obviously lived a working-life, seen a few crack repairs in the top, two of the original knobs are broken, and had the fretboard changed for a newer, but all that playing made it to what it is today, perhaps one of the best Selmer Jazz guitars in the world. The projection is phenomenal, the tonal refinement of such a greatness that i find it hard to describe. You simply have to test it next to our Jacques Favino guitars and others in our shop to get an idea of the greatness of this particular guitar. The guitars weighs next to nothing, has a perfect set-up and playability. This guitar is tough to put down. All the hardware is original and in excellent except for 2 knobs that are undergoing replacement. This guitar features: Solid Spruce top, laminate Brazilian back and sides, figured walnut neck, typical Selmer neck/headstock construction. This guitar is in very good condition and has great mojo and killer looks. There are 2 cracks/cleated and repaired, running from the bottom upwards and 2 smaller ones following the fingerboard ends towards the soundhole, also cleated. There is obvious play-wear, under the soundhole, several dings and scratches showing where it was meant to use for! But all in all this guitar is in great condition with still a good bow in the top, and what might be the original bridge. This guitar is up for another 60 years, The guitar travels in a form-fit later case. Stochelo has now sold 2 of his 3 Selmer guitars, below is a clip him playing it for the first time, presumingly one of the best he ever played. Well listen in for yourself, it's a modest quality recording but it gives you an idea of the huge attack and matured openness of this guitar.