As a guitar maker, there are few moments more rewarding than watching an instrument leave the workbench and begin its own story.
Earlier this year, that story began for The DeLuxe, our newest Archtop model, when Goose guitarist Rick Mitarotonda debuted the guitar at Viva El Gonzo in San José del Cabo, Mexico.
Rick first played The DeLuxe during a special guest appearance with Jim James before bringing it to Goose’s intimate acoustic performances throughout the weekend. Designed specifically for Rick, The DeLuxe combines old-world craftsmanship with modern performance, creating an instrument equally suited for delicate fingerstyle passages and Goose’s expansive improvisational approach.
The DeLuxe is a nod to the venerable Gibson ES-150, Charlie Christian’s axe of choice, with some Drac-ish design cues. The idea was to create something that honored that lineage while maintaining my personal design aesthetic and being geared toward a modern player.
To me, the archtop guitar is the pinnacle of the luthier’s art, but also has the potential to be more versatile than people give them credit for. Practitioners of this form (D’Aquisto and others) are what inspired me since the beginning of my career to explore luthiery and the intersection of art, object, and function.
This guitar also represents an alternative to the more often seen flat-top, particularly outside the jazz scene.
Viva El Gonzo has quickly become much more than a Goose festival. This year’s lineup featured My Morning Jacket, Eggy, The California Honeydrops, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, LP Giobbi, Mikaela Davis, and many more, with spontaneous collaborations happening throughout the weekend.
Goose’s acoustic set, featuring Mikaela Davis on harp, became one of the festival’s highlights. The band performed a stripped-down collection of originals alongside covers of Bruce Springsteen’s Atlantic City, Gregory Alan Isakov’s Master & A Hound, Tom Waits’ Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis, and Radiohead’s True Love Waits. The setting allowed The DeLuxe to do exactly what it was built to do, delivering warmth, clarity, balance, and dynamic range with every note.
Every DeLuis guitar is handcrafted in Los Angeles by Greg DeLuis, blending traditional lutherie with modern design to create instruments that become true extensions of the musicians who play them. We’re honored that The DeLuxe began its journey in the hands of Rick Mitarotonda, and we’re excited to see where its story goes.
