The return of the iconic SELMER guitar in a limited edition

The reinvention of a legendary instrument

From 1932 to 1952, Henri SELMER Paris produced some 900 jazz guitars at his factory in Mantes-la-Ville, which were sold both in France and internationally. With these exceptional instruments, Django Reinhardt created and popularized the only jazz of French origin, thus giving Henri SELMER Paris guitars international renown and inscribing their name in the history of music.

To celebrate our 140th anniversary, a new Henri SELMER Paris jazz guitar is unveiled in a limited edition of 60 pieces, reviving tradition while incorporating contemporary innovations.

Designed for today's musicians, it incorporates essential modern elements: onboard amplification, slim neck, radiused fingerboard, truss rod, ball-bearing tuners…

Beyond the scenes of the project

Exclusive access to the original tools carefully preserved by the MuPop - Museum of Popular Music - in Montluçon and to the legendary SELMER guitar of Django Reinhardt (guitar #503) kept at the Museum of Music (Cité de la musique-Philharmonie de Paris), allowed luthiers Gérald Alonso and Fabian Le Dosseur – technical directors of the project – to carry out meticulous reconstruction work, based on an in-depth study of historical models.

Their quest for precision has allowed them to rediscover the secrets of wood assembly that made these guitars so successful, while modernizing them. True to their signature sound, these instruments now feature optimized ergonomics and great versatility of play thanks to the integration of an amplification system.

The templates for the soundboard and bracing were reproduced from the original models and then digitized to allow their reproduction on CNC machines. In addition, several molds were recreated, thus ensuring faithful, repeatable and consistent production: the molds for the manufacture of the sides and back, the mold for gluing the soundboard…

Drawing on their unique expertise in working with noble materials
– brass and ebony – the Henri SELMER Paris teams have redesigned, perfected and manufactured within the historic factory in Mantes-la-Ville several parts of the guitar, including the tuning machines and tailpiece of these instruments, offering improved ergonomics and a new, refined design.

Tuning machines and tailpiece

Redefining the brand's famous mechanics represented a challenge that was as demanding as it was exciting for our teams.

Every detail has been redesigned: the components, now machined from solid metal, offer significantly greater strength than the previous stamped and annealed versions. This evolution comes with a machining precision of up to 3 microns, enhanced by the integration of ball bearings, ensuring more stable and accurate tuning.

Finally, the covers adopt a revisited design, with softer contours, and now bear the engraving 'HSP' in place of the original 'HS Cie'.

A refined and sensual experience: the touch of the new ebony tuner buttons, meticulously shaped and elegantly designed, reveals a uniquely smooth feel. On one of them – the one tuned to A – the name 'SELMER' is discreetly laser-engraved and delicately highlighted with a golden accent.

True to the world of the Henri SELMER Paris Manufacture, the tailpiece of this new guitar incorporates the same brass used for our saxophones, along with the ebony and nickel silver used for our clarinets. Press-formed and then delicately laser-engraved, its ebony plate houses the volume control button. The main body is made of brass, while the string ball anchors are crafted from nickel silver.

Woods used

The woods, carefully selected, respect the species and origins of the woods used by Henri SELMER Paris in the last century:

• French walnut: neck and headstock
• Carpathian spruce (hand-selected on site by our teams): soundboard and bracing
• Ebony (grenadilla): fingerboard, nut, tailpiece insert and tuner buttons.
• Indian rosewood: back and outer sides
• Para rosewood (South America): bridge and moustache wings
• Mahogany : sides
• Maple and stained pearwood (as originally): bindings

Acoustics & ergonomics

The guitar’s uniquely rich acoustic character owes much to the complex bracing architecture of its soundboard:

• A distinctive tonal grain
• A powerful projection across all registers
• An immediate response

The thin layer of cellulose varnish protects the instrument while adding rigidity that enhances vibration transmission.

The guitar is equipped with a passive Shatten pickup paired with a Crystal Mi-Si preamp, which faithfully reproduces its acoustic qualities. A 60-second charge of the preamp provides up to 16 hours of play time.

Savarez Argentine strings are renowned for their bright, clear tone, strong projection and rich harmonic content. They were already Django Reinhardt's choice and are highly resistant to intensive playing thanks to the improved durability of their alloy composition.

The neck and fingerboard feature a modern lutherie design, making the Selmer guitar finally accessible to all hand shapes. A special feature of the Henri SELMER Paris Jazz guitar is the headstock joint, made of end grain wood, which has been retained and adapted for the new neck.

The choice of materials gives this guitar the expected lightweight: just 2.250 kg.

Aesthetics

The following elements have been revisited through the eye of our designer, Jérémie Bernard:

• The tuner covers feature a softer, more refined angle.
• The tuning buttons have been entirely redesigned. On the edge of one of them, the name "Selmer" is laser-engraved.
• The iconic SELMER "S" emblem is inlaid at the top of the rosette.
• The iconic logo, often imitated by many luthiers, remains instantly recognizable. But look a little closer, and you’ll notice subtle rebalancing and elegant refinements…
• The iconic label has been redesigned and embellished with hot foil stamping.
• The finely engraved tailpiece houses an ebony plate which is itself the volume control receptacle for the preamplifier.
• The strap button is finished in black lacquer and engraved with the "Selmer" name, accompanied by the brand's laurel wreath.

The signature label, redesigned and enhanced with hot-stamped gilding, indicates in the left rectangle the serial number of the instrument and in the right rectangle the number of the piece of this 60-guitar limited edition.

The first serial number of this limited edition starts at 887, as the last guitar produced by the Henri SELMER Paris workshops in 1952 bore the number 885. The prototype created for this new series, numbered 886, is preserved at the Henri SELMER Paris Manufacture.

Case and accessories

Developed in collaboration with BAM, this high-end case combines elegance and technical innovation to provide optimal protection for your Henri SELMER Paris jazz guitar.
Crafted using high-tech technology, it combines lightness, durability and comfort.

• Refined design: vegan leather cover with elegant stitching and hot-stamped Henri SELMER Paris logo.
• BAM Hightech Technology: high-performance, multi-layer composite shell combining exceptional rigidity and lightweight.
• Superior protection: airtight case with male/female PVC profile, isothermal and highly shock-resistant.
• Tailored interior: perfectly fitted for the new generation of Selmer jazz guitars.
• Easy transport: ergonomic handle and non-slip neoprene backpack straps, with matching stitching.
• Storage: removable accessory pouch beneath the neck, with vegan leather lining. Dedicated compartment for the pickup charger.
• Comfort and practicality: esay opening/closing with 5 latches thanks to precise structural rigidity.

The guitar is held in place by an injected foam neck cushion and three headstock pads, each with perfectly molded contours. A dedicated cutaway cushion leaves a discreet space for a Tracer device.

Also included: a Henri SELMER Paris microfiber cloth, a Mi-Si Crystal charger, an Allen key for truss rod adjustment, a user guide, and the book " The History of Selmer Maccaferri Guitars " signed by the author, François Charle.

Musicians' words

Angelo Debarre

“The biggest surprise was rediscovering the sound of a Selmer on a brand-new guitar today. That particular grain… we thought it came from the recording quality of the time, but a lot of it actually comes from the guitar!”

“The sound is perfectly balanced across the entire fingerboard. The neck is very comfortable neck. This guitar has no flaws – it's comfortable, it's beautiful, it's finely crafted, it sounds good and the pickup is extraordinary!”

Angelo Debarre is a French Gypsy jazz guitarist and a true heir to Django Reinhardt's style. Born into a Manouche family, he began playing guitar at the age of eight and founded the Angelo Debarre Quintet in 1984. A self-taught musician known for his dazzling technique, he has collaborated with artists such as Ludovic Beier and Florin Niculescu. A virtuoso with a fluid and expressive playing style, he blends tradition and modernity, and continues to shape the ladscape of contemporary Gypsy jazz.

Antoine Boyer

“What immediately struck me was how balanced and easy it is to play.”

“It's a guitar with real dynamics. In rhythm or solo, if I really dig in, I get a wide range of expression. I also really like the tuners. They are very smooth, and whether tuning up or down, the movement is even and precise. It's a great feel –very, very accurate.”

French guitarist Antoine Boyer studied Gypsy jazz with Mandino Reinhardt and Francis-Alfred Moerman. He has recorded several albums, including Leské and Sita, and was named "Revelation 2012" by Guitarist Acoustic magazine. He collaborates with artists such as Samuelito and Yeore Kim.

Leila Duclos

“This guitar is magnificent: the shape, the varnish, the wood… everything! I was quite dazzled when I saw it.”

“I find it has a very clear sound, it's powerful too! I play what's called 'la pompe manouche' and I can say that for anyone who wants to accompany themselves, it has great projection and it's very easy to play.”

French singer and guitarist Leila Duclos is emerging as a rising figure in vocal jazz. In 2022, with her debut album, Fille du feu, she revealed a musical universe inspired by Django Reinhardt. Passionate about Gypsy jazz, she shares the stage with musicians such as Ninine Garcia, Rocky Garcia, and Laurent Delaveau.

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► Learn more about the history of SELMER guitars