Author Archives: Victor Denance

Not all that “vintage”, but they don’t make them like this no more! Here is a fine example of a Guild dreadnought from one of my favorite era: the 2004-2008 Tacoma era. Tacoma Guilds are among the best ever made … Continue reading →

Eagle was an importer of Japanese made instruments that flooded the European market in the 1970s / 1980s. To be honest, most acoustics are unremarkable knockoffs of Martin D-18s and Gibson Hummingbirds with ugly adjustable bridges. This particular guitar is … Continue reading →

This chinese cutie ain’t no vintage uke, but it’s cool nonetheless and definitely falls into the “modern classic” category.  

Levin is by far my favorite European instrument maker of yesteryear. The designs are simple, no nonsense and elegant. The quality of materials and workmanship is outstanding, and on par if not better than the best American makers. This late … Continue reading →

One can babble until the cows come home… a good J45 is a good J45. And an old well played one (preferably pre-1955) is even better. This J45 came to life as a National 1155 in 1951 – still a … Continue reading →

I have a special fondness for banjo-ukuleles (cf. this 1920′ Gibson UB-1 Ukulele Banjo), as they are funky as hell, make great rhythm machines in old time string band music (providing the off-beat tchak-a-TCHAK accentuation), and are plain cute. This … Continue reading →

Vintage acoustic flattop guitars are not all about Martins and Gibsons… Those in the know show some – well deserved – respect for other manufacturers, including the ones at the lower end of the spectrum. Driving a Rolls Royce sure … Continue reading →

Here’s a tiny but mighty piece of americana : the Martin Style 0 ukulele. Despite its minimalist size (53 cm) and weight (300g), it delivers that classic soprano ukulele tone we all recognize and love. Its finely designed curves have … Continue reading →