R. J. DiCarlo / Luthier

The nylon string is also featured on the surprisingly near total reharmonization of the standard “All the Things You Are”, where Juris equates the reharmonization as possibly coming from his listening to the “…rock band “Radiohead’”. The listener can make up their own mind on this tune, but wherever it came from it is stunningly crafted and Juris’ Richard DiCarlo nylon string sounds just wonderful.

On a quiet, tree-lined street in Massapequa Park, New York, some of the finest guitars are being made. Players of the caliber of Jack Wilkins,
Vic Juris, Carl Barry, Bob Gallo and Michéle Ramo play Rich DiCarlo guitars. On a recent visit to New York I had an opportunity to visit Rich in his basement shop.

Michele Ramo, il musicista che ha inventato la chitarra ad otto corde...

I became increasingly distracted by the sound of the guitar and, later, the incredible range and matching delicacy of the woman's voice. I found myself all-too-often interrupting Susan's narrative with (and, this is not recommended behavior for any man in the company of a woman): "What?" and, "I'm sorry," and, "Who?" until, finally, I confessed that I had lost an entire anecdote to the guitarist and, moreover, to the guitar.

I've been building guitars on a steady basis since 1981. I met with archtop builder Jimmy D'Aquisto in 1969 to put in an order for an archtop guitar; the minute I stepped into his shop my whole life changed.

Once a month, Michele Ramo has been hosting a guitar night. The last one was at Tango Mambo on Queens Boulevard in Forest Hills. It’s now being held at Trumpets in NJ. Local players are invited to play, and then a jam session occurs afterward.