Legato Guitars - Our Story

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fter a forty-year unconsummated love affair with jazz guitar, I established Legato Guitars in 1995 to meet the needs of jazz guitar players of all levels, from students to professional performers. We buy, sell, trade and consign performance-quality instruments, primarily through mail-order and guitar-show participation.

y own history with jazz guitar began in the early 50's with my studies with Joe Monk at his studio overlooking Northern Boulevard, at the city line between Little Neck and Great Neck, Long Island. At that time I was playing a blond Harmony archtop, non-cutaway, with a DeArmond Rhythm Chief pickup. Joe didn't like the intonation above the twelfth fret and had me take the guitar to none other than John DeAngelico for diagnosis and repair.

hen I entered Mr. D.'s shop two or thee guys were sitting around playing beautifully as they tried out various guitars. The music stopped for a moment when John unzipped the leather gigbag, and the players watched to see what was to come out of the case. He slowly withdrew the instrument from its case, holding it cautiously by the headstock like it was a dead fish, and simply said "Harmony," whereupon the players immediately resumed their playing, having lost any interest in my very low-end guitar. Nevertheless, the master luthier agreed to work on my guitar for $75, almost what I had paid for it. As far as I know, this was the only time John DeAngelico worked on a Fender-owned guitar.

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