So many individuals have been writing and have mentioned shoulder problems, aging elbows and worn fingers. I can read their feelings of loss when they talk about having to give up a favorite instrument. I’m getting to understand why the 265 Shari Ulrich Songbird had captured the imagination of so many and why its bringing them back to enjoy playing a guitar again.
We have been researching resonator guitars for the last year. Could we bring something new to the table or would we be simply producing “another resonator” guitar. We don’t want to simply produce something but instead, we want to always take something beautiful and add something unique to it, improving on it without taking away from its original vintage characteristics.
From drawing board, La Belle Creole has moved to the creation of a prototype. In her small frame the unique qualities will be features not found in other resonators.
Behind the vintage National style diamond cover rests our own hand spun cone. Golden age open tuners keep in the styling of pre 1940 resonators. Our proven hand wound, 4 post P90 is embedded in her solid Mahogany body and a Strap jack plug in keeps its contours clean. We’ve had our own volume/ tone knobs cast from a 1938 Zephyr radio and our F holes are clean and crisp. Like our 265 Shari Ulrich Songbird, You’ll discover Abalone purfling on the body, wrapped in vintage cream and black binding. The mulled Cognac satin finished Solid Mahogany embraces the look and feel of beautiful warm finishes reserved for the highest quality guitars of old. We wont pass off 6 string components as ” good enough“, thats not what we do. Our tailpiece is a custom made ebody clamshell made specifically for our Le Belle Creole. We have carefully balanced the positioning of our cone to settle into the epicenter of body keeping the look balanced and proportional. We do this all in the comfortable playing form of the 0 body size.
Like our Songbird, Big Jake, John Lawlor and the updated 2023 Po’boy, La Belle Creole will be fitted with its own premium lush case for protection and years of enjoyment. Our guitars are your investments and they deserve proper protection right from the factory. Watch for updates and audio samplings to come. Release is anticipated to be July, 2023. For now, please enjoy an artist rendition with the real images to come in April.
