Moffa Maryan, 2014

Condition: excellent, with a tiny scratch on the bass side ƒ hole, a few light nail dents, and minor pick marks on the guitar.

There's something deeply satisfying about watching a guitar come full circle. When this Moffa Maryan first left the shop, I knew it was heading to someone who would truly appreciate what makes these instruments so special. Now that it's back in my hands, I'm reminded all over again why I fell in love with Nico Moffa's work in the first place.

Nico has built quite a reputation among some of the finest players in the world - artists like Kurt Rosenwinkel, Wolfgang Muthspiel, and Gilad Hekselman have all discovered what makes these guitars so remarkable. When Gilad first encountered a Moffa while touring Italy, he was so impressed that word got back to Nico himself - that's the kind of instant connection these instruments create. What strikes me most about this Maryan is that beautiful woody acoustic quality. The hand-carved master grade European Val di Fiemme spruce top and flamed maple back and sides create this wonderfully warm, resonant voice that fills the room even when played unplugged. When you do plug it in, that gorgeous acoustic character translates beautifully through Nico's handmade pickup. The pickup isn't just custom-wound - Nico actually builds his own pickups and tunes them specifically to each guitar. The neck profile on this guitar is something special. That comfortable feel makes it incredibly inviting to play, and that ebony fingerboard has developed a beautiful patina over time. Nico comes from the long tradition of Italian violin and cello making, and you can feel that heritage in every detail - from the hand-applied violin-style finish to the way the neck feels like it was carved specifically for your hand.

Visually, this guitar continues to captivate me. Those finishes are recipes based on violin techniques, using natural colors from vegetable extracts rather than paint. The flamed maple catches light in ways that make you want to just admire it, while those ebony appointments create such elegant contrast against that gorgeous amber finish.

This superb Moffa has been well cared for and still plays exactly as I remember - responsive, musical, and inspiring in ways that make you want to keep reaching for it. As Kurt Rosenwinkel himself says about Nico: "His instruments are beautiful in every way. They sound as good as they look, and they look as good as they sound." That's exactly what you get with this Moffa Maryan archtop.

If you'd like to find out more about this item, just call or e-mail me. It would be my pleasure to talk to you about it.

ABOUT MOFFA GUITARS
Nico Moffa's guitars were first noticed when Kurt Rosenwinkel started playing them. Nico comes (in the craftsmanship sense) from the long tradition of Italian violin and cello making. His aim is to give guitars the nobility of those instruments - in their pure acoustic sound, and in their aesthetics as well. He favors minimal elegance - no fretboard dots, no inlays (whether mother of pearl or plastic), and you can see the elegance radiating from the instrument. It’s simply a beautiful object. But beyond that, Nico’s finishes are recipes based on those used for violins, cellos, etc., as he believes that is the best means of allowing the wood to resonate at its best. Further, the colors are natural and obtained from vegetable extracts, which allows for great nuance. Beyond that, the color and the finish are a complete entity - there’s no “paint” involved. Those finishes, in Nico’s opinion, give the instrument a warmth that is more typical of the way instruments used to be made. A pre-industrial look, as it were. The guitars themselves, while crafted following traditional means are anything but that in use.