This is an interesting take on the Wappen. It looks like it has "broader" shoulders, rather than the "droopier" ones on the original models & their clones. It almost looks like it is just a mirror of the Selmer cutaway. Also takes away the upper bout double soundholes in favor of a nicely shaped oval. No doubt these are some of the "adaptations" you speak about to improve on the original. Very interesting instrument and nice to see luthiers like him or JWC who look to some of these lesser-known older instruments outside of the norm for inspiration.
That's like he took a lefty and a righty guitar, cut them in half and spliced them together. There must be another one without cutouts.
I like it really, lots of nice touches throughout. I'm a fan of cherry and a spruce top from an old piano!? Now that's some really cool repurposing.
But I'm also a fan of two symmetrical soundholes by the shoulders on originals. I once read Ken Parker say something like "you're relying on this plate to produce the sound and then you put a big hole right in the middle? That's nuts!". Ever since I was intrigued with that idea. And maybe the Wappen design followed similar thinking.
And here is a photo of Gusti Malha with Jo Bouillon's orchestra c1936, with a double cutaway grande bouche, proving once again that there isn't much new under the sun
Comments
Another highly original and unique guitar from Riccardo!
This is an interesting take on the Wappen. It looks like it has "broader" shoulders, rather than the "droopier" ones on the original models & their clones. It almost looks like it is just a mirror of the Selmer cutaway. Also takes away the upper bout double soundholes in favor of a nicely shaped oval. No doubt these are some of the "adaptations" you speak about to improve on the original. Very interesting instrument and nice to see luthiers like him or JWC who look to some of these lesser-known older instruments outside of the norm for inspiration.
That's like he took a lefty and a righty guitar, cut them in half and spliced them together. There must be another one without cutouts.
I like it really, lots of nice touches throughout. I'm a fan of cherry and a spruce top from an old piano!? Now that's some really cool repurposing.
But I'm also a fan of two symmetrical soundholes by the shoulders on originals. I once read Ken Parker say something like "you're relying on this plate to produce the sound and then you put a big hole right in the middle? That's nuts!". Ever since I was intrigued with that idea. And maybe the Wappen design followed similar thinking.
@Buco this guitar works equally well for lefties. Just flip the bridge and you’re good to go.
Great sound.
And here is a photo of Gusti Malha with Jo Bouillon's orchestra c1936, with a double cutaway grande bouche, proving once again that there isn't much new under the sun