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| There are many milestones in the life of a luthier,
but certainly the 100th instrument in a one-man shop is one of the biggest.
Michael Greenfield has built his considerable reputation on fastidiously
crafting high end guitars for the elite of the music world, so I
knew his 100th would be special! Here's part of his press release
on this exquisite instrument.
"I am pleased to announce that in the spring of 2007
I built my 100th acoustic guitar! To celebrate this milestone, I
decided to use an exceptional piece of very old and very rare bearclaw
Western Red Cedar which I had been saving for many years. Now clear
your mind and imagine the rich , dulcet chime of the Dalai Lamas wooden
bell, suspended from a golden thread ... and that's just the tap-tone!
The figure of this stunning piece of wood evokes the mythological Phoenix
and inspired the name of the guitar. Pair this exquisite cedar top
with a particularly special and highly figured Quilted Mahogany back &
sides and have "The Phoenix", a non-cutaway Model G2 with Laskin
style arm & rib rests. A very old, perfectly straight-grained
and quarter sawn true Honduran Mahogany neck completes the instrument!" |
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Well, Michael was not exaggerating.
This instrument is simply overwhelming on many different levels.
Certainly Larry Robinson's inlay work is not just technically precise,
but artistically refined as well. The design of the phoenix bird
is so flowing it almost seems to move as you view it! I just never
get tired of looking at it ... and find some new inlay detail every time
it catches my attention!
Pick this instrument up and you immediately
fall in love with the comfort of the built in Laskin Armrest and Ribrest.
Only a very skilled builder can execute these innovations but they are
worth it ... they really do make any instrument feel just amazing!
And the tonewoods ... where does he get them!
I thought that there was no more of that deeply quilted African mahogany
left out there. The tree that this wood came from is literally legendary
amongst luthiers! This wood is not only visually stunning,
but has produced some of the most responsive instruments I have every heard!
It's ironic with an instrument that looks this
beautiful that as soon as you start playing it, your eyes close ...
the sound is so completely engaging. Michaels guitars have one of
the most complex interactions between the different registers that I have
ever experienced. This instrument is reactive to the player's
touch like very few guitars I have played ... extremely chameleon-like.
It hits you like rolling thunder when you get aggressive with your right
hand but showers you with detailed overtones when you use a controlled
attack. Congratulations Michael!!!
| The Cultural Legacy of the Phoenix |
The phoenix is a magical bird with fiery gold
and red plumage that plays a fascinating role and the mythology of many
different civilizations; each having their own particular tales surrounding
this mythological bird. In some contemporary versions, the
phoenix is said to have a life span of 500 to 1461 years (depending on
the source). At the end of its life cycle it builds itself a nest
of cinnamon twigs that then becomes its own pyre as it sets itself aflame.
The bird then burns until it is reduced to ashes from which a new baby
phoenix arises.
The phoenix is mesmerizingly beautiful and has an enchanting
song. It is said to have the power to regenerate when hurt or wounded,
making it invincible and nearly immortal and its tears can heal a mortal's
wounds.
This vivid imagery makes the phoenix a universal
symbol representing resurrection, life-after-death, immortality,
renewal and everlasting creation. |
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