Jean Barault 2010 Oval Hole Guitar (Indian Rosewood Back and Sides) HSC
This beautiful guitar was built by the renowned French luthier Jean
Barault. Biréli Lagrène and Tchavolo Schmitt currently endorse Barault
guitars.
This guitar includes:
laminated Indian rosewood back and sides
A real pliage (the top is bent just like the older Selmers!)
Spruce top
670mm scale
14 fret neck
Walnut neck
Selmer body specs (15 3/4" body, 3 3/4" deep)
The sound of this instrument is among the best Selmer copies being made
today. It's no wonder Biréli chose to endorse Barault guitars as they
offer a very traditional Selmer sound but have the playability of an
ultra smooth archtop.
The tone is just spectacular on this guitar. Barault has achieved a
delicate balance between stinging highs and rounded lows. Most guitars
favor one or the other while this one has a biting high end when you
need it for lead, but at the same time there are all these thick lower
mids that make the chords sound super fat! The guitar is very full and
satisfying yet still projects just as loud as a Dupont Vieille Reserve.
In contrast to Duponts, the Barault is more "open" in tone....it has a
swirling complexity that is really unique. A somewhat "boxy" sound
whereas a Dupont is ultra dry and direct.
Barault is one of the very few luthiers today actually making Selmer
copies with a real pliage. He uses the method that Selmer did...the top
is bent with a hot iron which creates a fold, or "pliage," in the top
just under the bridge. 99% of Selmer copies being made today have forced
tops which generally don't have the punch, volume, and quick attack
that the pliage tops have.
It is currently strung with Argentine 11 gauge strings. Action is very,
very
low at 3mm...but is buzz free and sounds great at this height. As you
would expect, the guitar plays very, very easily.
Barault certainly wins the award for weight...this guitar is feather
weight at only 3.8 pounds! Hard to find anyone making guitars that
lightweight today. The lower weight allows the guitar to resonate
freely....no wonder it sounds so good!
This is the CASH price...add 3% (4% for International orders) if you'd
like to pay with a credit card.
