Scharpach Guitars
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Randy Bachman on his Scharpach Vienna
April 16, 2008 - It has been a great honour for me to receive the request to build an archtop for someone who is really an icon: Someone who contributed so much and over such a big period, and still now, to pop music and jazz.
For me it is a great compliment to connect through an instrument to someone who has been written such beautiful melodies and knowing this person respects your work. Gifted musicians like Randy Bachman have such a rich knowledge about music so building a guitar for Randy was inspiring.
When Randy Bachman came to my house with his wife Denise to collect the guitar in person, this was another great pleasure. After the first notes Randy had played on his new guitar, I had the feeling that this guitar was really delivering what Randy had been expecting. He did not stop playing it. And already after a few hours the guitar had changed dramatically starting to fit his playing more and more. The nicest thing was that Randy showed me all the other styles you could play on that guitar beside strictly pure jazz: Finger picking country style, Blues and even Rock and Roll, it all sounded well in his hands. Randy accepted the new guitar without comparing it to the many hundreds of guitars out of his collection and by doing so he could discover the original beauty of that new instrument. Being able to do that, explains the great creativity of a musician. How often I sadly experience the different...
I will never forget this day in my life, Thank you Randy and Denise.
Here is what Randy Bachman said about the guitar:
"My Scharpach Vienna guitar was well worth the wait. With merging of the old wood and modern technology Theo has created a guitar that for me is a one of a kind. What II noticed when I played my Vienna for the first time was that the acoustic tone is totally balanced across every string in every register and part of the neck. Then when I plugged it in and heard the same deep, clear, resonant sound from the pickup that Theo designed and had made, I realized what a special instrument it really was. The craftsmanship, the design, the body, the finish. the engraved headstock and tailpiece are not only beautiful but add so much to the sound of the guitar. I look forward to playing this instrument forever."
