SHELLEY D PARK

SHELLEY D PARK GUITARS

Boutique builder Shelley Park describes her take on Gypsy jazz guitars as “a thoughtful modern interpretation of a classic design. It is my intention to provide the fit and finish expected by today’s acoustic player while respecting the work of Selmer-Maccaferri. I think my instruments offer playability and a sweet, nuanced tone while maintaining the responsiveness and projection these guitars are expected to have in a Hot Club swing context.”

Park worked at Larrivée ée then for fellow Canadian David Webber before setting up on her own ’shop in Vancouver, British Columbia, “a province where I have access to local materials, both softwoods for soundboards and hardwoods for backs and sides. I am always glad to work with local spruce, maple and walnut. I’m excited about some of the composite replacements for ebony and rosewood components and suspect they’ll start to show up in the instruments I build.” She says: “I’ve never attributed my successes and disappointments in the guitarmaking world to my sex.”