"Guernica" Nouveau Flamenco Guitar by Allan Beardsell, Lowenstein Collection. Serial#: No. 93, 2007. This was the guitar that Mr. Beardsell used to introduce himself to many in the American guitar market, having displayed this nylon string flamenco instrument at the famous Healdsburg Guitar Festival and used it as the centerpiece for his initial internet site. The guitar was later displayed at the Newport Guitar Festival as well, where it was a star attraction for its radical sound ports and brace work construction which rises like a cathedral from the back of the guitar. It has been played by many great guitarists in the United States.

One-of-a- kind, this guitar is called "Guernica" because of the torch inlay placed near where the neck meets the body. The torch is taken directly from the famous Picasso mural which hangs in the United Nations. One of the most astounding flamenco guitars ever built, the back and sides are cypress, but that is where the relationship to standard flamenco guitars end. The peg tuners which look like friction tuners common to flamenco guitars are actually internally-geared. The neck can be adjusted on a multiple axis from one point using Mr. Beardsell's unique trussrod and neck adjustment system, which allows this guitar to be played by any style flamenco artist while creating total access to all frets. The two side sound ports are large enough to place a fist through, and dispel any notion that sound ports must be limited to any particular size. Apart from improving the sound for the listening audience, they provide a perfect acoustic monitor for the player-an experience unparalleled with any other flamenco guitar.

A short review of Mr. Beardsell's guitars makes obvious his interest in jazz instruments. This guitar, while ostensibly a flamenco or classical guitar, is designed to be perfect for jazz as well. Scale length and neck profiles are unlike anything on the market, and even the gypsy jazz design features hearken back to the jazz tradition. All the binding and inlay is immaculate, but it is the advanced design, uniqueness of the instrument, and the pivotal nature of the guitar to Mr. Beardsell's career and its iconic reputation in the guitar world which make "Guernica" the ultimate collector's item and the ultimate guitar for the flamenco, classical, or jazz player.

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