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Joining this place some 15 years ago, this piano player, came here with the desire to learn to play Bossa Nova guitar.
Along the way I became a buyer, and seller, of used guitars. That lasted for 6 years. At the end of the day I’ve become a better listener, and lover of all things guitar…and particularly Bossa Nova.
Perhaps that’s due to the fact I grew up in California during the BN era, the early 60’s. Stan Getz had a lot to do with building my passion. His recordings, with Jobim, struck something in me. And that sound, that beat, were infectious, even to an 8 year old in ‘63.
It’s said that Coltrane once spoke of Getz, if we could, we’d all sound like that.”
This is likely my final Classical guitar purchase. It’s made from a fine Cedar. Back and sides are a gorgeous Paduk. Neck is Spanish Cedar. Fretboard is Indian Rosewood, and it features Redwood Laurel binding and a French polish.
Produced by Montanza Classical Guitars, of Montana. They produce a great guitar and are fabulous to deal with. They even went to the extra step of sanding down the bridge saddle and lowering the action so I wouldn’t have to take the guitar to a luthier. Well, if you don’t ask for it, you can’t expect it.
It’s a new guitar requiring breaking in. But it shows promise.
Here’s to more Bossa Nova guitar, and the best guitar forum on the planet.
Last edited by 2bornot2bop; 01-26-2026 at 05:12 PM.
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01-26-2026 04:52 PM
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May she inspire your Bossa Nova playing for many years to come!
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Beautiful!! Enjoy!!
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Awesome classical guitar, 2B.
May you have many musical bossa nova adventures with her.
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Congrats! Does this mean you've eliminated your Classical Gas? Or just fueling it?
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I've always loved BN. Even started online Portuguese lessons this past Fall. This is not really "jazzy" Bossa, but nice and melancholy. Carmen Cuesta and her late husband Chuck Loeb.
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That's a truly beautiful guitar 2B.Enjoy it my friend.Like you,bossa nova had a huge effect on me.Friends would make fun of me because i prefered listening to the Sinatra/Jobim album in 67 over Sgt Pepper.
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Enjoy Jobim!!! The stuff with Urbie Green is awesome. I can't stand the stuff with Charlie Byrd.
I love bossa nova. I have so many records.
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thx brother!
Originally Posted by Stringswinger
thank you Marc! Originally Posted by marcwhy
Thx bro! Originally Posted by Gitfiddler
Shh… Originally Posted by DawgBone
Love that tune! Absolutely love it! Portuguese is such a beautiful language. If I spoke it, I’d have been going around attempting to pick up women. Thx for sharing that. More like this! Originally Posted by Woody Sound
yeah. But what did they know. You were investing in classic music! Originally Posted by nyc chaz
As do I have a huge record collection. Thx, I’ll check out UG! Originally Posted by 58flame
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That's fantastic 2B! You know how to pick them brother. No doubt about it! That's a beauty. Congratulations! Jobim wrote a huge, dizzying number of songs. A lifetime of opportunity for anyone that loves his music. I do, and am always moved by it. Have fun with the guitar!
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Looks good G, happy playing!
I’v been to Portugal twice in the last year or two. Great place with lots of festivals.
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That is one spectacular guitar! This guitar should cement a closer relationship between you and bossa nova. I was amazed to discover how important the "right" guitar was to absorbing and appeciating the true beauty of the genre. After struggling to play it on a 175 for 8 years or so, I finally got a good classical, and it really helped me build a life long appeciation for the music.
I got bit by the bossa nova bug when I read an article about it in Down Beat in about 1960. I was a freshman in high school and realized that I'd have to learn to play bossa nova because it was going to be a big thing. So I got a copy of Brazilliance (Bud Shank & Laurindo Almeida) and dove in. It took me a while to begin to understand the subtle beauty of the genre, but I really embraced it once I heard more tunes, styles, and players. By the time Jazz Samba came out ('62, IIRC), I was hooked - but my only guitar was a 175, on which I did the best I could. I bought a few Charlie Byrd albums too, and spent years trying to get inside the feel and style.
Any of you who remember the movie "A Man and A Woman" should recall that the deceased husband of Anouk Aimee"s character had become obsessed with samba and made it part of their lives for many months. Her desciption of it really captured my imagination, and I bought an Aria 559 (wonderful classical guitars made for Aria by a young Matsuoka, who also made the fancier 560 version) soon after seeing the movie for the first time. That guitar led to a lifetime of samba joy.
Here's Anouk Aimee describing her late husband's samba phase and the effect it had on their relationship - the music starts about 45 seconds in:
I hope this guitar helps you find the joy that the movie segment exudes. I did!
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Too bad you're not closer. I grew up on Stan Getz and I've been playing more saxophone lately.
Oh.. and nice guitar.
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thx bro! Not surprising to see that I’m not the only Jobim fan in the house. Originally Posted by skykomishone
always with the fabulous pix too. I’m not surprised your photography isn’t exclusive to guitars. Great pix! Originally Posted by Archie
one thing I always appreciated about you was your penchant for storytelling! Originally Posted by nevershouldhavesoldit
I’ve not seen the film. But I’ve heard snippets from the film that I immediately recognize having obsessively grown up listening to the radio. Now I’m curious to see the film, and since my French is atrocious, with English subtitles of course.
I know, so close yet so far. Keep playing Spook! Originally Posted by Spook410
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Likewise your shots are great. Always with sharpest angles. Originally Posted by 2bornot2bop
I’m sorry they were so big, I wanted them to be small lol
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An absolutely beautiful guitar. May it bring you as much joy tonally as it does visually!
Speaking of Un homme et une femme, a few of the songs (including the title track) were sung by Nicole Croisille (one solo, the others duets), a good friend of my wife. Nicole died a few months ago, and we had dinner with her not long before she died. Everyone at the restaurant was smitten with her. At 88, she insisted on taking the Metro home.
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Beautiful guitar and if it sounds like it looks then a real winner.
A big Congrats ! I love the sound of a good nylon string.
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That's a beautiful guitar.
There are times in my life where the only thing I want to do is play nylon string guitar.
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That’s a beaut!
My first “real” guitar was a 1970 Goya classical, and I’ve always had a nylon string in the stable since then.
I toy with the idea of getting a moderately high end nylon, but for now I have an Ibanez AC60 and Cordoba Stage to fit the bill.
I keep my picking fingers a bit long and well trimmed at all times just in case the need arises.
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Beautiful, 2B! Enjoy it!
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What happened to the Lyon & Healy, 2bop? Shirley, that was your first.
Beautiful find, the Montanza. Nylon strings are underappreciated.
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Originally Posted by Jabberwocky
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Excellent strategy. Be careful around power machinery. Originally Posted by Doctor Jeff
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Thx Jdub! Originally Posted by Jabberwocky
Oh, it’s in the upper room. This one is for the get played room!
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