The Fibonacci Guitar
This edition of “On The Bench” is quite special, as I write this from Florence, Italy; the place where many of the Renaissance artists, worked, lived and died. This city has echoes of their inspiration all over it which show in its magic and beauty.
A few years back, to honor one of the most beloved leaders of this movement, Leonardo Da Vinci [1452-1519], Steve Klein & Steve Kauffman along with renowned artists, Larry Robinson (inlay) and Bob Hergert (scrimshaw) completed a four-year project simply called “Leo” by Mr. Klein, now in the hands of a private collector.
Fast forwarding to this summer’s season, the never quite mind of Maestro Steve Klein goes way back to pay tribute to another brilliant mind, Leonardo de Pisa [1175-1235] also known as Fibonacci. De Pisa was an Italian mathematician who introduced the Hindu-Arabic numeral system to the Western World (please read further by Googling: The Fibonacci Sequence).
The photos below show Fibonacci, the guitar. This is just a sneak preview of what is coming. Word is that it will be a multiscale neck and seven-strings. The instrument will be shown this October at the Woodstock Invitational Luthiers Showcase. Look for Klein & Kauffman Guitars’ booth at the event. It is important to mention also, that Mr. Klein will be celebrating 50 years of guitar building next year. But his amazing career also includes drawings, cartoons, inventions, and art. Notably, Mr. Klein’s work brought Kasha’s theories into reality through guitar building (fan-bracing system), applied mathematics and physics in his designs (flying brace & impedance matching bridge) – truly making Steve Klein a Renaissance man of our times.
Enjoy!
Woods used to make the Fibonacci:
Sinker Redwood top
Myrtle back & sides
Guatemalan Rosewood center strip & binding
Inlay by Steve Klein
Steve Klein – kleindesigns@comcast.net
Steve Kauffman – s.kauffmann@att.net
For reference on their work see “Leo” at their website:
Larry Robinson – larry@robinsoninlay.com https://www.robinsoninlays.com/gallery.html
Bob Hergert – http://www.scrimshander.com/guitarstuff.html
Luthiers Showcase:
Woodstock Invitational – http://www.woodstockinvitational.com/exhibitors.shtml
Photos of the guitar: Steve Kauffman
