THE PETITE BOUCHE VOICE

The Modèle Nomade draws from the classic Selmer-Maccaferri petite bouche tradition — reinterpreted through a more responsive and refined modern build philosophy.

Its oval sound hole and pliage-driven top produce the fast attack, projection, and focused treble response associated with traditional Gypsy Jazz guitars, while maintaining clarity and balance across the full register.

Responsive under a light touch yet capable of exceptional articulation and cut, the Nomade is built for fluid lead playing, rhythmic precision, and the dynamic movement that defines the Jazz Manouche tradition.

MODÈLE NOMADE

The Modèle Nomade reflects my interpretation of the traditional Selmer-Maccaferri petite bouche — retaining the immediacy and projection of the original design while refining the instrument through a more responsive modern build philosophy.

Its oval soundhole, long scale, and 14-fret neck joint produce the fast attack, focused midrange, and articulate voice associated with traditional Gypsy Jazz guitars. The result is strong projection and note separation, with the clarity to remain controlled across the register.

While rooted in the Selmer tradition, the Nomade incorporates modern structural refinements including an upgraded neck joint, adjustable truss rod, carbon fibre reinforcement, and a tuned soundbox designed for long-term stability and responsiveness.

Quick under the hand and highly articulate, the Nomade is built for fluid lead playing, rhythmic precision, and the dynamic movement central to the Jazz Manouche tradition.

Each Nomade can be tailored to the player —
with a considered range of material and finish options.

Soundboard

Beyond standard spruce or Western red cedar, a range of alternative soundboards is available — including bearclaw spruce, torrefied spruce, and sinker redwood, each offering a distinct tonal character.

Back and Sides

A curated selection of tonewoods is available for the back and sides,
including Indian rosewood, flamed walnut, pau ferro, and flamed maple. Additional options may be sourced for those seeking something more specific.

Finish

Finish options include a traditional French polish, applied by hand to create an exceptionally thin, responsive surface. Alternative finishes are available depending on preference.

Pickups

A selection of pickups is available for amplification, including options from Big Tone, Yves Guen, Krivo, and Miller — each offering a different approach to capturing the instrument’s voice.

Guitar Case

Each instrument is supplied in a fitted hardshell case. Upgrades to Hiscox cases are available for increased protection.

Start your commission to configure your Nomade.

Structured Back & Sides

The back and sides are built using a three-layer veneer construction,
each layer brought to thickness before being formed and bonded in a mold. This approach, rooted in the Selmer tradition, produces a structure that is lightweight, stable, and acoustically efficient.

Setup & Playability

Slightly elevated string action supports volume, projection, and clarity. Each bridge is shaped and calibrated to the individual instrument, with action set to 2.25mm on the low E (with a slight increase across the set) and intonation dialed for Savarez Argentine 11–46 strings, unless specified otherwise.

Neck Profile

The Whitney neck profile maintains the proportions of the traditional Selmer form, with subtle refinements for comfort and playability. A 20" radius, carefully finished fretwork, and consistent shaping
contribute to a feel that remains familiar, but more resolved in the hand. A scarf-jointed headstock improves structural integrity without adding weight.

Truss Rods & Carbon Fibre Neck Reinforcement:

Stability is critical to long-term performance. Each neck is reinforced with carbon fibre to maintain stiffness and resist movement across changes in temperature and humidity.

Starting at: $7,500 CAD
Excludes shipping, applicable taxes and insurance.

View Specifications →

Commission a Nomade →

Whitney Guitars - Custom Gypsy Jazz Guitars Made in Canada

Whitney Guitars - Petite Bouche | Custom Gypsy Jazz Guitars Made in Canada

MODÈLE NOMADE

PETITE BOUCH GYPSY JAZZ GUITAR

A faithful Selmer voice,
carefully evolved.

From the very first note, the volume was quite amazing and the balance between the notes, too, is superb. It is simply a delightful and immensely enjoyable guitar to play.

MARK ANDERSON - MISSISSAUGA, ON

SPECS & DIMENSIONS

Whitney Guitars - Gypsy Jazz Guitar Headstock with Schaller Grande Tune Tuners

Premium Gypsy Jazz Guitars Handmade in BC Canada

Adhesives	Aliphatic resin (Titebond Original)
Back & Sides	Select tonewoods — Indian Rosewood, Flamed Walnut, Pau Ferro, Flamed Maple
Binding	Ebony, Maple, or Walnut
Body Depth	90.7 mm (neck) → 101.1 mm (tail)
Body Length	470 mm (18.5″)
Bracing	Quarter-sawn Spruce 5-parallel bracing, hand-voiced
Bridge	Rosewood or Ebonized Rosewood, hand-shaped
Case	Hardshell case included (upgrade options available)
End Graft	Inlaid strip with matching purfling
Fingerboard	Ebony
Finish	Polyurethane or French Polish; nitrocellulose available by request
Frets	21 medium nickel-silver frets (18%)
Headstock	Slotted headstock with ebony veneer and engraved MW logo
Liners	Solid
Lower Bout	400 mm (15.75″)
Neck	Honduran Mahogany (standard); Maple, Walnut, or African Mahogany available
Neck & Reinforcement	Carbon fibre reinforcement
Neck Joint	14-fret configuration
Neck Profile	Traditional flat “D” or modern “C”
Nut	Bone
Nut Width	45 mm
Overall Length	1009.5 mm (39.75″)
Rosette	Veneer or solid, with custom motif options
Scale Length	670 mm
Soundboard	Select Spruce or Cedar (voiced per build)
Strings	Savarez Argentine 11–46
Tailpiece	Dell’Arte DR Selmer-style
Truss Rod	Dual-action
Tuners	Schaller GrandTune open-gear (various options available)
Upper Bout	289.5 mm (11.38″)
Waist	256.6 mm (10.13″)
Width at Body Joint	57 mm

SOUNDBOARD OPTIONS

The soundboard defines the instrument’s response.

Sitka spruce remains the standard — valued for its strength, headroom, and balanced tonal range.

Alternative options, including bearclaw spruce, torrefied spruce, and sinker redwood, offer different characteristics in feel, response, and visual expression.

Selection is made as part of the build — based on the player and the direction of the instrument.

Sitka Spruce · Standard

BACK & SIDE OPTIONS

The back and sides influence how the instrument responds and reflects energy.

Indian rosewood remains a standard — valued for its depth, clarity, and strong low-end presence.

Alternatives such as flamed walnut, pau ferro, and flamed maple offer different balances of warmth, brightness, and projection, along with distinct visual character.

Selection is made as part of the build — based on the player and the direction of the instrument.

Pau Ferro (Santos Rosewood) - Back and Side Wood

Pau Ferro · Clarity

TAILPIECE OPTIONS

Each Whitney guitar is fitted with a vintage-style Selmer tailpiece, faithful to the original 1930s design.

I use the Dell’Arte DR tailpiece — a well-proven interpretation known for its durability, stability, and tonal contribution. Its heavier brass construction adds a touch of density at the string anchor point, subtly enhancing sustain and overall response.

A traditional detail, executed with purpose.

Dell'Arte DR · Brass Tailpiece

TUNING MACHINE OPTIONS

Each Whitney guitar is fitted with Schaller GrandTune machines — an open-gear design that pairs vintage character with precise, reliable tuning.

Deliberate in feel, precise in adjustment and built to last, they offer the stability and control expected of a modern instrument, with an aesthetic that remains true to the Selmer tradition.

A range of finishes and button options allows for subtle personalization.

Schaller Grand Tune | Black with Snakewood Buttons

Schaller GrandTune · Black / Snakewood

NECK OPTIONS

Neck wood plays a subtle but important role in both feel and response.

I primarily work with Honduran mahogany for its stability, balance, and familiar midrange character. Select alternatives are available, offering slight variations in weight, stiffness, and tonal emphasis.

Each neck is shaped, reinforced, and finished with playability and long-term stability in mind — ensuring a consistent feel across the instrument.

Honduran Mahogany

FINISH OPTIONS

Polyurethane and French polish offer two distinct approaches to finishing.

Polyurethane provides a durable, protective finish with excellent clarity — a modern, reliable option that preserves definition while standing up to regular use.

French polish, applied by hand using traditional shellac, creates an exceptionally thin finish that allows the instrument to respond with greater immediacy and warmth, though with less resistance to wear.

One prioritizes resilience and clarity. The other, sensitivity and nuance.

Polyurethane · High Gloss

PICKUP OPTIONS

A range of pickup systems is available, each chosen for its ability to translate the character of the instrument.

Options from makers such as Big Tone, Yves Guen, Krivo, and Miller offer distinct approaches — from warm, traditional voicing to more focused, high-output designs suited to modern amplification.

Each offers a different way of carrying the instrument’s voice forward.