Manzer The Manzer

Built in 1981. Soft cutaway with Indian rosewood back and sides and German Spruce top. Abalone and wood rosette. Rosewood binding front and back with ivoroid fretboard binding. All done with the utmost taste.

After seeing that someone already started a category for Manzer guitars I felt compelled to add my two cents worth regarding how great these guitars are. I bought this guitar in 1985 and since that time I've owned about 30 other guitars ... always looking for another guitar that could stack up to the Manzer. Well, almost all of those other guitars have come and gone, but I still have the Manzer. I'm not quite sure what makes this guitar so special. I've owned louder guitars, but this one is loud; I've owned sweeter sounding guitars, but this one is sweet; I've owned more powerful guitars, but not many; I've even owned guitars that sounded a little better when I first bought them, but none of them have had the staying power and complexity of my Manzer. This guitar is very veratile as both a finger picker and a flat picker and besides having fantastic sound and playability it has a range of depth and soul that I have never experienced in another guitar. I've owned great sounding guitars where the new ideas dry up after a few days, sometimes months, occassionally a few years, however with the Manzer I'm still continuing to find new sounds, combinations and directions.

Linda Manzer built this guitar when she was still relatively young, however the build quality is that of a master builder. She must have been born for this work ... what a gift she has! Most of the best sounding guitars I have owned have been lightly built, but Linda's aren't so I don't know how she has accomplished this. My manzer is built like a tank. Looks like it should last for several lifetimes. Everything seems to be put together perfectly and the German Spruce top is the thickest top I've seen on a flat top guitar. When I bought it in 1985 the guitar sounded great, but later I realized it didn't fully open up until about 3-4 years later.
As a side note I want to mention this is also the best sounding amplified guitar that I've owned. I believe that it is because of the solidity of the build. Many of the lighter guitars I've owned have been quite tricky to amplify and record with.

The build quality and durability are absolutely superior. This is a war horse.

I've never talked with orresponded with Linda Manzer and I have never had to. This guitar is so stable there has never been a need for service or repair. I've heard that she is a genuinely sweet person and very down to earth, but can't confirm.

I've been playing guitar for 25 years and I currently own two other guitars besides the Manzer: a 1947 Martin D18 and a 1942 Gibson J-45. Those other two guitars are the the best D18 and J-45 I've ever found, but I still consider my Manzer the first lady and lifetime partner. I've owned many high end Martin, Collings, Taylors, etc., and owned guitars by several of the most renowned builders in the US and Canada. My conclusion is that it is easy to go out and find beautiful sounding, looking, and playing guitars ... but it very difficult to find guitars that have all of that and have depth and soul that keeps on giving.
If this guitar was lost or stolen I would weep openly as if I had lost a family member! As the commercial says ... somethings are priceless.

My guitar was built in 2003 by Linda Manzer of Toronto Canada. It is a steel string acoustic with no pickup.
Mahogany neck
Ebony fb
Indian Rosewood back and sides
The top is a lamanate of spruce and a honeycomb material.
The top was laminated by John Dick (a great classical builder in Iowa). Linda did the rest.
I think it is a nitrocelulose laquer finish
Schaller tuners
Linda built this guitar with her wedge body. So the body is thinner on the drivers side and thicker by your leg. Really comfy to play.
Guitar came with a nice hard case

I would give this guitar 100 if I could. It sounds just great. Sweet trebles with a nice bloom to the notes. Gut thumpin' bass end and a smooth resoponse from top to bottom. I did four tracks with it that you can hear at
http://www.soundclick.com/pro/?BandID=11075

I really can't say enough about how great it is!

Plays great. The fit and finish a perfect. The rosette is a really pretty wood and abalone combo. The guitar is elegant.

I got it in August and I expect to have it the rest of my life.

Well, what can I say...try to call Mr Gibson or Mr Martin. Linda is a great builder and a great person. We have become friends and I value that very much. She's a peach!
Check her website at www.manzer.com

I have played guitar for over 30 years and owned many many guitars. No acoustic I've ever played can hold a candle to the Manzer. If it were stolen? Ack don't go there.
If you want a world class work of art that plays and sounds great then spend the $$ and get a Manzer. Did I mention she does beautiful inlay work too?