Art & Lutherie AMI Acoustic Guitar (with Gig Bag)

The AMI is modeled after the dimensions of a Parlor guitar from the early 1900's. Parlor guitars have been staging a comeback since the early 1990's and continue to gain in popularity. These clear sounding guitars are great fun to play -- great for fingerstyle playing and acoustic blues. The compact size makes them very comfortable to play, not to mention very easy to carry around. The AMI is also compact enough for kids to hold comfortably and makes a great starter guitar.

Canadian Wood
Art & Lutherie guitars are made in Canada using roughly 95% Canadian wood. Guitar builders consume relatively small amounts of exotic wood and therefore are not generally considered as a major threat to the environment. However, with an eye towards the future, and in the spirit of 'every little bit helps' Art & Lutherie guitars are made with woods that meet strict criteria both in terms of their tone producing attributes and their impact on the environment. Wild Cherry is an excellent tone wood when used in tops, backs, and sides. It also makes for an ecologically friendly choice because it is indigenous to Eastern Canada. Likewise, the Silverleaf Maple used to craft the A&L necks is also from this same region. Silverleaf Maple has a weight/density very similar to that of Mahogany -- the most commonly used wood in acoustic guitar neck construction -- and its impact on sound is virtually indiscernible from that of Mahogany. Godin began experimenting with Silverleaf Maple necks on acoustic guitars… read more 10 years ago and it continues to be their wood of choice.

The weight and design of the structural braces inside the top and back of these guitars deliver a rich, balanced sound that previously was the exclusive domain of instruments in a much higher price range. All A&L guitar braces are made with quarter-sawn Sitka Spruce.

Finish
Art & Lutherie guitars are finished with lacquer. This is a very important component of any great guitar. You may have heard talk of the mystery involved in re-creating the great violins of the world. Most experts agree that the answer is in the finish. While it's true that the materials and construction of the instrument play very important roles, it is a very special finish -- applied in sufficient amounts to protect the wood but not so much as to stifle the wood's vibration-that elevates a good instrument into a great one. read less