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Old 09-26-2019, 05:00 PM
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Default Rocky Mountain Archtop Guitar Festival: Linda Manzer

Peter Henriksen is an incredibly talented amp builder based out of Colorado. I’ve long been a big ol’ fat fan of his work and I implore anyone looking to obtain a *very* high quality amplifier for an acoustic flat or archtop guitar to strongly consider his work. Eight months ago he outdid himself on a biblical scale with the announcement of the first (annual?!) Rocky Mountain Archtop Festival. The show was a resounding success - Many brilliant builders, artists and appreciators descended upon this lovely state to collectively “nerd out” on all things arched, f-hole’d, and handcrafted. I could not possibly be more grateful and indebted to all who helped to make this a reality.

There were countless beautiful things see and play at the show. This post could extend for volumes if I were to attempt a full run-down. Instead, I think I’d like to highlight Linda’s guitars, which I felt the biggest Player+Instrument+Artisan bond factor with. I believe Ms. Manzer brought three guitars with her to the show: One was a non-cutaway she built for herself some time ago, a blonde cutaway 17” archtop with D’Aquisto style sound holes and a gorgeous little guitar she built for the venerable Tim Lerch (video below)!

I worked up the wits to introduce myself to Linda and she was just as warm and charming as the day is long. When I mentioned to her my more flat-top inclined ear, she suggested I try that devilish little non-cutaway number. It was “X” braced and voiced in a way she believed would run somewhat consistent with what I’ve heard in great flattop guitars. Well, she was wrong - I was NOT used to hearing anything that sounded quite like this thing did! It had outstanding clarity, headroom, balance, warmth and most importantly. . . roughly 14 billion songs pre-loaded in it!

There was this tenderness to the timbre that’s thoroughly difficult to put into words. SO responsive to a light touch and holy crap it weighed as much as a bag of potato chips! I know it sounds like hyperbole, but I’m being completely genuine when I say that this instrument had one of the single most beautiful sunbursts I’ve seen on an archtop. It was just so painterly. The color transitions from edge to center where very subtle and arresting to the eye. Impossible to get the full weight of it in a mere photograph; you just have to stand out in front of it. Has anyone here done any watercolor painting? Have you ever accidentally dipped a wet bush into a mixture of wet color before it was dry enough to layer? It was like a controlled version of that. So calming to look at.



Check out Tim’s Guitar -



Another obscenely beautiful thing (Photo by iim7V7IM7!). I’ve affectionately dubbed this one “Buttered Toast” Burst!

Listen to it below!!




Can you hear that beautiful percussive “snap” on the top-end? That woody texture when Tim strums through chords and such? I haven’t played many that do this nearly as well as Linda’s guitars do. Also, Tim is a magnificent player. It would be criminal to not acknowledge his brilliance!

I’ve been thinking lately about how there can be a strong link between the art a person finds significance in and the way they themselves present to the world. I think Linda’s instruments are a great example of this. The graciousness and trust Linda expressed through her insistence that I audition the guitar in the lobby away from the raucousness of the festival was also expressed in a different way by her instrument when I sat down to play it. The guitar just had this easy going nature about it. Very transparent, refined and willing to entertain the whims of a curious mind!

For all the reasons described above, I’m hopeful that one day in the not-so-distant future I’ll be placing an order for one of her instruments. I’m not necessarily looking to evangelize her work, but the experience I had playing the two guitars she made was one that rarely occurs in the manner that it did for me. I think it’s important for us musicians to take note of those moments and shout them from the roof tops! So, with that in mind, if any of you are in the market for many generations worth of inspiration in a guitar, you should consider giving Linda a call!

Last edited by usb_chord; 09-26-2019 at 05:32 PM.
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Old 09-26-2019, 05:12 PM
_Tachyon_ _Tachyon_ is offline
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She's made Bruce Cockburn quite a few guitars...
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Old 09-26-2019, 06:30 PM
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Cool report, Thanks,

Steve
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Old 09-26-2019, 06:42 PM
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It was nice to finally meet you Brian... Peter certainly put together a fantastic event! I look forward to seeing and perhaps playing your Manzer at next year’s Rocky Mountain Archtop Festival. I may have a new archtop in tow myself...
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Old 09-26-2019, 08:07 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by El Conquistador View Post
Cool report, Thanks,

Steve
You've very welcome, Steve!


Quote:
Originally Posted by _Tachyon_ View Post
She's made Bruce Cockburn quite a few guitars...
She did indeed!


Quote:
Originally Posted by iim7V7IM7 View Post
It was nice to finally meet you Brian... Peter certainly put together a fantastic event! I look forward to seeing and perhaps playing your Manzer at next year’s Rocky Mountain Archtop Festival. I may have a new archtop in tow myself...
Great to meet you as well! Bill did a fabulous job on your new axe. I suspect I'll run into you during Woodstock next year!
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Old 09-27-2019, 09:20 AM
Michael Watts Michael Watts is offline
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Wow Brian, sounds like a great festival and it's really refreshing to see an event that isn't afraid to specialise and play to its strengths. The idea of nothing but archtops makes me very happy indeed!

I have to agree with everything you've said about Linda Manzer both as a luthier and as a person. Her guitars are absolutely sublime and every opportunity I've had to play one has been a privilege.

My most recent experience was with the Iceberg guitar that Linda built for the Group of Seven Guitar Project. Linda asked me to perform at the closing ceremony in London and having seen her guitar as part of the exhibit I knew already knew it was a very special piece, but from the player's point of view it was an absolute joy. Every aspect of the instrument was beautifully judged, the balance, voice, sighting over the harp strings to the fretboard, the whole thing is a masterpiece.



I'll look forward to next year's festival

All the best

Michael
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Old 09-27-2019, 09:24 AM
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Great to meet you as well! Bill did a fabulous job on your new axe. I suspect I'll run into you during Woodstock next year!
Brian, Bill made the "Zelig" for me back in 2015-2016. I just brought it out to provide him some other guitars to exhibit.

https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...d.php?t=412255


Hope to see you @ Woodstock next year (with your new Manzer )
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