nylon – Shank Instruments Milano: Chitarre, Bassi, Batterie

ICONA

shank — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 18:40:00 +0000

“The creation of this guitar represents, in many ways, the culmination of a journey that has unfolded over several years during which I explored the use of nylon strings and figured black poplar, a tonewood I’ve come to deeply appreciate for its unique acoustic properties in archtop guitar construction. At first, I sought to emphasize the wood’s full aesthetic potential by using a vibrant staining technique applying a mordant to enhance color absorption and highlight the natural grain with striking hues. Over time, this exploration led me to a more restrained approach, and with this latest instrument, I’ve chosen to showcase the wood in all its natural beauty. This guitar also marks a turning point in a challenge I set for myself, and shared with others who are passionate about this type of instrument, to recognize and celebrate black poplar as one of the finest woods for soundboards. That is, if spruce is willing to share the spotlight…”…. Let’s Play

Handcrafted nylon strings archtop guitar. Black figured solid wood quarter sawn Lombardy poplar.

All the archtop models presented on these pages are entirely handmade by luthier Emanuele D’Alò, owner of the Shank Instruments Milano brand. The instruments are built according to the Benedetto method and both the soundboards and the backs are handcarved from solid quarter sawn boards.

Soundboard: quarter sawn black poplar, handcarved
Back: quarter sawn black poplar, handcarved
Sides: curly maple
Size: 35 cm (17″)
Height sides: 60 mm (2,3″)
Neck: flamed maple, C shape. Height 1st fret 0,8″ (22mm)
Fretboard: ebony, 20 frets medium jumbo
Radius: 16″
Bracing: parallel, spruce
Diapason: 25 1/2″
Nut: 48,5 mm – Bone
Pickup: piezo MiSi – Acoustic Trio
Bridge: ebony
Finish: acrylic
Weight: 7.0 lbs (3,2 kg)

L'articolo ICONA proviene da Shank Instruments Milano: Chitarre, Bassi, Batterie.

ROMA

shank — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 20:47:42 +0000

“Yet, many dream of leaving this city. They say it no longer gives unconditionally but instead takes something from those who live here. It’s the fate of many cities, and of many of us, if it were not for the stone we are used to believe in.”…. Let’s Play

L'articolo ROMA proviene da Shank Instruments Milano: Chitarre, Bassi, Batterie.

POPS

shank — Sat, 10 Aug 2024 15:41:01 +0000

“The tree in the photo is a common black poplar (Populus nigra), the kind you often see lining roads and fields in northern Italy, where I live and work. For centuries, it has shaped the landscape, its leaves bending to the wind before standing still again under the summer sun. It’s a tree we’ve always seen but rarely recognize for what it is—a prized tonewood, valued for the striking patterns in its grain. So well known abroad, in fact, that it earned the name ‘Lombardy Poplar’, a nod to the very region where I live and craft musical instruments.”… Let’s Play

Archtop model with nylon strings entirely made of solid quarter-sawn Lombardy black poplar. Flamed maple sides and Cedrella neck.

All the archtop models presented on these pages are entirely hand-built by the luthier Emanuele D’Alò, owner of the Shank Instruments Milano brand. The instruments are guaranteed for life and both the soundboards and the backs are handmade from solid quarter-sawn boards.

Top: solid figured poplar, handcarved
Back: solid figured poplar, handcarved
Sides: curly maple
Size: 14″
Side height: 2,7″
Neck: mahogany, D shape. Thickness at 1st fret: 0,88″
Fretboard: ebony, 24 frets medium jumbo
Radius: 16″
Bracing: parallel
Diapason: 25,5″
Nut: 1,9″ – Bone
Pickup: piezo – MiSi Acoustic Trio
Bridge: ebony
Finish: polyurethane
Weight: 5,5 lbs

L'articolo POPS proviene da Shank Instruments Milano: Chitarre, Bassi, Batterie.

SIENA

shank — Sun, 21 Jul 2024 17:32:12 +0000

“While building this instrument, a phrase kept echoing in my mind—one I had heard a few times before but never fully understood. Yet, the mental connection I made with the color I needed to create turned out to be surprisingly accurate. I remembered the Tuscan city of Siena and its earthy hues, though I wasn’t sure if ‘Siena’ referred to a place, a landscape, or a product. Then it all clicked—the words in my head were ‘Lands of Siena.’ In Tuscany, this phrase describes natural pigments that range from ochre to burnt red, ending in warm yellow—shades deeply tied to the region’s countryside. An archtop model with nylon strings, inspired by the colors of Tuscany, seemed like the perfect match.”… Let’s Play

Nylon strings acoustic archtop model, entirely handcrafted. Curly maple solid wood, quarter sawn.

All the archtop models presented on these pages are entirely hand-built by luthier Emanuele D’Alò, owner of the Shank Instruments Milano brand. The instruments are guaranteed for life and built according to the dictates of the Benedetto method and both the soundboards and the backs are handmade from solid quarter-sawn boards.

Soundboard: quarter sawn curly maple, handcarved
Back: quarter sawn curly, handcarved
Sides: curly maple
Size: 35 cm (17″)
Height sides: 60 mm (2,3″)
Neck: flamed maple, C shape. Height 1st fret 0,8″ (22mm)
Fretboard: ebony, 20 frets medium jumbo
Radius: 16″
Bracing: parallel, spruce
Diapason: 25 1/2″
Nut: 48,5 mm – Bone
Pickup: piezo MiSi – Acoustic Trio Air
Bridge: Amara ebony
Finish: poliurethane
Weight: 7.0 lbs (3,2 kg)

L'articolo SIENA proviene da Shank Instruments Milano: Chitarre, Bassi, Batterie.

DUNES

shank — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 10:10:28 +0000

“The idea of building a semi-hollow guitar with a low body and nylon strings had been in my mind for a long time. After my experience crafting the Tangier models, the next step felt natural—and the result exceeded my expectations. This instrument reminds me of the softness of sand under an unlikely pair of skis carving its surface.”… Let’s Play

The size of the fingerboard at the nut and at the 12th fret, together with the rather flat radius, guarantee wide-ranging playability without limitations of any kind. The philosophy and setup of the instrument aims to provide the musician with an extremely versatile guitar suitable for every use and every musical genre.

All the models presented on these pages are entirely hand-built by luthier Emanuele D’Alò, owner of the Shank Instruments Milano brand. The instruments are guaranteed for life and delivered with a certificate of authenticity.

Body: spruce/mahogany semi hollow. Ash insert
Size: 14″
Body height: 40mm (1,5″)
Neck: mahogany, C shape. Height 1° fret 23mm
Fretboard: maple, 24 frets medium jumbo
Radius: 16″
Diapason: 25 1/2″
Nut: 1,9″ – Bone
Pickup: piezo under saddle MiSi – Acoustic Trio Air
Bridge: rosewood
Tuners: Shaller Grand Tune
Finish: acrylic satin
Weight: 5,7 lbs

L'articolo DUNES proviene da Shank Instruments Milano: Chitarre, Bassi, Batterie.

DOWN LOW

shank — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 17:53:40 +0000

“The pleasure of using an object that, when you really look at it, has never been obsolete. An object as anachronistic as it is timeless in its functional beauty, surprising after an initial, superficial glance. There are primitive and radical ways to use objects, and one of the most beautiful is never forgetting the joy of riding a motorcycle, always carrying the best smile possible.”… Let’s Play

A particularity of this instrument is the presence of three areas with “arm rest bevel”, obtained between the intersection between the sides and the soundboard/back in correspondence with the action area of the elbow and the chest. The design solution was appropriate, in my opinion, given the not negligible height dimensions of the sides which could have compromised, in the absence of comfort areas, the absolute comfort of the instrument.

All the archtop models presented on these pages are entirely handmade by luthier Emanuele D’Alò, owner of the Shank Instruments Milano brand. The instruments are built according to the dictates of the Benedetto method and both soundboards and backs are handcarved from solid wood.

Soundboard: cedar solid wood, handcarved
Back: mahogany solid wood, handcarved
Sides: mahogany
Size: 17″
Height sides: 4 1/2″
Neck: mahogany, C shape. Height 1st fret 0,8″ (22mm)
Fretboard: rosewood, 20 frets medium jumbo
Radius: 16″
Bracing soundboard: parallel
Diapason: 25 1/2″
Nut: 1,9″ – Bone
Pickup: piezo MiSi Acoustic Trio
Bridge: ebony
Finish: acrilic
Weight: 7.0 lbs (3,2 kg)

L'articolo DOWN LOW proviene da Shank Instruments Milano: Chitarre, Bassi, Batterie.

HABIBI

shank — Mon, 06 Feb 2023 20:23:01 +0000

“Taking a train… Jochen, the guitar owner, could not bear the idea of his instrument traveling in some random train container under the summer sun. Even I, at the very moment I was painting it and before I was even asked if it could be picked up directly at my workshop, was ready to propose my own trip for delivery. We were both already on a train before the guitar was even ready. Milan and Dusseldorf are close and the trains travel fast. Probably… As fast as the thoughts and desires to come up with the best excuses to travel…””

– – –

A variant of the “Tangier” model, of identical shape and piezo equipment but with a different interpretation of the aesthetic factor focused, in this case, no longer on alternating wood figures, but rather on the charm of natural spruce soundboard. Interesting, in my opinion, was the choice of yew, a customer request, again by hand carving from solid wood.

The challenge was to adequately size the body, especially in terms of thickness, to make the widest possible spectrum and depth of tone of the instrument given the size and overall volume definitely smaller than a traditional acoustic guitar. It must be said that the instrument was designed essentially for use in an amplified context via piezo and in this perspective has been developed from the beginning.

For the rest, the project refers to the traditional manufacturing technique of an archtop instrument. Soundboard hand carved by hand from solid figured spruce wood in this case, yew wood back and sides.

The neck size was meant to provide the musician with a support that would allow him to range rather easily between the different genres that can be expressed through an acoustic instrument, without sacrificing or affecting the overall feeling of a traditional neck with “classical” measures, although with different measures in terms of width at nut.

The goal, which I believe has been achieved, is to propose an instrument with a strong classical setting on a constructive and conceptual basis typical of archtop guitars with a look, that I hope will be appreciated, at innovative design.

All archtop models presented on these pages are entirely handmade by luthier Emanuele D’Alò, owner of the Shank Instruments brand. The instruments are built according to the dictates of the Robert Benedetto method, and both soundboards and backs are hand-cut from solid boards.

Project specs

Soundboard: spruce quarter sawn, handcarved
Back: yew, handcarved
Sides: yew
Size: 13″
Height: 2,7″
Neck: mahogany, C shape. Thickness 1st fret 22mm
Fretboard: ebony, 24 medium jumbo frets
Radius: 16″
Bracing: parallel
Diapason: 25,5″
Nut: 1,9″ – Bone
Pickup: piezo – MiSi Acoustic Trio
Ponte: ebano
Finish: polyhuretane
Weight: 5,5 lbs

L'articolo HABIBI proviene da Shank Instruments Milano: Chitarre, Bassi, Batterie.

BURST GREEN

shank — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 18:51:14 +0000

“It is stimulating to imagine being able to capture the elegant irreverence of a simple and everyday gesture, such as the one a person can make while eating a green salad. The same insolent lightness that one wants to try to achieve through the sharpness of a proposal, at the extreme borders of normality, which can however represent all the virtuous intentions of that insolence. Lightness is often irreverent, actually, almost always. Because it forces and it can influence to do anything, just as elegance probably does. Even and above all it can bring us to carry out gestures that are more incomprehensible the closer and similar to us they are.”… Let’s Play

P.S. – “I would like to thank my friend Stéphane, owner of the guitar, which in addition to the challenge of building his Mint Cream (this is the real name), forced me to the harder effort to pull these lines down. Elegant and irriverent, my clients….”

All the archtop models presented on these pages are completely handmade by luthier Emanuele D’Alò, owner of the Shank Instruments Milano brand. The instruments are built according to the Benedetto method and both the soundboards and the backs are handmade from solid boards.

Soundboard: quarter sawn black poplar, handcarved
Back: quarter sawn black poplar, handcarved
Sides: curly maple
Size: 35 cm (17″)
Height sides: 60 mm (2,3″)
Neck: flamed maple, C shape. Height 1st fret 0,8″ (22mm)
Fretboard: Amara ebony, 20 frets medium jumbo
Radius: 16″
Bracing: parallel, spruce
Diapason: 25 1/2″
Nut: 48,5 mm – Bone
Pickup: piezo MiSi – Acoustic Trio Air
Bridge: Amara ebony
Finish: poliurethane
Weight: 7.0 lbs (3,2 kg)

L'articolo BURST GREEN proviene da Shank Instruments Milano: Chitarre, Bassi, Batterie.

TANGIER

shank — Sun, 19 Sep 2021 17:56:22 +0000

“Dreamin’ Tangier… The idea of making an instrument with nylon strings, built with an archtop-like structure, had seduced me for some time. I made the final decision when, after some drawings in search of a new design, I adopted this particular shape as the final one, ready for the practical creation of a new guitar.

The challenge was to adequately size the body, especially in terms of thickness, to make the widest possible spectrum and depth of tone of the instrument given the size and overall volume definitely smaller than a classic guitar with traditional nylon strings. It must be said that the instrument was designed essentially for use in an amplified context via piezo and in this perspective has been developed from the beginning.

For the rest, the project refers to the traditional manufacturing technique of an archtop instrument. Soundboard hand carved by hand from solid figured poplar wood in this case, curly maple and poplar back.

The neck size was meant to provide the musician with a support that would allow him to range rather easily between the different genres that can be expressed through an instrument with nylon strings, without sacrificing or affecting the overall feeling of a traditional neck with “classical” measures, although with different measures in terms of width at nut.

All the archtop models presented on these pages are completely handmade by luthier Emanuele D’Alò, owner of the brand Shank Instruments. The instruments are built according to the principles of the Robert Benedetto method and both the soundboards and the backs are handmade from solid wood boards.

Top: solid figured poplar, handcarved
Back: solid figured poplar, handcarved
Sides: curly maple
Size: 14″
Side height: 2,7″
Neck: mahogany, D shape. Thickness at 1st fret: 0,88″
Fretboard: ebony, 24 frets medium jumbo
Radius: 16″
Bracing: parallel
Diapason: 25,5″
Nut: 1,9″ – Bone
Pickup: piezo – MiSi Acoustic Trio
Bridge: ebony
Finish: polyurethane
Weight: 5,5 lbs

L'articolo TANGIER proviene da Shank Instruments Milano: Chitarre, Bassi, Batterie.