The Guitar Player's Resource
Religious Iconography Rarely Sounds This Secular.
Custom orders reveal everything about a builder's true capabilities, because there's nowhere to hide behind standard specifications or established formulas. This Warrior Isabella represents what happens when a client arrives with unlimited budget and very specific artistic vision: Saint Michael battling a demon/dragon rendered in mother-of-pearl and abalone inlay work that would make medieval manuscript illuminators weep with professional envy.
The brass and silver details on Michael's sword, gloves, and boots aren't just decorative flourishes - they're functional art that required hundreds of hours of meticulous handwork. Inlay artistry at this level demands skills most modern luthiers never develop, because few customers possess either the budget or patience for such elaborate commissioned work. Each tiny piece must be cut, fitted, and secured with surgical precision while maintaining structural integrity that won't compromise during decades of playing.
That carved maple quilt top with matching back and headstock creates visual continuity that transforms the entire instrument into a unified artistic statement. The carving work follows the wood's natural grain patterns rather than fighting them, proving that superior craftsmanship works with materials rather than imposing arbitrary geometric constraints.
However, spectacular inlay work and carved tops don't automatically translate into superior playability or tone. The Isabella's artistic achievements are undeniable, but serious players need comprehensive specifications about neck dimensions, pickup configurations, hardware quality, and electronic appointments to evaluate actual performance capabilities. Visual artistry and musical functionality operate in different realms, though the finest instruments excel at both simultaneously.
The limited production run makes this Isabella particularly collectible among players who value one-of-a-kind instruments. Custom work at this level represents investment in craftsmanship that mass production simply cannot replicate, regardless of budget constraints.
