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

• Body: mahogany, ebony. Neckthru 
• Neck: mahogany/ebony
• Fretboard: ebony 24 frets medium jumbo
• Radius: 12″
• Diapason: 25 1/2″ 
• Nut: 1,71″
• Pickup: custom wound alnico 5
• Bridge: Vega Trem VT1
• Tuners: Sperzel locking
• Finish: acrylic glossy
• Weight: 8,1 lbs

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

This entirely hand built instrument is substantially inspired by the lines of the body and the construction specifications of the “Tangier” model which you will find illustrated on the pages of this site both in the acoustic version with metal strings and in the version with nylon strings. The “100’s” model found inspiration in the desire and will to create an instrument with the same design but with a larger volume body, for greater power in terms of volume and for an improved depth of sound spectrum and projection, obtained from a perimeter with measurements increased with the same height of the sides. The soundport adds to the novelties of this model. The soundboard is made of hand carved solid spruce, the back and sides are made of mahogany. This model is also equipped with a piezo system under the bone bridge saddle.

• Soundboard: solid quarter sawn spruce, handcarved
• Back: mahogany, handcarved
• Sides: mahogany
• Size: 15″ low bout
• Side height: 2,7″
• Neck: mahogany, C shape. Thickness at 1st fret: 0,88″
• Fretboard: ebony, 24 frets medium jumbo
• Radius: 16″
• Bracing: parallel
• Diapason: 25,5″
• Nut: 1,8″ – Bone
• Pickup: piezo – MiSi Acoustic Trio
• Tuners: Grover V97-18
• Bridge: ebony
• Finish: acrylic satin
• Weight: 5,5 lbs

L'articolo 100’s proviene da Shank Instruments Milano: Chitarre, Bassi, Batterie.

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

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.

“I had no hesitation when I glimpsed that block of marbled ash, more unique than rare. I bought it and took it to the lab without knowing what to do with it, I just decided it would become a 5-string bass and so it was. The combination with padouk wood came naturally when the black satin finish was decided. Red and black, and I had no more doubts.”… Let’s Play

• Body: ash flamed, one piece
• Neck: ash/padouk 5 pieces, bolt on
• Fretboard: padouk, 24 frets jumbo
• Radius: 14″
• Nut: 1″ 3/4
• Diapason: 34″ 1/2
• Pickup: alnico V custom handwound
• Bridge: Shaller 3D – String spacing 16-17,5 mm
• Tuners: Gotoh
• Wiring: Bartolini 3 bands NTMB-918F
• Finish: acrilic satin
• Peso: 8,5 lbs
• State: new product

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

Difficult… to imagine, to find, and even more difficult to select. Difficult to expect it not to twist and crack at the first blow of humid wind. Difficult… to plane, to sand, and to touch without being contaminated. Very difficult to glue, it is the oil inside prevents it from gluing… it can do it, and usually it succeeds. Then the perfume arrives and it is that of the most ancient and elegant dish. That’s the moment when the olive indulges itself to those who work it. The deal with it is that when you smell it,  everything then becomes very easy.” Let’s Play.

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

“Like the best Mercedes, perhaps a bit predictable in their classical style, even good guitars can be appreciated for the same reasons. Linearity turned into aesthetic standard, imagination as rigour, free and seductive austerity. Flamboyant and hidden at the same time. Like old-style luxury cars, outdated in technique, obsolete like the clothes that the men of those times used to wear. And for these reasons, those of the luxury that other times could hold, to be preserved and flaunted. Because if I had a ’69 Mercedes 280 SE Automatic parked in the back of my house, I certainly wouldn’t hide it. Let’s Play.“

Demo at bottom of the page

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 spruce painted in an gloss black hue. Interesting, in my opinion, was the choice of the 3 woods whose bottom was made, again by hand carving from solid wood, of the best piece of olive ash I had available. Binding painted in antique gold color.

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, curly maple and ash 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 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 completely 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.

• Top: solid quarter sawn spruce, handcarved
• Back: ash, handcarved
• Sides: curly maple
• Size: 14″
• Side height: 2,7″
• Neck: red cedar (cedrela), 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 280 SL proviene da Shank Instruments Milano: Chitarre, Bassi, Batterie.

“A tool made almost for fun, in my spare time. An idea came to my mind one morning while I was probably brushing my teeth and remained in the depths of my imagination for who knows how long. Why not making a carved metal top on a wooden body, mahogany in this case, using the colour contrast of the materials, aluminium and brass? The hypothesis seemed to be well founded and I started to work recovering some aluminium and brass plates that I had used for other projects. A good quantity of epoxy glue to create a sort of “sandwich” in layers and then proceed to carve the top. A few stainless steel safety screws and go. It’s funny to remember how I came up with the idea for the inlay… I found myself with an endless number of metal chips of various sizes glittering on the workbench. With a burin I carved some grooves on the rosewood fingerboard, of random threadlike shapes, and filled them with the fibres. The effect reminded me of a seabed, made of seaweeds and air bubbles. The stylised rod completes the work. The guitar has mahogany kaia body and neck, 24.75″ scale with gold Jescar frets. The owner, and those who have tried it, ensures that the weight does not significantly exceed that of a vintage Les Paul”… Let’s Play

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

• Body: willow ultra light solid body
• Top: flamed maple top grade
• Neck: maple set neck
• Fretboard: maple, 22 frets medium jumbo
• Radius: 14″
• Nut: 1,75″
• Diapason: 24,75″
• Pickup: Custom alnico 5 – Mixed wire, split
• Bridge: Hipshot Baby Grand
• Finish: polyurethane
• Status: ex demo guitar

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