Educate me on gypsy jazz (Django) guitars

[spock]

I am not interested in acquiring one, but have always been curious about their rather strange shape and exaggerated soundhole. Is there a particular reason for these attributes with regard to playing that style of music? Do they typically use specific tonewoods, exhibit a certain nut width, guitar depth, or have other particular specifications? Thanks

[Eldergreene]

My understanding is that when they first evolved, back around 1930, their design owed a lot to classical guitar concepts - & that the top, being bent into a 'pliage ', puts them under a lot of tension, which gives rise to their extreme responsiveness & volume - I know of one maker who has had the occasional build implode because of the stresses involved - but the ones that survive have incredible tone & loudness!

[blue]

The only really surprising thing about them to me is that they tend to use surprisingly light strings.

Eastman is making them at a very affordable price.

[pbla4024]

It was European attempt to make acoustic guitars louder, parallel to US archtops.
First iteration with big soundhole was ladder braced, cutaway, floating bridge and tailpiece, bent top, wide flat fingerboard with 47mm nut, standard scale 650mm, slotted headstock, neck joint on 12th fret, spruce top, back and side varied . The big soundhole originally contained internal resonator.
Second iteration got small soundhole 670mm scale, 14th fret neck joint.

[David Eastwood]

Here's a recent thread on the subject you might find interesting:

https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...d.php?t=572614

[Stringmaster]

I believe the first Maccaferri guitars sported nylon strings ala a classical guitar, and were later modified to the more common steel string/tailpiece style. This is my Dupont—I love it, but I don’t play Gypsy Jazz—but there are some well known artists that do.
https://shop.gryphonstrings.com/prod...nt-MCC30-45932

[spock]

Thank you all for the information and links - that is really helpful.

Stringmaster - beautiful guitar that Dupont.