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.
Lautrec Yvette“Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec’s (1864-1901) style of silhouetted, flat-patterning, asymmetrical composition, elongated figures, and bold outline all reveal the influence of Japanese wood block; but as with all great art, his work embodied that certain ‘something’ that shared the essence of his scenes in remarkable style. His work with Degas and Van Gogh (among others) and his immersion into Parisian nightlife were fuel for inventive and forceful works which have become legendary. An original page from the satirical weekly magazine ‘Le Rire’ printed in Paris 10/11/1894 gives theme to another instrument. Lautrec was enthralled with the atmosphere and character of Yvette Guilbert’s music hall performances, highlighted by songs with highly scandalous words and themes. They became well known to one another and she became one of his greatest inspirations.” “The drama of the long black gloves – one of her hallmarks – and the spatial treatment of the positioning of her body are compellingly inviting.
The top is fashioned from spalted Maple, Maple burl, Bubinga Pommele, and Walnut, while the bridge is Macassar Ebony. The Walnut and spalted Maple shapes in the upper bout are as the ruffles in Yvette’s sleeves, and the Myrtle burl section that foundations the Catalin knobs and switch is at once like the sweep of her body and the architecture of her gloved hands. The soft vertical and horizontal lines that border her visage appear in the figure of the spalted Maple and the Maple burl respectively.
All of the architecture of the image’s lines and developing curves is represented in both the figure and design of the woods. The colours of cream, gold, light blonde, and brown hues of cocoa and red reflect the incalescent mood of the lithograph making for a brilliant thematic whole.”
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.