Island Instruments DelAir - Engleman Spruce/ Nomex
Black Mountain Guitar Co
The DelAir is my experimental hybrid electric archtop guitar built in collaboration with my close friend and shopmate, classical guitar luthier Mathieu Dallaire Walker. It took the better part of 4 years to develop and blends my interests in vintage design and aesthetics, contemporary and experimental materials and techniques, and inspiration from a number of builders that have paved the way before me.
The plates and side geometry are radically shaped on 5’ radius hemispheres, giving the instrument a striking appearance, with the side depth ranging from a full 3” to a mere 1.25” . This shape is naturally ergonomic and conforms to the player’s body while the floating neck provides unfettered access to upper frets. The top and back are made using a unique lamination featuring Nomex, the aerospace material used in “douple top” classical guitars. They’re glued on to a rimset of “structed sides”, another unique lamination using full height kerfed liners and exterior skins. The entire system is extremely stiff and stable and provides a loud, clear, articulate tone, rich with harmonic content. The angle of the neck is adjustable for on-the-fly changes in string action, independent of the optimally set bridge & saddle height.
-Nic Delisle, Guitarmaker
- Body - Malaysian Blackwood
- Bracing - Parellel
- Neck - Mahogany
- Neck Shape - C
- Fretboard - Ebony
- Headstock - Ebony
- Binding - Celulloid Ivoroid
- Finish - Waterbased Lacquer Top, Shellac & Wax Back & Sides
- Scale Length - 25.5"-24.75"
- Fretboard Radius - 16"
- Nut - 1 3/4"
- Inlays - Sterling Silver
- Bridge - Floating Mahogany and Sterling Silver
- Pickups - Island Proprietary Hersheybucker (Mojo) Floating
- Master Volume, Tone
- Tuners - Barnette, Handmade in Germany
- Case - Calton Custom