We
think we can choose but we finally have to decide. A life path
can however reveal unexpected encounters. Then just a few years
earlier I have been involved in a "53 feet Scorpion"
sailboat restoration. In addition to the respect that this ship
imposed I was suddenly felling so incompetent being faced to such
an unknown universe: this world of navigation was retaining much
of its mystery and complexity than everything I thought I could
control at the moment. I have been privileged to get my first
sailing moments on this majestic ketch in the Mediterranean Sea...
under a force seven wind! By the sea everything is different,
our usual references turn unnecessary and futile, our perception,
everything changes and seems to put you facing yourself. Then
I left back to my guitar works following her long travel through
the Atlantic Ocean, I was back to my world...
...
From this time I was haunted by an unanswered question: how
could I still keep "The one you'll call She"
as my motto, this feminine personification usually given to
a boat, and never attempt to connect these two worlds?
It all started by an afternoon in last June while receiving
a new project proposal. As usually I was getting a first-hand
look through a quick scrolling to various shapes and the range
of finishes included in this proposal until I focused on one:
an ordinary picture showing a guitar painted in a blue colour
that was reminding some visions of horizon. This was, "she"
was...
Anyway
the Nautik®
series are not only a product design study or even a simple
relooking of the "surf" style under a nautical cover;
No. These instruments are a real transposition of a set of constraints
and technological solutions of the nautical world to the guitar
building processes for sounding and mechanical improvements.
Then the "Sailor" offers the look
and refinements of the beautiful pleasure boats: its solid teak
deck is built under the same process to give the same soft and
warm finish. Classic but also modern with extruded carbon neck
reinforcements and its "Hannes" injected carbon bridge
both providing a well defined bright clear sound, however she
can pride about her reasonable average weight of 5.8 lbs.
Sophisticated blend of wood, carbon, aluminium and even titanium,
this feather of 5.3 lbs. called "Skipper"
offers all the sensations of a real racing machine. As the Ocean's
sport boats from witch she has been inspired, her light weight
and mechanical rigidity give an absolutely amazing dynamic sound
and a strong well balanced sustain. Despite an assumed sobriety,
she's an highly efficient tool.
The "Scorpion" keeps most of the
Sailor's characteristics but dressed upon the colour chart of
the boat that gave me this knowledge and unleashed this different
vision without which the Nautik®
series would have not been created.
The Nautik® series come with Lace®
Alumitone pickups as a standard feature, mostly appreciated
for their light weight but also well known for their accurate
clear sound.
