Jol Dantzig
Encyclopedia
Jolyon C. Dantzig is known as an artist, businessman, songwriter, designer, guitarist
, luthier
, author
and one of the founders of Hamer Guitars
.
, Jolyon (Jol) Dantzig began playing guitar and piano in grade school. He studied guitar with local teachers, most notably local blues
guitarist Michael Bloomfield. Dantzig attended Evanston Township High School
where he studied photography. Dantzig continued his art education at the Art Institute of Chicago
. While still in his early twenties, he became a touring musician, playing guitar, bass and singing in numerous rock and R&B bands. Dantzig also supported himself by buying and selling used guitars and running a band equipment rental company.
In 1970, Dantzig became a partner in Northern Prairie Music, one of the first shops selling "vintage" instruments to professional musicians and collectors. Northern Prairie was started by Craig Hendee. Hendee's protégé was a young guitarist named Paul Hamer. Dantzig met Hendee and Hamer through a mutual friend. Dantzig became a partner in the business after Hendee left.
In 1973 Dantzig along with repairman John Montgomery, built a custom bass guitar. They began supplying custom guitars directly to musicians via the Northern Prairie storefront and through advertisements in Guitar Player
magazine under the "Hamer" name in 1974. Hamer Guitars was incorporated in 1976.
During the 1970s and 80s Hamer Guitars grew in size and reputation. During this period Dantzig designed instruments for many of biggest names in music including all four The Beatles
, three of The Rolling Stones
and every member of The Pretenders
, Def Leppard
and The Police
. Hamer Guitars was acquired by Kaman Music (a distribution firm) in 1988. Kaman Music (and Hamer Guitars) was acquired by Fender Musical Instruments Inc. in 2007.
Dantzig relocated to northern California
to start the Dantzig Design Group, a graphic design and Internet content company. He also served as a consultant to Kaman Music and a host of other music industry companies.
At the request of Bill Kaman, Dantzig returned to Hamer as Technical Director in 1997, when the facility was moved to Connecticut
. Dantzig is active in the design and manufacture of Hamer's high-end custom guitars, as well as developing products for other clients via his Dantzig Design company.
Hamer was acquired by Fender Musical Instruments in 2008. Dantzig worked in various capacities for Fender until early 2010.
In early 2010 Dantzig left Fender and is building instruments under the Dantzig name.
Dantzig's hobby is collecting, working on and racing vintage sports cars.
Dantzig currently resides in Connecticut where he is the owner of Dantzig Guitar Design.
of the band Cheap Trick
. This guitar was exhibited at the Boston Museum of Fine Art. Some of Dantzig's other designs were also featured in an exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution
. Dantzig's guitar designs have earned eight Editors Pick awards from Guitar Player Magazine.
, Wilson Pickett
, Frank Black
, Jim Carrol and Shaw-Blades.
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, luthier
Luthier
A luthier is someone who makes or repairs lutes and other string instruments. In the United States, the term is used interchangeably with a term for the specialty of each maker, such as violinmaker, guitar maker, lute maker, etc...
, author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and one of the founders of Hamer Guitars
Hamer Guitars
Hamer Guitars is an American manufacturer of electric guitars. Founded in 1973 by vintage guitar shop owners, Jol Dantzig and his business partner Paul Hamer. Early instruments featured guitar designs based on the Gibson Explorer and Flying V...
.
Biography
A native of Evanston, IllinoisEvanston, Illinois
Evanston is a suburban municipality in Cook County, Illinois 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, bordering Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, and Wilmette to the north, with an estimated population of 74,360 as of 2003. It is one of the North Shore communities that adjoin Lake Michigan...
, Jolyon (Jol) Dantzig began playing guitar and piano in grade school. He studied guitar with local teachers, most notably local blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
guitarist Michael Bloomfield. Dantzig attended Evanston Township High School
Evanston Township High School
Evanston Township High School District 202, is a four-year, comprehensive high school occupying a campus in Evanston, Illinois, a Chicago suburb along the Lake Michigan shore. ETHS serves the multiracial city of Evanston and a small portion of the neighboring village of Skokie, for a total...
where he studied photography. Dantzig continued his art education at the Art Institute of Chicago
Art Institute of Chicago
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago is one of America's largest accredited independent schools of art and design, located in the Loop in Chicago, Illinois. It is associated with the museum of the same name, and "The Art Institute of Chicago" or "Chicago Art Institute" often refers to either...
. While still in his early twenties, he became a touring musician, playing guitar, bass and singing in numerous rock and R&B bands. Dantzig also supported himself by buying and selling used guitars and running a band equipment rental company.
In 1970, Dantzig became a partner in Northern Prairie Music, one of the first shops selling "vintage" instruments to professional musicians and collectors. Northern Prairie was started by Craig Hendee. Hendee's protégé was a young guitarist named Paul Hamer. Dantzig met Hendee and Hamer through a mutual friend. Dantzig became a partner in the business after Hendee left.
In 1973 Dantzig along with repairman John Montgomery, built a custom bass guitar. They began supplying custom guitars directly to musicians via the Northern Prairie storefront and through advertisements in Guitar Player
Guitar Player
Guitar Player is a popular magazine for guitarists founded in 1967. It contains articles, interviews, reviews and lessons of an eclectic collection of artists, genres and products. It has been in print since the late 1960s and during the 1980s, under editor Tom Wheeler, the publication was...
magazine under the "Hamer" name in 1974. Hamer Guitars was incorporated in 1976.
During the 1970s and 80s Hamer Guitars grew in size and reputation. During this period Dantzig designed instruments for many of biggest names in music including all four The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, three of The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
and every member of The Pretenders
The Pretenders
The Pretenders are an English rock band formed in Hereford, England in March 1978. The original band consisted of initiator and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde , James Honeyman-Scott , Pete Farndon , and Martin Chambers...
, Def Leppard
Def Leppard
Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. Since 1992, the band have consisted of Joe Elliott , Rick Savage , Rick Allen , Phil Collen , and Vivian Campbell...
and The Police
The Police
The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. For the vast majority of their history, the band consisted of Sting , Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland...
. Hamer Guitars was acquired by Kaman Music (a distribution firm) in 1988. Kaman Music (and Hamer Guitars) was acquired by Fender Musical Instruments Inc. in 2007.
Dantzig relocated to northern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to start the Dantzig Design Group, a graphic design and Internet content company. He also served as a consultant to Kaman Music and a host of other music industry companies.
At the request of Bill Kaman, Dantzig returned to Hamer as Technical Director in 1997, when the facility was moved to Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. Dantzig is active in the design and manufacture of Hamer's high-end custom guitars, as well as developing products for other clients via his Dantzig Design company.
Hamer was acquired by Fender Musical Instruments in 2008. Dantzig worked in various capacities for Fender until early 2010.
In early 2010 Dantzig left Fender and is building instruments under the Dantzig name.
Dantzig's hobby is collecting, working on and racing vintage sports cars.
Dantzig currently resides in Connecticut where he is the owner of Dantzig Guitar Design.
Guitar building achievements
One of Dantzig’s most famous pieces is an orange five-neck guitar built in 1981 for Rick NielsenRick Nielsen
-External links:* * *...
of the band Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick is an American rock band from Rockford, Illinois, formed in 1973. The band consists of members Robin Zander , Rick Nielsen , Tom Petersson , and Bun E...
. This guitar was exhibited at the Boston Museum of Fine Art. Some of Dantzig's other designs were also featured in an exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
. Dantzig's guitar designs have earned eight Editors Pick awards from Guitar Player Magazine.
Musical achievements
Although Dantzig was busy with his various business ventures, he has remained an active musician. Over the years he has written and performed music for several feature films including End of the Line and One More Saturday Night. His guitar and vocal work appears on recordings by Freddy Scott, Buddy GuyBuddy Guy
George "Buddy" Guy is an American blues and jazz guitarist and singer. He is a critically acclaimed artist who has established himself as a pioneer of the Chicago blues sound, and has served as an influence to some of the most notable musicians of his generation...
, Wilson Pickett
Wilson Pickett
Wilson Pickett was an American R&B/Soul singer and songwriter.A major figure in the development of American soul music, Pickett recorded over 50 songs which made the US R&B charts, and frequently crossed over to the US Billboard Hot 100...
, Frank Black
Frank Black
Black Francis is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known as the frontman of the influential alternative rock band Pixies, with whom he performs under the stage name Black Francis. Following the band's breakup in 1993, he embarked on a solo career under the name Frank Black...
, Jim Carrol and Shaw-Blades.