Yet another guitarra...

I am a very instrument driven musician. I have a very well worn behavioral pattern when it come to learning a new style involving a new instrument. I'll often test the waters with an experimental instrument and sometime later, when it's evident that I'm going to be playing in the new style for a long time, I'll take the plunge and purchase a professional level instrument. With this fado project I've had the great pleasure to work with the local Kansas City luthier, Dave Bucher. His interpretation of the Portuguese guitar is quite amazing. It follows the tradition but has many of it's own innovations and sound qualities. Kerry Stanley donated an old guitarra from the 60's that is roughly built but a blast to play. I love to have it hanging on the wall in my studio so I can just grab it when ever I like. My most resent aquisition is from the Portuguese guitar builder António Martins. I found his work via his blog artedaguitarraportuguesa.blogspot.com which is filled with beautiful photos by his son-in-law Hugo Macedo. Antonio was very helpful and writes in excellent English (my Portuguese is pretty awful) and he is obviously enamored with process of building the guitarra portuguesa. I've had this instrument for about 24 hours and its starting to open up and reveal it's sound. It's quite aesthetically beautiful. traditional with hints of modernism. The rosette is made from a circle of rosewood "heartwood" that forms a star pattern around the soundhole. It has many of the the soulful qualities I love about hand made instruments. It is slightly asymmetrical in places and you can see marks from wood tools if you look very closely. It has also been French polished (very time consuming) and features a set of hand made tuners that appear to be made from brushed steel rather than traditional brass. This really helps with the overall weight and balance of the instrument. It feels like I'm holding an oud rather than a guitar. The intonation is very good and the neck is much smaller than I've ever seen. It is much easier to employ the thumb over techniques that are so often used in this style of playing. The sound is very even, refined and projects easily. I look forward to getting to know her over the next few months. A really professional instrument made by a great artist. - Beau Bledsoe