Description

True innovators are a rare breed. Ervin Somogyi stands among those all-too-few original thinkers, a modern builder whose ideas have influenced a cadre of some of today's most exciting contemporary luthiers. Somogyi's own instruments are known for their exceptional responsiveness, artful design, and attention to detail. They are unique, functional works of art, the kinds of guitars you'd want to crawl inside of to have a look around. Lilliputian fantasy aside, this Mod-D is a thing of beauty inside and out.

Somogyi's origins in classical building are evident in the balance, tonal and dynamic range of this steel string, which features Sitka spruce over a beautiful, master-grade wenge back and sides. Though dressed in the guise of a comfortable, large body guitar, this Mod-D, or "modified dreadnought" is a masterful tool for the modern fingerstyle player. Individual notes resound with such singular depth and power that we had to double-check the string gauge. (They are, indeed, standard phosphor lights but they sure sound like medium gauge strings.) Resonant, full-throated in all registers, tonally dynamic, this a compelling example of Ervin's more recent work.

Specs

• Modified D body w/  cutaway
  
• Sitka spruce top
• Wenge back, sides and matching headstock overlay
  
• Mahogany neck
• Ebony fingerboard with inset wood purfling
  
• Brazilian rosewood bridge w/specially compensated bone saddle
• Rosewood body binding and backstrip w/ wood purfling
  
• "Sunset rosette - mosaic w/ abalone double purfling
  
• Schaller chrome tuners
• 1-13/16" scalloped, bone nut
• 2-1/4" string spacing at saddle
  
• 25-1/8" scale length

Video