Questions about Chet's Delvecchio

[Dan Smith]

I had two questions about Chet's Delvecchio for anyone who might know the answer. First, what was the width of the neck at the nut? Second, I know Chet used the silk and steel strings but I'm wondering if he used the wound third that comes standard in the Martin set?

Thanks in advance.
Dan

[craigdobbins]

Dan-

If I remember correctly, Paul McGill told me that he measured Chet's main DV (the short-scale one with the "V" soundholes) at around 1 7/8" at the nut. I think the longer scale one that Doyle Dykes gave him may have a slightly narrower neck, and also a regular nut, rather than a zero fret.

Chet used a wound third on the short scale (listen to the recordings from the 60's and 70's for this sound). On his later recordings (CD's from the late 80's and 90's) he was using the longer scale DV, with a plain G. (Check out the "All My Loving" in-studio B-roll video on YouTube, and you can see/hear the plain third.)

I don't know what brand of strings he used earlier, but I have a few sets of DV strings that D'Addario made up for Chet that I got from Paul McGill. They have plain steel 1st, 2nd, 3rd, a silk and steel 4th, and ball-end heavy classical strings for the 5th and 6th. They sound great on my DV.

Craig

[Dan Smith]

Craig,

Thanks for your response. Can you tell me the gages of the strings you got from Paul McGill? Is this a silk and steel set?

Thanks,
Dan

[craigdobbins]

Hi Dan-

They're not gauged, just custom sets in white envelopes numbered 1-6. As I said above, they're plain steel 1st, 2nd, 3rd, a silk and steel 4th, and ball-end heavy gauge classical strings for the 5th and 6th. Sort of a combination set, at Chet's request. The plains are something like maybe .011, .013, and .017.

Craig

[Dan Smith]

Craig,

Interesting that Chet had them use a silk and steel 4th string and regular classical strings for 5 and 6. Thanks again for the information.

Dan

[craigdobbins]

It gives the E and A strings a really deep, bassy sound.

Craig