News/Newsletter 8.08
Time
Sure seems like a long time since my last newsletter and indeed it has been. I have been busy working on two recently completed builds as well as shop revamping and adjusting. I am now building guitars in pairs and It seems to work just fine, but of course consumes twice as much of my attention. I do like having two instruments completed side by side to compare. Since it seems they will most always be two different styles of instruments it's proving to be an enriching experience.
I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to all of the great response I have been receiving about my guitars in person and on the internet. I do really appreciate it! People seem to be enjoying the unique quality and tone of my instruments. And as the builder it's really inspiring to have great feedback. Because without people to play and connect with your instruments they are nothing more then furniture rather than musical jewelry.
Recently Montuoro Guitars has been added to the roster of handmade instruments available through Dream Guitars in California. As well there are instruments slated for The Music Emporium and Gruhn Guitars. Stu from the Music Emporium recently supplied me with a wild figure set of Brazilian Rosewood that he wanted used for their particular build. So in the coming months you will see these instruments pictured on this website. As well as the shipping dates to their prospective stores. This will mark my first time as a builder selling a few instruments a year through guitar shops. The supply of these guitars at the moment is extremely minimal due in part to the nature of their construction. That is virtually identical to building procedures utilized in the late 1920's through the 1930's. Which means as one person it takes a while.
Whether or not it's an instrument I build to look identical to a specific historical vintage guitar, or it's just another build, as you become more familiar with my instruments you will notice that they are really reminiscent to guitars built during the golden age of the 20's and 30's. Meaning they do not resemble anything like modern day factory made guitars. They are on par with the quality of craftsmanship coming out of the Martin factory in the late 1920's through the 1930's. Which is of course much different then instruments being made today. Some contemporaries may even consider this to be inferior. The manufacturing of guitars has obviously drastically changed. The aesthetic quality of many instruments coming out of foreign factories is verging on flawless. However sonically most of these instruments are nothing like the guitars of the past. And that is neither good nor bad it just is. Depends mostly on which school of thought you subscribe to.
As we push on down the road so many aspects of manufacturing and building are evolving around us. But I truly feel that staying stuck in the past when building musical instruments is the much better alternative. Making each instrument as an individual piece of art work as opposed to a consistent mass. Some things are indeed best unchanged. Even if it means it takes a little bit longer. Rome wasn't built in a day and neither was your guitar. I'm joking of course but trust me you will like it better that way.
8.08
Frankie Montuoro
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