To celebrate 25 years in the business, Linda Manzer built “The Bear” archtop, a stunning feat of Bearclaw Spruce and Maple with Kermode bears inlaid into the headstock. However, this wasn’t the only Bear she built! Linda also built a flattop version of “The Bear” for a client—making this the steel string twin to the original archtop Bear. Naturally, the top is a powerful set of Bearclaw German Spruce, and Manzer paired that with tightly flamed Koa for the back and sides, Her Manzer Wedge body, matching inlays of Kermode bears on the headstock, and the claws of a bear inlaid into the fretboard, reaching out for some berries. The fanciest gold etched “gold bug” Schaller tuners we’ve ever seen, fossilized ivory bridge pins, and a colorful Abalone, Purpleheart, and Boxwood rosette round out the beatific package.
The voice of this Manzer is very balanced, with a midrange that errs on the side of dry, and a well-defined bass to keep the bottom end crisp and responsive. Thanks to Linda’s wedge-shaped body, there’s quite a lot of space in the air chamber, which makes for great projection and sheer volume, which is sustained even with a light attack. In excellent shape, this one-of-a-kind Manzer Bear flattop comes to you with nary a scratch, except the raking claws of the bear inlaid into the fretboard, of course.
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