From The Old Guitarist (1903) of his "Blue Period" through the refracted cubism of Guitariste, La mandoliniste (1910–11), you can see guitars—or at least guitar-like shapes—in many Pablo Picasso paintings. But it's not every day you see a guitar that looks like a Picasso.
This acoustic guitar, named Pikasso II, was custom-built by luthier Linda Manzer and popped up on Reverb thanks to Lark Street Music.
Manzer built the first Pikasso in 1984 for jazz great Pat Metheny, after he asked her to create a guitar "with as many strings as possible." She built this second version upon request from the late guitar collector Scott Chinery, completing it in 1995.
Lark Street Music quotes Manzer's own description of Pikasso II: "Four necks. Two sound holes. Two access doors; one on the upper player’s side and one at the tail block (based on a panel door design by the brilliant Abraham Wechter)."
The back and sides are Indian Rosewood, the top is German Spruce, and the necks are all mahogany with ebony fretboards, bridges, and faceplates.
In total, there are 42 strings, and with all of them in part resonating with the soundboard, Lark Street Music writes, "The strings vibrate with unbelievable sonority and sympathy with the other sets of strings." You can hear the first Pikasso in action in the Pat Metheny video above.
Visit the full listing for Pikasso II to see more pictures and learn more.