2022 Mark Usherovich "Romantic" SP/MP

Mark Usherovich has increasingly become fascinated with the work of the "romantic" era builders, most notably by the work of René François Lacôte (1785-1868), considered to be one of the great heroes in the history or guitar making before the time of Antonio de Torres. The challenge Mark sought to satisfy was to re-create the authentic sound for players interested in performing period works (Giuliani, Sor, Legnani, etc) on an instrument that even resembled (visually) these old guitars yet has the power and projection of a modern, 21st century instrument. And it is striking just how well this feat has been accomplished. This guitar has all the muscle of a contempary guitar yet has the charming old romantic sound that pitches the listener (and player) into another historical epoch. For this guitar, Mark used some aged sitka spruce for the top, beautiful striped ebony for the head veneer, fingerboard and bridge, with koa bindings and applied a violin spirit varnish to the entire instrument. Fitted with Whittner "ukulele" machined pegs for an old-school look but with the ease of modern tuning. Canadian guitarist Drew Henderson is performing and recording on one of Mark's "Romantic" guitars and we expect to see more of these in the hands of other great players in the future as well. Overall a fantastic instrument and exciting alternative to the post-Torres era guitars we are all so familiar with.