Nico Moffa Armonia Electric

Condition: brand new.

Nico Moffa's Armonia Electric is truly something special — a testament to old-world craftsmanship meeting modern innovation. The stunning oil-based varnish, applied in traditional Italian violin style, has a depth that photographs simply can't capture.

The bearclawed red spruce top is hand-carved with the same care and attention Nico gives his renowned archtops. Combined with the chambered mahogany body, this guitar has a natural resonance; when amplified, that woody natural character remains intact. The perfectly carved medium C neck profile feels so good in my hands, while the beautifully rounded fingerboard edges add a played-in vintage mojo that feels immediately familiar.

I'm particularly impressed with the handmade soapbar pickups. Crafted with plain enamel wire and Alnico 2 magnets, they deliver exceptional dynamics - from whisper-quiet clarity to powerful expression when pushed. The carbon-reinforced maple neck offers incredible stability, while the birdseye maple fingerboard provides a responsive, smooth playing experience.

Nico's craftsmanship and attention to the professional guitarist's needs are evident in every detail. From the premium hardware to the meticulously selected electronics, from the inspired design to the Armonia's exceptional playability - this is the work of a builder who creates from the heart. His passion translates into instruments that inspire musicians to reach new creative heights.

What I love most about this guitar is its versatility. While it has the soul of a classic archtop, it excels across multiple styles. Nico Moffa builds his instruments with the professional player in mind, and it shows in every aspect of this guitar – a true testament to boutique Lutherie at its finest.

ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS FROM NICO MOFFA
"From an aesthetic perspective, I approached this Armonia with deliberate minimalism – from the color palette and visual elements to the carefully selected hardware. The aged finish is subtle rather than overstated. It's worth noting that oil varnish offers tremendous versatility for creating antiqued effects similar to those found on fine violins and could be made much more pronounced if desired.

"I enhanced the aging effect slightly more on the mahogany back, as this tonewood naturally has less visual vibrancy. This thoughtful aging helped harmonize the overall appearance of the instrument, creating a cohesive visual balance between the top and back.

"The 24-fret fingerboard provides excellent access up to the 21st fret and remarkable playability in the higher registers. My handcrafted single-coil pickups have consistently received praise from those who've played this guitar. They deliver a vibrant, articulate voice with impressive clarity."

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.