Blueberry Guitars.
Last night, I took myself over to the Albert Music Hall to do a bit of pickin’ and singin’. I find that sitting around with a handful of people who like to play for fun is a great way to escape the frustration and anger I feel when I read the news every day. Anyway, at the end of the night, as I was packing up my Beloved Gibson (see also, here) to leave, I couldn’t help buy notice the guitar the fellow next to me was packing up. I saw that the guitar’s headstock boasted an elaborately carved horse’s head. I asked him what kind of guitar that was, and he said that it was a “Blueberry.” He then showed me the intricate carvings of horses on the sides, top and back of the instrument. Amazing. I had never seen anything like that, and I had never heard of Blueberry guitars.
When I arrived home, I found the website for Blueberry Guitars. Turns out that each one is hand-made and carved by artists in Bali. No two are alike, and it takes forty days to make one. Check out a representative example here. They sure are beautiful to look at, but I would like to play one to see if they play and sound as beautiful as they look. Maybe the next time I’m at the Albert Hall, I’ll ask if that fellow will give me a test drive.
It’s art for sure.
Comment by Captain Jerry — March 11, 2012 @ 9:55 pm
Those are pretty damn awesome. I just re-connected with a friend and her daughter on Facehole, and found a luthier in Montana who makes custom guitars and basses and does fantastic work.
If I ever have a fistful of extra cash, I’m having him build me one. Or two.
http://www.ryanbeckmusic.com/BuildingProjects.aspx
Comment by Craig — March 12, 2012 @ 12:19 pm
Isn’t that sorta like askin another man if you can mess with his woman?
Comment by Charlie — March 12, 2012 @ 4:06 pm
Capt Jerry is right, those are the sort of thing one puts behind a glass case as displayed art-work in one’s home or office unless a true musician–who would probably consider it a major crime not to play them..
Comment by virgil xenophon — March 14, 2012 @ 7:57 pm
The Gibson will run rings around pretty much anything…even the Martins of the same era. I can guarantee you that pretty much nothing will boom like that 50 year old box of yours will.
Comment by Andy — March 18, 2012 @ 2:29 am
blueberry guitars,just purchased one recently nut size was suppose to be 1 3/4 turns out its 1 5/8 to late to return 7 days up now im stuck with a very expensive wall hanger.company will not return my emails,bad experience all around my advice is to stay clear
Comment by al macneil — March 20, 2012 @ 2:59 am