In Part 2/2 of this article about Feautures of original DiMauros we briefly describe the exact details of DiMauro-Guitars, with descriptions and images.
The following special characteristics are only to find with DiMauro-Guitars of the "Chorus" and Special Chorus"-Series:
Big F-holes, more known from el. Jazzguitars today, in the middle area of the top (Image 4 left). Even small details like the end of the fretboard show great a personal note and this has always been "different" with DiMauros compared to other guitarmakers.
The fretboard shows diamond-shaped inlays (image 5 right) typically for DiMauro "Chorus" and "Special-Chorus"-models, which were in the beginning made from real mother-of-pearl, later on also from hardplastic (supposedly because of the lack of material in the postwar-times). Some cheaper models of the"Chorus" also had normal position dots from mother-of-pearl.
The Tailpiece
The brothers DiMauro used different types of special fancy shaped tailpieces which only were to find on original DiMauro-Guitars (Images 5, 6 and 7 below). So the tailpieces are one important feature to distinguish an original DiMauro from other Gypsyjazz-guitars from the same era.
The Tuners (machine heads)
On their first guitars around the years 1930 until approximately 1940 the brothers DiMauro often used simple latch-tuners, pretty often also with small mandolin-knobs from bone or hardplastic (Image 7 left below).
On many of their later Guitarmodels starting from about 1940, especially on the more expensive "Special Chorus" and "Special Chorus Deluxe" (which also were the two high-class models of DIMauro) the famous SB-tuners (Image 8 above right) were installed which were also used on Selmer-, Busato and Favino-Guitars ever since.
One of the most typical signs and features of original DiMauro-guitars are the Logo or brandmarks the guitars were signed with. On some older models they installed a little plastic-plate with an engraved brass-logo "DIMauro", attached to the top left beside the fretboard-joint (Image 9 right).
More often the DiMauros were signed with a real "brandmark" which with hot iron had been stamped into the backside of the headstock, stating the Logo and writing "A. Di Mauro" (Image 10 left).
Sometimes the Label was also been staped on the backside of the headplate like a kind of normal stamp (Image 11 right below).
This kind of brandmark was a very unique way of signing their guitars which was solely to find with DiMauros. Unlike on Selmer or Favino-guitars on DIMauro-guitars no Serialnumbers are existent at all.
Some guitar-models made around 1950 were also equipped with paper-labels underneath the soundhole glued to the backside of the bottom. The labels were stating for example "Mod. Jazz 2" and the signet "Joseph Di Mauro, Luthier a Paris" (Image 12 left). Some of the older DiMauros also had these kind of paper-labels, but may have "lost" them over the years (or it has been removed for whatever reason).
Other special features
Some of the DiMauro-models "Special Chorus DeLuxe" had special "arm-guard" made from white plastic to save the sides where the arm of the player always used to leave scratches on the laquer (Image 13 right). These were taken off later on at some models by the players
Many of the later models from around 1950 had installed very modern hight-adjustable bridges (Image 13 left), unlike on many modern Jazzguitars nowdays is standard.
Joseph DiMauro worked until the sudden end of his carreer in 1993, building instruments. He died in the year 2001 in Paris.
DiMauro-Guitars, same as Selmer-, Busato and Favino-Guitars, meanwhile have become collectors-items, even if not as famous they usually are not sold at same high prices as equivalents of Selmer-, Busato- or Favino-Guitars of the same years ... even if their quality of crafting and true tone doesn´t stand back behind their competitors.
So a well aged DiMauro in great condition may be a payable and worthwhile alternative to all the other higher priced Gypsyjazz-Guitars...
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Modele Special Chorus
The following special characteristics are only to find with DiMauro-Guitars of the "Chorus" and Special Chorus"-Series:Big F-holes, more known from el. Jazzguitars today, in the middle area of the top (Image 4 left). Even small details like the end of the fretboard show great a personal note and this has always been "different" with DiMauros compared to other guitarmakers.The fretboard shows diamond-shaped inlays (image 5 right) typically for DiMauro "Chorus" and "Special-Chorus"-models, which were in the beginning made from real mother-of-pearl, later on also from hardplastic (supposedly because of the lack of material in the postwar-times). Some cheaper models of the"Chorus" also had normal position dots from mother-of-pearl.
The Tailpiece
The brothers DiMauro used different types of special fancy shaped tailpieces which only were to find on original DiMauro-Guitars (Images 5, 6 and 7 below). So the tailpieces are one important feature to distinguish an original DiMauro from other Gypsyjazz-guitars from the same era.
The Tuners (machine heads)
On their first guitars around the years 1930 until approximately 1940 the brothers DiMauro often used simple latch-tuners, pretty often also with small mandolin-knobs from bone or hardplastic (Image 7 left below).
simple Tuners, 1938
SB-tuners, 1949
On many of their later Guitarmodels starting from about 1940, especially on the more expensive "Special Chorus" and "Special Chorus Deluxe" (which also were the two high-class models of DIMauro) the famous SB-tuners (Image 8 above right) were installed which were also used on Selmer-, Busato and Favino-Guitars ever since.
The Logo or brandmark
One of the most typical signs and features of original DiMauro-guitars are the Logo or brandmarks the guitars were signed with. On some older models they installed a little plastic-plate with an engraved brass-logo "DIMauro", attached to the top left beside the fretboard-joint (Image 9 right). More often the DiMauros were signed with a real "brandmark" which with hot iron had been stamped into the backside of the headstock, stating the Logo and writing "A. Di Mauro" (Image 10 left).
Sometimes the Label was also been staped on the backside of the headplate like a kind of normal stamp (Image 11 right below).
This kind of brandmark was a very unique way of signing their guitars which was solely to find with DiMauros. Unlike on Selmer or Favino-guitars on DIMauro-guitars no Serialnumbers are existent at all.
Some guitar-models made around 1950 were also equipped with paper-labels underneath the soundhole glued to the backside of the bottom. The labels were stating for example "Mod. Jazz 2" and the signet "Joseph Di Mauro, Luthier a Paris" (Image 12 left). Some of the older DiMauros also had these kind of paper-labels, but may have "lost" them over the years (or it has been removed for whatever reason).Other special features
Some of the DiMauro-models "Special Chorus DeLuxe" had special "arm-guard" made from white plastic to save the sides where the arm of the player always used to leave scratches on the laquer (Image 13 right). These were taken off later on at some models by the playersMany of the later models from around 1950 had installed very modern hight-adjustable bridges (Image 13 left), unlike on many modern Jazzguitars nowdays is standard.Joseph DiMauro worked until the sudden end of his carreer in 1993, building instruments. He died in the year 2001 in Paris.
DiMauro-Guitars, same as Selmer-, Busato and Favino-Guitars, meanwhile have become collectors-items, even if not as famous they usually are not sold at same high prices as equivalents of Selmer-, Busato- or Favino-Guitars of the same years ... even if their quality of crafting and true tone doesn´t stand back behind their competitors.
So a well aged DiMauro in great condition may be a payable and worthwhile alternative to all the other higher priced Gypsyjazz-Guitars...
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