LaBelle LaBelle Model Petit Bouche Model Gypsy Jazz Guitar (2026), made in France and New York, French polish finish, laminated Indian rosewood back and sides spruce top; walnut neck with ebony fingerboard, gig bag case.
This instrument is a recent addition to the "Gypsey Jazz" guitar family, a 2026 LaBelle Guitars "LaBelle" Model handmade between The Pyrenees, France and Harlem, New York. Luthier Francois Baudemont has been building and restoring antique guitars for over 20 years, and his experience with vintage Selmers and their descendants has led to create these instruments, his own take on this classic template.
The "LeBelle" features the traditional Selmar/Maccaferri styling and construction with a solid spruce top, laminated Indian rosewood back and sides, a 670MM scale ebony fretboard on the walnut neck. It bears a French polish finish that is rougher than many contemporary instruments but very thin, allowing the wood to breathe more than many modern guitars. It has a classic Selmer style ebony bridge, brass tailpiece and tuners from Gallato. The overall feel is more "rough & ready" than many other modern Selmer-inspired instruments but the sound is tight and powerful with the authentic "Gypsy' character, redolent of older mid-century Parisian instruments .
Overall length is 39 in. (99.1 cm.), 15 3/4 in. (40 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 1/16 in. (10.3 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 26 3/8 in. (670 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.).
This guitar has a somewhat worn-in "vintage-y" look but was built this year and is essentially unplayed. It plays well with a powerful traditionally punchy sound capturing the elusive "reverby" character of the best Gypsey jazz instruments. It comes in a modern gig bag. Near Mint Condition.
