How's this for a "guitar"!

[Daniel Grenier]

This is my friend Terry Tufts with his Manzer Palette (and me) at a recent concert by Terry's Algonquin Ensemble.

Why is it called the Manzer Palette? Because it was built by famed Luthier Linda Manzer, and it is a musical representation of a painter's palette. More specifically, Canadian painter Tom Thomson's palette. Thomson died over a 100 years ago and he was/is oneof the pillars of Canadian Art.

The instrument has 50 strings and it is a guitar, a citern, a harp, a bass and more. It is a very impressive indeed with its gorgeous cocobolo b&s and beautiful craftsmanship and intricate design.

The Algonquin Ensemble (piano, violin, viola, cello, bass, guitar) is doing a musical project based on Thomson's body of work and the Manzer Palette is part and parcel of this most worthy endeavour. In fact, Manzer was a driving force behind the very creationof this ambitious project.

Linda lives close by and was actually at the concert (hindsight …. why didn't I get her in the photo? Oh well... next time).

Anyway, here is yet another example of how some Luthiers are really pushing the envelope. It is a great period indeed for stunning guitars.

[Steadfastly]

Although it is a guitar, it is other things as well. After looking at it, I would add that it is a work of craftmanship, or since Linda Manzer made it, a work of craftwomanship. She is one I would like to have a guitar from. She gets a lot of respect in the luthier circles and has made some very fine guitars.

http://www.manzer.com/guitars/index.php/steel-string

[MikeBmusic]

Must have some serious bracing in that body! Most of those harp-type guitars use the extra strings as drones/set notes, but this one has two fretted necks - how do you even get to that top neck to finger the notes?

[Martz911]

How many times a day do you have to retune the Palette?

[Earl49]

My head hurts just thinking about keeping it in tune....... twelve strings are bad enough. Pretty cool creation though.

[Wade Hampton]

Originally Posted by Earl49

My head hurts just thinking about keeping it in tune....... twelve strings are bad enough. Pretty cool creation though.

That was my first thought, as well. I can imagine being on an outdoor festival stage on a summer day when the sun keeps going in and out of the clouds and trying to keep it in tune!

In any event, it’s an impressive instrument.


whm

[Beakybird]

If this were the only guitar available, man would eventually evolve to have 6 arms.

On a seasonal bynote, I heard they genetically engineered a six-legged turkey, but now the scientists can't catch them, and they escaped the lab.

[Kerbie]

Wow... I'd probably wait a year before changing strings...

[Tube Sound]

Very clever design. I wonder how heavy it is? It looks like a couple more straps and a back brace, for me.