Dr. Nico

Dr. Nico Kasanda is documented using the Meazzi Hollywood Jupiter guitar, as evidenced by several picture sleeves from around 1970, including the release "Docteur Nico* & L'Orchestre African Fiesta Sukisa – Adieu Freetown / Afrique De L'Ouest."

Dr. Nico is confirmed to have used a 1957 Fender Stringmaster Deluxe 6 lap steel guitar, identifiable by its two pickups. This is evidenced by images of him playing the instrument on the album cover of Docteur Nico – Dieu De La Guitare and its presence on the LP sleeve of Docteur Nico Et Son Orchestre – L'Afrique Danse N° 5 where it is leaning against a conga drum. He utilized this guitar in recordings for the Sukisa label during the latter half of the 1960s, which featured a distinct tape echo effect, imparting a syrupy, slightly Hawaiian sound to the music. The use of a lap steel guitar was unconventional in African Rumba at the time.

Dr. Nico is confirmed to use the Höfner 172 guitar, as evidenced by the photograph on the cover of "Orchestre African Fiesta* Sous La Direction Du Docteur Nico* – Untitled (1969)" and "Docteur Nico*, Orchestre African Fiesta – Munka / Angele Ozali Wapi? (1969)." The image, available on Equipboard, clearly shows Dr. Nico with the Höfner 172, although the photo is slightly blurry.

Dr. Nico Kasanda is known for using the Egmond Typhoon 3V guitar during his tenure with African Fiesta on the Vita label in the early 1960s. The distinct sound of the Egmond Typhoon 3V is evident on tracks such as "Bisengo Na Capitale" (Vita V 17) and "Kingo Mwambe" (Vita V 22).

A photograph from the 1950s clearly depicts Dr. Nico Kasanda playing a Roger Guitars Cutaway Junior. This guitar is identifiable by its distinctive pentagon-shaped pickup and the Roger logo on the headstock. Notably, Dr. Nico's guitar features "layer cake" sides, which are uncommon for this model. This image is one of three known instances where Dr. Nico was pictured with an archtop guitar during that era. The image can be viewed at: .