Sinuous Guitars and Amps. Fine Woods and Unique Design Make Beautiful Music Together.

above image composited by Laura Sweet

The designer behind this beautiful guitar, Greg Opatik, has a degree in design from Kendall College of Art and Design. He has been creating and developing modern furniture of both his own composition and those of others, such as Genesis Seating who builds classic Eames chairs, for more than fifteen years. He began creating Sinuous guitars five years ago inspired by the idea of creating a uniquely authentic design rather than merely making minor modifications of classic guitars like so many other companies.

Playing the guitar since childhood, Sinuous guitars are a culmination of his design and manufacturing background blended with his own guitar playing experiences.




Sinuous guitars are made combining traditional craftsmanship and up to date design and manufacturing techniques to achieve consistent quality in every guitar they build.



Consistency also comes from CNC machines that cut their guitars to computer controlled dimensions, however that same machine that cuts incredibly accurate time after time could never cut our guitar bodies exactly where a particular flamed maple top will look best, or hand sand the edge of the wood in a way that is optimal for both the finish and touch of the hand.




The SD-22, the only model from Sinuous thus far, is available in five different wood and color combinations. The body of the SD-22 is made of Popular wood with a Hard Maple neck and Rosewood fingerboard. The tops are available in Santos Palisander, American Hard Maple (Black or White) and Flamed Maple (Vintage or Red). The neck is made of Hard Maple and has a Rosewood or Maple fingerboards.

The Five Options

Santos, $2150 USD:


Vintage, $1950 USD:


Red, $1950 USD:


Black, $1750 USD:


White, $1750 USD:


Specs:
Model name: SD-22
Body Shape : Sinuous Double Cut Dual Humbucker
Scale: 25.5"
Frets: 22
Fret Size: 6105
Attachment: Bolt on with threaded inserts
Nut: Graphite, 1.68"

Amps:

above image composited by Laura Sweet

Sinuous is currently developing a guitar amp (shown above) that will match the finish of their guitars and look good in any room of the house. You can literally rock out on this amp by plugging in and having a seat on top of the amp.

About Sinuous:

Sinuous is a Grand Rapids, Michigan company that crafts unique, high quality sculpted guitars for the most creative and discerning players. Their guitars are designed for the innovative and image conscious guitarist who demands authenticity, craftsmanship, and an instrument that is truly special.

Through their use of innovative design and manufacturing techniques, their guitars have improved the ergonomics that strengthen the intimate relationship between musician and instrument.

Innovative musicians have always inspired them in everything they do and the Sinuous guitar is their gift back.

The Herman Miller blog, Lifework, has a nice interview with the designer here.

Sinuous


Six More Cool Guitar Posts:
Like Guitars? I've written other posts on some very cool guitars, you may want to check these out, just click on the pic:

Burn Wood, Baby, Burn. The Incredible Pyrographic Art of Julie Bender.

When I first came across these, I found it so hard to believe they were actually wood burnings. The intricate rendering of texture, the detail and the overall appearance seems as though it'd be virtually impossible to create with a pyrographic tool. Julie Bender has shown me otherwise.

NOTE: all the images in this post are copyrighted by the artist and may not be reproduced or used without express written permission from Julie Bender.

Wood burning (aka Pyrography) is an old-fashioned art and nowadays often reserved for camp arts and crafts projects. Artist Julie Bender elevates the centuries old tradition and depicts animals and birds with an incredibly deft hand - bringing hair, fur and feathers to life on a piece of maple wood.



Inspired by animals and nature – and her Canon EOS Rebel T1i digital camera – Bender's process begins by compiling inspiring photographs and penciling in her subjects on a well-sanded maple surface with a keen sense of composition and attention to wood grain.



Light-handed strokes and smooth, subtle shading using very tiny tips characterizes her technique. She finds her personality well-suited for the challenge of this exigent art form as well as the extreme patience and considerable time that is required of her work.



Julie, pictured above, states: “This unusual medium still has me marveling over the fact that my subjects may be brought to life solely by applying heat to wood.”

Below are a selection of some of my favorite pieces of hers. Many still available for purchase.

Wild Animals:








Her work consists of pyrographic renderings of wild animals, birds, dogs and horses. Each work is produced on grade A northern maple veneer, sealed with protective finish, signed on front and back and individually numbered and dated on back.

Equine / Horses:







Avian / Birds:








Canine / Dogs:





A background of Pyrography from Julie:
Pyrography, the art of burning or scorching on a natural surface was an art form practiced since the dawn of recorded time by Egyptian and African tribesmen fascinated by the mysterious beauty and power of fire. Defined in traditional terms, pyrography is the art of drawing with fire; using a heated tip or wire to burn or scorch designs onto natural surfaces such as wood and leather.

In the late 19th Century, Melbourne architect Alfred Smart discovered a way to pump benzoline fumes through a heated hollow platinum pencil in order to improve upon the pokerwork process and allowing the addition of tinting and shading that previously were impossible. In the early 20th century, the development of the electric pyrographic hot wire wood etching machine further automated the pokerwork process.

Modern day pyrography is typically done with solid-point tools, which resemble but are more sophisticated than soldering irons or hot wire tools. These tools are electrically heated by equipment that may allow temperatures to be adjusted, thereby producing a great range of natural tones and shades. Subtle or bold effects may be achieved, depending on many factors, including heat, pressure, type of wood or surface, and tool tips used.

Julie's technique is to use tools that allow her flexibility to develop her unique style. Light, gradual strokes and smooth, subtle shading are her hallmark in attaining fine detail in each work of art. When it comes to pyrography, Julie considers herself a purist. The wood and grain she uses is selected carefully for best composition and aesthetics.

"Borrowing from the ancient craft of wood-burning, I attempt to portray the natural world in fresh ways to express my profound appreciation of animals and nature. I am moved by the graceful synthesis of a smooth wooden surface and the heat infused within to create rich sepia. As I ‘paint with heat,’ I feel a certain parallel between the wild and natural spirits that embody my subjects and the organic and distinctively unforgiving nature of my medium." - Julie Bender

NOTE: all the images in this post are copyrighted by the artist and may not be reproduced or used without express written permission from Julie Bender.

See (and purchase) all of Julie Bender's beautiful work here.