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New Job Classification: Guitar Welder
While many luthiers get their start in wood shop, the next generation may be coming from the shipyards. Thanks to Normandy Guitars, a blow torch and rivet gun are now required tools for guitar building — at least in Oregon. What am I talking about? Normandy Guitars has recently released the first production aluminum body archtop guitar.
I know. It sounds crazy. An archtop guitar made of aluminum? Well, we’re not talking jazz boxes here. Think more of a Gretsch that can double as a self-defense weapon for keeping crazed fans at bay. I know I have been poking fun at them, but Normandy Guitars is totally serious and has spent the last 5 years developing 15 different prototypes until they felt they had it just right. Here is a description from their website:
“The guitar features a body with classic archtop curves, a vintage Bigsby-vibrato tailpiece and distinctive rivets on the front and back. The Normandy guitar is available in nine colors and three different finishes: chrome, powder coat and Candy Apple Metal Flake finish. The chrome finish is triple electroplated. In that process, the body is initially buffed, electrically charged in a hot bath with Zincate, then dipped in copper, covered with nickel and completed with a flashy chrome finish.”
“Through the development of our welding processes and riveting, and because of our large manufacturing plant, we are able to make the body in a fraction of the time it takes other folks to create theirs. So, our price point is considerably less than what you'd pay for other guitars, somewhere between $2,000 and $3,000.”
The guitars look perfect for rockabilly, garage band, or roots style music, but both videos on their website show players doing the shred/metal thing on these sparkly gems — weird.
As a rule, guitar players are notoriously picky about guitar materials, so it may be an uphill battle. Especially at two to three grand. Still, I like to root for the underdog, and Ovation is still around, so maybe... One thing is for sure. Normandy Guitars are “riveting.” Sorry, I couldn’t resist. Check them out.