The Steel Guitar Forum

Anyone know if the DelVechio Resonator is still being made. I have not seen them around since the 70's. This was not a bluegrass dobro but rather had a classical wide neck and was played standard guitar style.

Roy T.

Yes, Roy, I believe they're still being made in Sao Paulo, Brazil. This was the company's address, don't know if it's still good:
Casa Del Vecchio, Rua Aurora 185, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Cpostal 2917.

Nato Lima and Chet Atkins put these instruments on the map, so to speak. They had a fantastic sound but inferior construction and necks with spotty intonation. Luthier, Paul McGill, in Nashville, makes a modern DelVecchio-style instrument with gorgeous sap wood in front. Chet Atkins & Earl Klugh play 'em. Here's his site: http://www.mcgillguitars.com/fguitars.htm
<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Andy Volk on 18 March 2001 at 07:57 AM.]</p></FONT>

The postal code (codigo postal)in Brasil goes at the front of the third line of the address in front of the city name. It is usually identified as "CEP" just as we would refer to a zip code in the U.S. So the address should read.

Casa del Vecchio
Rua Aurora 185
CEP 2917 Sao Paulo
Brasil

I know it's a little picky, but I used to live there and get nostalgic every once in a while. Does anybody play samba, or bossa nova on steel? It would work great for "chorinho" which is indigenous Brasilian cowboy (gaucho) "crying in your beer" music that sounds line the best of Merle Haggard or George Jones.

Thanks for the correction. I spent a week in
Brazil and loved every minute of it. I'm a huge Bossa Nova fan. I play Jobim's "Once I Loved" & "How Insensitive" on acoustic (Weissenborn) steel and they work great.

Many Thanks for your help Andy/Aaron.

Roy T.

Hey Andy,
Bossa Nova on a Weissenborn! What a great idea. My reso sounds too harsh for it, but I never thought of a Weissenborn. I may have to buy one. BTW, a few months back I found a website with a photo of the original "Garota de Impanema" from the late 50's. Wow! She is a fluid and lovely as the song.

Roy,

I acquired my late father-in-law's DelVecchio about 10 years ago. It's exactly as you describe. But, it's seen better days...

Keep thumbpickin', Roy, I still practice your ditties all the time.

Drew Howard

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<A HREF="http://www.newslinkassociates.com
" TARGET=_blank>http://www.newslinkassociates.com
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Not only are they still around, Del Vecchio even has a web site in Portuguese. To see the resonator guitars, click on the link for "Violões e Violas" and choose the "Modelo Dinâmico".

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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Brad Bechtel on 20 March 2001 at 10:08 AM.]</p></FONT>

Well, I'm actually dreaming of playing the samba called "O Pato" (the duck) on my 8 strings steel (c6) . It's on the stan Getz "Jazz Samb" CD. I'm not good enough to figure it out by myself. So, if anyone has the tablature figured out, that would be great.

Brad I tried the link you gave but when I get to the site I get a swaying guitar with the mailing address. Nothing to click on for the options you mention.
I gave the site about 10 minutes to load with no success?
But thanks anyway.
Roy Thomson<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Roy Thomson on 20 March 2001 at 12:06 PM.]</p></FONT>

No, I've never tried arranging O Pato but it's a fun tune. Joao Gilberto's original version is available on World Pacific's compilation of his early Bossa Nova recordings. Sublime stuff!
Here's a link to the changes and lyrics:
http://www.bossanovaguitar.com/joao_gilberto/chords_lyrics/o_pato-f.html <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Andy Volk on 20 March 2001 at 04:57 PM.]</p></FONT>

Once you get the website, there's a little arrow on the bottom right of the screen, meaning, I guess, "next page". Click on that, and you get the choices Brad mentioned.
There is a "Violao", which is the 6-string guitar as per Chet Atkins, etc, and then the next page shows a "Viola" which seems to be a 10-string...
I've always been curious about these things - most resonator experts say that to drive the cone properly, you need HEAVY steel strings, but a lot of people, including I believe Chet Atkins, use nylon strings for these. How come it works?! (Steve James told me that Grady Martin used a Del Vecchio with nylon strings on "El Paso").
Anyone wanting to see another picture of one should check out the Jerry Reed "2 for 1" reissue CDs - they all show Jerry holding one, though I've never heard him say he used it much...
Nick

Go to the link below for some info on the light-gauge design of the Del Vecchio.

Del Vecchio versus National & Dobro design differences.

By the way, as far as I know, all Del Vecchios are round neck designs, meant to be fretted, not played with a bar.
 

Great Job Richard!!

Thanks for the "O Pato" site Andy.
I'll let you know if I get anything done with that song.