The archtop guitar is always thought of as a jazz-age instrument inspired by the violin. But what if it we had looked a little deeper, into the older roots common to both instruments? The guitar might have become something very different- perhaps more like Mignonette.

This little cutie (only 14” wide) is the fourth iteration of my ongoing exploration of the possibilities of coopered soundboards. You can read more about process HERE, and about the historical research HERE. In short, Mignonette is made using some nearly-lost construction techniques common to baroque-era viols, and takes its design cues more from that instrument than from twentieth-century violins.

The soundboard in particular is made in a unique way, by heat-bending and joining together multiple staves (in this case of yellow cedar), requiring only minimal carving.

The tailpiece likewise is borrowed from the viol, as is the use of purling instead of solid bindings. The slight overhang of the edges, though, is strictly a violin thing, chosen because it is better from the standpoint of future repairablility.

The use of a flat back is another viol hallmark. The great advantage here is that it allows the use of guitar timbers which would be either unobtainable or unsuitable for a carved-back instrument- in this case a lovely dark east indian rosewood.

Mignonnette also debuts a decidedly non-traditional feature: an adjustable-angle neck! (read about it HERE). Similar in concept to the classic Stauffer mechanism, I have made a couple of improvements which dramatically improve its usability on steel-string instruments. By eliminating the need for an adjustable bridge, we can make this critical part much lighter, and transmit string energy more effectively.

Altogether, the result is a compact guitar far louder and sweeter-sounding than you would expect, or indeed have probably ever witnessed. Old, meet new. You’re going to make great things together.