Special Offer: In response to the economic climate the owner of this wonderful series of guitars is offering a limited time 40% reduction to offer players a chance to own these very special limited edition guitars.
Just off a showing at the Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, California. The Nouveau Series is a special project developed by author and musician Paul Schmidt and luthier Michael Spalt. A series of electric guitars that transcend the six string and blend it seemlessly with true art. The series was inspired by Art Nouveau and these instruments are at once art and the most serious of musical tools. Michael Spalt and Paul Schmidt spent several years developing the idea, finding artwork and artifacts, sketching, collaborating and finally building these exquisite gems.
The pieces are based on the Klein acoustic shape with inclusions of art nouveau artifacts, natural woods, bone and the finest hardware. Not only are these instruments stunning visual works of art, but they are ergonomic masterpieces as well. The bodies feel immediately familiar and the solid Rosewood necks, with there flat sheen, feel played for 50 years. The BoneTop pickups are extraordinary – Gorgeous hand crafted Bone bobbins died in a variety of colors with Alnico magnets for the Bridge and Ceramic for the Neck. They voice is stellar, clear and loud with other-worldly sustain. Each instrument also has it’s own custom case that continues the guitars individual statement as well as a signed copy of the book ‘The Nouveau Series’ by Paul Schmidt.
‘Pissarro In the Field’
“Lucien Pissarro (1863-1944), son of Camile Pissarro – well-known French Impressionist painter often called the ‘Father of Impressionism’, began as a painter but during the 1880s became enthusiastic about woodcuts and wood engravings. This five-colour woodcut from 1897 (catalogued in Fern – #92) was entitled variously ‘In the Field’ or ‘Gold Cloud’. The poetry of this astounding print spoken through its language of colours and composition thrilled me immediately upon viewing it. The gold was reminiscent of Tiffany, and the muted glow was consistent with so many of the other works of art I’d selected.” “Mango, Koa, Walnut, Redwood burl, Poplar, and Macassar Ebony (bridge) comprise the woods selected to enliven this instrument, along with the the silver, pearl, abalone, Catalin knobs and bone switch. The sun-gold yellow orange pickups mirror the character of the lithograph, which weds golds, greens, blues, yellows, and browns to form its disposition. The pearl inlay shaped into ginkgo leaves-inspired-kites sweeps through the body and into the neck for a graceful and strident theme that compliments the stirring quietude of the art. Bountiful, bold, gentle, and startling in its beauty”
Click here to read about the Nouveau Series on builder Michael Spalt’s website.
Click Here to view the book ‘The Nouveau Series’ by Paul Schmidt.
Click Here to view photos from the Museum Showing at the Museum of Making Music.