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1996 Buscarino Cabaret MIDI, Paul Bollenback
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Serial #: B1238496, hand signed by the maker
Body size at lower bout: 13 7/8" Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut: 2" Neck depth, 1st/9th frets: .83/.88
Materials: Solid bookmatched Englemann spruce top; highly figured solid arched Indian rosewood back and sides; solid one-piece mahogany neck; solid ebony fingerboard; solid bone nut; solid ebony bridge; gold three-on-a-plate tuners with ebony buttons, built-in RMC Poly Drive active pickup system with control panel, 1/4" endpin jack, and MIDI DIN output jack; adjustable truss rod.
Notes: John Buscarino is one of the names you'll hear on every short list of the premier contemporary archtop builders. Having worked closely with luthiery legend Bob Benedetto for a number of years, his artist list includes George Benson, Russell Malone, Ron Affif, Gene Bertoncini and many more, all keeping Buscarino's handmade instruments in considerable demand.
Grammy nominated performer Paul Bollenback is another of John's celebrity players, having worked with the likes of Joey DeFrancesco, Steve Gadd, Gary Bartz, James Moody, Stanley Turrentine among many other top artists. A longtime faculty member of Columbia University, Bollenback commisioned this uniquely versatile instrument, crafted to his exact specifications.
The Cabaret is a hybrid design, specifically designed for the playing styles of the bossa and fingerstyle jazz player. With its arched, hand-carved back, the Cabaret marries archtop construction to traditional Hauser guitar design, with enhanced bass response and projection. The gentle Venetian cutaway allows superior access to upper fretboard as well.
The body is carved of East Indian rosewood of spectacular figuration, easily the most dramatic grain we've seen in this exotic tonewood. The hand graduated Englemann soundboard has exceptionally tight grain, liberally intersected with crossgrain silk. Fingerboard and bridge are solid ebony, with a classic floral soundhole rosette, and a rosewood headplate that matches the body.
The RMC Poly Drive is a pickup system of exceptional fidelity, combining individual string saddle transducers with a 6 channel polyphonic preamp, a 3 channel equalizer, volume control, and separate outputs for both a standard 1/4" guitar cable and a 13 pin DIN jack. In addition to providing superior balance and amplification for each string, the guitar connects with any MIDI controller to provide a virtually endless array of sonic colors as well.
A veteran player, this guitar has all original finish and hardware. Some playwear is visible from its pro career, with a patch of finish wear under a clear scratchplate, and some scattered incidental nicks and dings. A hairlline crack of less than 1" has been soundly resealed on top, as well as a short section of the back center seam. Action is smooth and low over a fresh high precision setup, over a gentle D profile neck. The guitar has a full, lively voice, faithfully transmitted to the amp with the pickup, whose control panel is mounted to the bass side for easy access.
An instrument as accomplished as its namesake, this remarkable guitar offers unrivaled versatility for the progressive fingerstyle player. One only: call now.
Case: Original deluxe black arched plush lined hardshell case.
