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2001 Lehmann Manouche

Serial #: 334, label dated 2001

Body size at lower bout: 16 " Scale length: 26 1/2" (650mm) Nut width: 1 3/4" Neck depth, 1st/10th frets: .81/.88

Materials: Solid fine grained bearclaw spruce top; solid Indian Rosewood back, and sides; solid mahogany neck; solid ebony fingerboard, rosewood bridge with bone saddle; tortoise shell body binding.

Hardware: Gold Grover Imperial tuners; engraved brass tailpiece; Bigtone piezo pickup with 1/4" endpin jack, adjustable truss rod.

Notes: Rochester, NY based luthier Bernie Lehmann has produced a wide variety of topflight handbuilt guitars since 1971, with an output of well over 500 instruments to date. His Manouche model is an adaptation of the Selmer/Maccaferri "Grand Bouche" guitar, popular with Hot Club style players since its introduction in the early 1930s.

No mere mimic of traditional design, Lehmann adds distinctive design elements, including a comfortable tapered body that ranges from 4 1/8" at the tailblock to 3 3/8" at the heel, with an oval sound port right under the ear, that serves handily as an acoustic monitor for the player.

The soundboard is crafted from solid bookmatched quartersawn spruce with pronounced "bearclaw" crossgrain, with the back and sides of solid figured Indian rosewood, and a solid mahogany neck, with adjustable truss rod. The solid ebony fingerboard is nicely radiused for easy fingering, with a particularly easygoing light D profile neck, generous 1 3/4" nut, and smooth low action over a fresh high precision setup.

With its multicolor, multi-ply body binding and soundhole purfling, and variegated tortoise shell binding, the Manouche cuts a striking figure, with a violin style finish in traditional nitro lacquer. This example is in all original condition, and notably free of pick, thumb or fingerboard wear. Apart from some incidental scattered lacquer nicks, and some fogging on the plating, the instrument appears carefully maintained altogether.

The voice is clear and even, with excellent projection and volume, and a warm comping voice, with real bark when pushed on leads. A final plus, a Bigtone bridge pickup with 1/4" jack has been installed as well, for faithful acoustic amplification. In a world of ho-hum Selmer clones, the Lehmann Manouche stands out with dramatic looks, and a voice to match. One only, call now.

Setup: This instrument is strung with light gauge silvered steel strings. The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference.

Case: Original deluxe black plush lined hardshell case.

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