NEWS/NEWSLETTER
Welcome to the first installment of the Montuoro
Guitar Co. news/newsletter section. Here I will try to
keep you updated on whats going on here at the shop.
I.E. new guitars, featured guitar players and
thoughts. In this installment I am featuring Mr. Nels
Cline and his custom Montuoro. If you dont know
anything about Nels you most likely dont play guitar.
And you should make it your business to catch up with
one of the most exciting musicians since Paganini.
Please visit www.nelscline.com. It has been a great
honor to create a guitar for Nels. First lets hear
what Nels has to say about it. Then I will fill you in
on its specs.
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"I met Frankie Montuoro before he worked for Wilco,
but
it was in that capacity that I became a friend and
admirer of the man.
Little did I realize then that he is a luthier/guitar
restorer
possessing rare gifts! When he suggested that he
design and build an acoustic
guitar with my tastes and preferences in mind, I was
intrigued. Long
story short, I knew that Frankie knew a lot about my
tastes and about my
music making - we gabbed about it constantly! So I
gave him complete
free reign . The only custom detail I asked for was
equidistant crosses
inlaid into the neck instead of dots or squares. The
rest of what you see
(and what I get to hear) is pure Montuoro. I even
asked that he not
show me anything but a finished guitar. No plans,
pieces, tidbits, or
photos.
The sound of this guitar is lively. It projects
remarkably, has high
highs and low lows, yet possesses an elegant,
intimate nature. My guitar
is visually understated and rather unadorned, but the
rich-looking
finish is an aesthetic delight for the eyes. It even
smells good! The scale
length a bit longer than usual for this type of
instrument (Frankie
knows I like extra string tension). I never strove to
own a custom-built
instrument, but I am so glad that Frankie suggested
this to me. The
instrument is a marvel, and I can't wait to hear what
it will sound like
as it ages. Thanks, Frankie!"
xoxox Nels
| Nels Cline custom 000 15" specs.
Top - Sitka Spruce
Finish - Nitro with a relic aged look on the top
Soundhole - Enlarged to 4-1/8"
Back and Sides - Indian Rosewood
Marquetry - Black binding with blood red wood purflings.
Bracing - Forward/Scalloped X-Brace pattern. Built under tension.
Neck - Mahogany with Ebony board as well Ebony Nut.
Tuners - Waverly banjo style.
1-3/4" spacing at the Nut.
Bridge - Ebony with a 2-5/16" spacing. Vintage style friction pins.
Scale - 25.625" |
So all things considered this is a 14 fret 000 guitar.
But it offers the longer Larson scale length as well
its built under tension. I enlarged the soundhole a
bit to help add in projection. The wider spacing at
the nut helps Nels in respect of his rather large
hands. And the 2-5/16" spacing at the bridge helps add
distinction between each of the individual strings.
Nels plays with both a plectrum and his fingers so I
wanted to incorporate both styles into this guitar.
The overall look of the guitar is weathered. I used a
special graining technique to give the top a much
older vibe. I feel it fits Nels aesthetic as he is not
a fan of the new look of anything. I am sure he would
agree. Have a look for yourself. And again go and
listen to Nels! Its bound to change your life.
Best
Frankie Montuoro
6/27/07
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