Pikasso Guitars

ORIGIN

In 1984 Pat Metheny asked me to design and build a guitar with " as many strings as possible" The resulting collaboration was the Pikasso guitar. In 1992 I was asked by the late Scott Chinery to build a strictly acoustic version ofMetheny's Pikasso. Thus, Pikasso II. This second Pikasso was recently on display at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts in a show called "Dangerous Curves".

INGREDIENTS ↑

Indian Rosewood Back and Sides German Spruce top, Mahogany Necks Ebony fingerboards. bridges, and face plates Pau abalone decorative trim Boxwood, Rosewood, Abalone Rosette Brass insets for mounting on stand


SPECIAL FEATURES ↑

Four necks. Two sound holes. Two access doors; one on the upper player's side and one atthe tail block. ( based on a panel door design by the brilliant -Abraham Wechter) The "WEDGE" TM1984 is a special feature I designed specifically for this instrument. The body is tapered so that the side closest to the player is thinner than the side that rests on the players knee, thus leaning the top back towards the player for a more aerial view. This is also more comfortable under the player's arm. This feature is available as an option on all my flattop guitars. This instrument was outfitted with a complete stateof the art piezo pickup system. (Designed and installed by Mark Herbert, Boston) This included a hexaphonic pickup on the 6 string section that allowed Metheny to access his Syclavier computersystem thus triggering any sound including sampled sounds. (Saxophone sampling can be heard on the song "Mob Job")Two mounting holes on the treble side (knee side) so that the guitar can be mounted on internal brass insets attaching to a stand, leaving hands free for playing or viewing. Brass side bridges made by guitar maker and machinist Bruce West. This instrument took 2 years to build (approximately 1000 hours), and when the 42 strings are strung up to high tension, the Pikasso is under approximately 1000 lbs pressure. It weighs 6.7 kg or 14 3/4 lbs. CAN BE HEARD ON.... Anna Maria Jopek and Pat Metheny Metheny Trio Live - "Into the Dream" 2001 Metheny/Jim Hall CD - "Into the Dream" - 2000 Metheny "Imaginary Day" CD - "Into the Dream" 2000 ALSO: Pat Metheny / Ornette Coleman "SONG X " (Geffen 9 24096-2) Cut: Mob Job, Pat Metheny " Secret Story " (Geffen GEFN-24468) Cuts: Finding and Believing, Rain River, As the Blossom Flowers (I will Come to You), Pat Metheny with Kenny Garrett "Pursuance" Cut: "After the Rain" AND on a PMG Netcast: patmethenygroup.com. A Pikasso poster is now available. Contact me for details.