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Hello JG Community,
In 2022, I was introduced to Linda Manzer by Ted Ludwig and began conversations about commissioning an instrument. I’m incredibly excited to share that the guitar is now complete, in transit, and may arrive as early as tomorrow! I’ve documented the build in photos [link], and once it’s in hand, I’ll be sure to post full pictures and a sound sample.
About the guitar:
This is her Panther model — a 17" archtop with modern soundholes reminiscent of the D’Aquisto Centura shape. The most unique aspect of the instrument is its koa back, pickguard, and tailpiece. A koa billet large enough to carve for an archtop is quite rare; Linda sourced this piece from Steve Grimes and was thrilled about its quality. The top is European spruce, finished in “Panther Blue,” which presents as nearly black. It’s a 7-string instrument.
Due to the connection with Ted - who is one of the kindest people in the music world. In homage to Ted (and in keeping with my own design sensibility), I asked Linda to inlay the orchid and scroll motif on the headstock.
A few years ago, when this project was just a dream, I heard Ted rave about the tone of Linda’s guitars — especially the high register, which he described as having a “Steinway-like” quality. That description struck a deep chord with me, and I asked Linda to build me a grand piano of a guitar. With the 7th string, perhaps it’s more like a Bösendorfer.
I’m on the edge of my seat to receive this instrument, and I look forward to playing it for many, many years. Getting to know Linda has been a joy — we’ve shared a couple of long conversations and many texts throughout the process. She’s a true master and a wonderful human being.
I’d love to hear from anyone with experiences to share — whether it’s with Linda, 7-string guitars, koa archtops, or just your own thoughts on design and tone.
More to come,
Tim
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04-02-2025 05:07 PM
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That is one spectacular guitar!! I'm sure it plays great and sounds as wonderful as it looks. Congratulations!
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Thank you! I can’t wait to hear it.
Originally Posted by nevershouldhavesoldit
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Very cool, enjoy it in good health! I have a two Tony Duggan-Smith guitars which are very similar to Linda Manzer's (he spent some time apprenticing with her and they know each other very well). I see yours has the "Manzer Wedge" on the bass side as does my 16" Duggan-Smith. It really does contribute to a more comfortable experience.
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Hey - thanks for sharing. I’m Eexcited to see what the wedge is like - it’s a brilliant idea, especially for big body instruments. I will take a look into Tony’s work - I’m intrigued. Originally Posted by coolvinny
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That is a lifetime instrument for sure! Enjoy it in good health for a long, long time.
As for comments on 7 string, I have a Jimmy Foster 7 string. What I especially appreciate about it is that he played fingerstyle, so the string width is suitable for that, where most other 7 string instruments seem to have a closer string spacing more suitable for playing with a pick. There are a number of youtube videos of Jimmy Foster playing his guitars. He died in 2011 and I never met him, having bought the guitar locally from an individual. I will tune the 7th string to A or B, depending.
There is a guy, Robert Burton in Winnepeg who has a number of youtube videos playing standards and pop tunes on 7 string. He tunes the 7th string to B, and I am considering taking a few lesson from him at some point. The advantage of tuning the 7th string to A (at least for me) is that any chord whose lowest note (not always the root though) that is played on the 5th string, can be then played on the 7th string, making the transition to 7 string that much easier.
I also have an Emerald carbon fiber 7 string acoustic that has no pickups at all. It, like my Jimmy Foster, has a wider string spacing suitable for fingerstyle. I bought that also from a local individual used. With carbon fiber guitars, used really doesn't matter since they are pretty much indestructible. My Jimmy Foster has some repaired damage around the jack, which is at the end of the instrument rather than off to the side. I paid substantially less for it than they sell for on reverb and elsewhere as a result, but the damage was repaired and in no way affects the guitar otherwise.
Tony
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My goodness
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I'm sure this will be a wonderful guitar and you will enjoy it for many years. I can't answer any questions about her guitars specifically, but have certainly known about her builds for a number of years. I met her at the Wakefield guitar show last year and we chatted for a while. Mostly about the Bruce Cockburn guitar she had with her at the show. She would not have known me from a slab of mahogany but she was super kind to spend the time talking about that guitar, and Bruce, and her builds.
They are out of my price range but I could not imagine a more wonderful person to have build a guitar for me.
Enjoy.
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Wow. That's an amazing instrument.
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A beautiful guitar, made by a really classy lady.
Love it!
JD
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Wow! When I first started scrolling through the photos and then I got to the finished ones, I was shocked by the top color. Just totally not what I was expecting, but it is beautiful! The fingerrest just pops against it, and the contrast to the beautiful koa is impressive. If it sounds half as cool as it looks, it'll be amazing. And a year, 2 years, 5 years, 10 years from now it'll sound even better. What a journey!
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Awesome Koa, would love to see a pic of the finished back.
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Found this via google.
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Originally Posted by coolvinny
Tony and Linda continue to work together closely. When he's not building his "Apprehension Engines," he's working on guitars. Originally Posted by timc100
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It’s here and blowing my mind. I am still getting used to it and breaking it in, and haven’t had enough time on it yet, so a video / sound clip will follow, but from what I can tell is got a flattop-y sound as well as the typical archtop qualities, and that I really like and I know it’s something she’s going for.
This is SN 1142, she has a few serial number series, and this is Archtop #106.
The Koa is the most unique aspect of the build - she emphasized it in a text in answer to me asking if each guitar feels like a unique experience:
“Yes. Each guitar is its own entity. The wood has its own personality and I have to digest what it is and what it’s possibilities are and work with that. They really do take on a life of their own. Yours was especially fascinating because I don’t use koa very often, and it is such a spectacular wood and quite rare.”
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Stunning guitar!
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Great to see. F holes, split bock inlay, different scroll inlay - otherwise very similar. Originally Posted by Woody Sound
Found this via google.
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Ah, NOW I see the deep blue. Beautiful. Originally Posted by timc100
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Tim,
What an extraordinary guitar - thanks for sharing ! Looking forward to some sound clips.
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Congratulations on your new guitar. May it continue to inspire you…
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I appreciate the comments. It's truly a marvelous instrument and my intention, as well as my intention with my others, is to PLAY the hell out of it. Not meant to sit on a wall and look pretty. I haven't had much time to really sit with it yet, but when I do, I will share when I start getting proper lovely tones.
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That guitar is absolutely beautiful! I particularly enjoyed the very creative headstock inlays! How often have we seen headstock's that are truly creative. Not often. All the best to our Canadian friends!
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Agreed! I am particularly fond of ornate headstocks and this orchid is beautiful work. The scroll I like a lot as it gives the impression of a ribbon caught in a gentle breeze. I may start a thread on headstocks … Originally Posted by 2bornot2bop
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