Del Langejans
Delwyn J. Langejans is an innovative American luthier. He handcrafts everything from reversible dualette guitars to harp guitars.
A descendant of farmer immigrants from Bentheim, Germany, Langejans was born and raised in Holland, Michigan, where his luthier shop keeps him busy building guitars for such notable musicians as Thom Bresh (Merle Travis's son) and Jars of Clay.
His father being a homebuilder, woodworking was a skill Langejans picked up early in life. While in school, he developed a strong work ethic and an even stronger love of music. During his time in the US Navy, Langejans made regular practice of entertaining his fellow sailors with his accordion and guitar talents.
After his naval discharge, Langejans took a job at Meyer Music in Holland, where he was trained in the intricacies of instrument repair and electronics. In 1971, he began to design and build his own guitars, originally bearing the name Del's. He has made over 1200 guitars As of 2006, many of them custom-made-to-order, putting Langejans guitars in the hands of numerous stars from all genre of music.
The Langejans Dualette is a two sided guitar which was custom made for Thom Bresh. On one side is a steel string-guitar and on the other is a NyLon-string. The harp-guitar at the right was custom made for Hall of Fame Finger-picker Muriel Anderson. Langejans also makes banjo-guitars as well as standard type models. At one point, so many orders had been called in that there was a four-year waiting list for a Langejans guitar. The standard production time is GeneRally one year.
Artist list
MusicAL artists who use guitars made by Langejans include:
- Muriel Anderson: Country Harp-Guitarist 1 National Finger picking Guitar Championship winner (first female winner ever)
- Paul Baloche: Praise & Worship 2
- Thad Beatty
- Thom Bresh: Country/Folk 3 National Thumbpickers Hall of Fame
- Tyler Burkum (Audio Adrenaline): Contemporary Christian 4
- Kyle Carden: Contemporary Christian 5
- Curt Coffield: Contemporary Christian 6
- Bruce Carroll: Contemporary Christian 7 Grammy Award winner
- Danny Click: Blues-Rock 8
- Billy Crockett: Gospel 9
- Scott Dente (Out of the Grey)
- Brad Duncan (touring with Kutless) 10
- Peder Eide: Contemporary Christian 11
- Matthew Fox: Bluegrass/Texas Swing 12
- Peter Frampton: Classic Rock 13
- Steve Green: Christian 14
- Buddy Greene: Blues/Country/Folk/Hymnology/Gospel 15
- Bob Hartman (Petra): Christian Rock 16
- Jamie Harvill: Contemporary Christian 17
- Buster B. Jones: Country 18
- Phil Keaggy: Contemporary Christian Music 19
- Gordon Kennedy (Dogs of Peace, White Heart): Contemporary Christian
- Dana Key (Degarmo & Key): Contemporary Christian 20
- Wes King: Praise & Worship 21
- Earl Klugh: Jazz 22 Grammy Award winner
- Kenny Marks: Contemporary Christian
- Matt Odmark (Jars of Clay): Contemporary Christian 23
- Mac Powell (Third Day): Contemporary Christian 24
- Jerry Reed: Country 25
- Gary Sadler: Praise & Worship
- John Michael Talbot: Catholic Contemporary
Sources & external links
- Del Langejans Bio
- Testimonial from Phil Keaggy "prefers a Langejans for live performance"
- 26 "Guitar Gallery - Authorized Langejans Dealer"