D’AQUILA GUITARS
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Goals
An absolute piece of playable art, ornate - with every piece worked in some way - yet elegant, something you could show up at the jazz gig with.
Warm but articulate tone with plenty of wood in it to sit nicely in a mix, and even sing full-sounding single notes. Rhythm work, blues, jazzy improvisation, chord melody, jam band…
A legacy piece as a builder and an heirloom piece for the owner. It took decades to get the eye and skills, and - while I still have them - I offer these to a very few from my hands to yours. -
Process
Unusual pieces of wood are selected, paired with complimenting and contrasting others, and shaped and joined over time in many steps to vibrate as one and look elegant. Fancy but classy.
Proprietary pickup recipes and true single craftsman attention to detail bring each instrument’s function to equal its form.
I don’t take orders for these; they begin as notebook sketches and form themselves through my hands, with some help. Every D’AQUILA is completely hand carved and crafted - though at time it feels like the materials and muse are using me as their tool.
From $4000 USD
Garcia had his Doug Irwin guitars, Trey has his Languedocs; jazz greats like Kevin Eubanks and Pat Martino played the amazing work of Abe Rivera. Most are content with the many available off-the-rack and “Custom shop” available instruments, but some seek something a little more unique.
This is the inspiration behind D’AQUILA, to go there with one-off works I could never do production runs of, to go out there with the pickup recipes and wood choices away from tradition, to blend curves and carves and touches I’ve come to love over the past 30 years of Birdsong Guitars and the “Scott’s Signature” builds into “…a very few for a very few.”
We know much of the magic is in the hands… but I don’t make special hands. I make talismans for them, to inspire them; special tools for tone that come with a palette of their own for them to paint the air in their spaces and create with. To sing with. To be their voice. And, to be YOUR visual signature as well.
Entirely hand made in the USA
Crafted in my workshop in the northern Adirondacks
Fully hand written description of the materials and their stories for each build
Rustic woodcraft from the cutoffs of the build process made and included
If this sounds like your next instrument and experience, please call me at the workshop. (512) 395-5126. I don’t generally take orders, but I do usually have something started to show you or in the notebook we can talk about and take it from there.
GALLERY of past D’AQUILA guitars and my fancier work to get you dreaming:
D’AQUILA can be translated into “Of the eagle” - a nod to the winged themes that have been a part of me spiritually and what I manifest creatively. I’ve always seen the instruments I build partly as tools for flight. Music in its many forms has been that for me through this life, and the highest way I can honor that is to really push it while I can, and soar, and inspire others to do so in their own ways on their own paths - musically and in life. I hope something here does that for you, whether I build an instrument for you or never know… I wish you well and thank you for being here.
~Scott B.
Shown at the top is a J1. Currently in process are a Florentine with spalted pecan wings (#11) and an American Beauty in the notebook stage (#12). Both available.
Contact to inquire or reserve:
512-395-5126 (calls, no texts) or email wingfeathermusic@yahoo.com
