Django Reinhardt’s Favorite Guitar—Closeup
Django Reinhardt got this guitar in 1940 and used it until his death in 1953. Reinhardt's wife, Naugine, gave the guitar to the museum in 1964. Up until this time, their son Babik used #503 to learn how to play.
On the anniversary of Django Reinhardt’s birth, in 1910, check out this behind the scenes look at his favorite guitar. The Manouche guitarist’s Selmer #503 is on display at the Musée Instrumental de Paris and this short video gives us an up-close look at the hallowed instrument.
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Reinhardt got this Selmer in 1940 and used it until his death in 1953. Reinhardt’s wife, Naugine, gave the guitar to the museum in 1964. Up until this time, their son Babik used #503 to learn how to play.
Like other Selmer Modèle Jazz guitars, this was made with a spruce top and laminated rosewood back and sides. A key difference between this guitar and others is Reinhardt’s name stamped in bold letters on the headstock.
