The Viridis Guitar
The single-cutaway Viridis (veer’-ih-diss, Latin for “green”) Guitar – available with either steel or nylon strings – is a chambered solid-body instrument with a traditional spruce top (optional flame maple) sporting piezo transducers both under-saddle and at the neck heel. The Viridis Guitar features a traditional round soundhole with herringbone trim, rosewood edge binding and contrasting body edge purfling. A ribcage contour in the rear of the body provides comfort.
This guitar has been specially designed for the performing musician who needs a road-worthy instrument for those live numbers where an acoustic guitar is needed. However, hollow-bodied acoustic guitars have their own drawbacks: sensitivity to changes in temperature/humidity, warped or cracked tops, pulled-up bridges and the resulting expensive repairs. The strings of the Viridis Guitar are retained in ferrules on the rear of the instrument, which does away with bridge pins and eliminates any stress on the guitar’s top or bridge due to hundreds of pounds of upward pulling from the strings. The strings’ forces are instead directed only downward onto the bridge saddle, as they should be.
The Viridis Guitar features the K&K Sound’s groundbreaking PowerBlendTM 2-channel onboard 9V preamplifier and two separate piezo pickups: one at the traditional under saddle location as well as one at the neck heel to capture the influence of the neck on overall instrument tone. No phase cancellation or any other undesirable effects due to the use of these two pickups have been found. The result: a tonal richness not typically associated with piezo pickups. The instrument will be shipped with an ideal “sweet spot” balance already set. Each channel can be optimally EQ’d (bass, midrange, treble, gain) on the preamp board within the control cavity. Additionally, the relative volume of each pickup can be adjusted via two small dials also located within the control cavity. A master volume control (with rosewood knob) allows the guitarist to make quick and smooth volume changes as needed.
The Viridis Guitar sports a traditional and comfortable 25.5” scale length. The Viridis Guitar’s signature deco-inspired headstock is also seen on the Long Trail Bass Guitar. The guitar features PlanetWaves TM AutoTrim tuners designed by legendary musical instrument innovator Ned Steinberger. The EarvanaTM compensated nut and bridge saddle ensure even intonation along the entire fretboard. Since the Viridis Guitar does not rely on “moving air” or magnetic pickups, it can use the player’s favorite electric or acoustic guitar strings. It can also use ball-end nylon strings, allowing for expanded tonal variations and new playing possibilities for the finger-style guitarist. The Viridis Guitar is shipped with either D’Addario® EXP® coated acoustic guitar strings (EXP15; 0.010-0.047 gauge) or D’Addario® Folk Nylon ball-end strings (J33; 0.028-0.045 gauge; clear trebles, gold alloy basses). String slots in the EarvanaTM nut will be customized for all instruments shipped with nylon strings.
SPECIFICATIONS (subject to change)
Length: 39.8″
Weight: 5.3 lbs.
Scale length: 25.5”
Nut: EarvanaTM Compensated
Bridge: EarvanaTM Compensated
Tuners: Planet WavesTM AutoTrim (gold finish standard)
Truss Rod: 2-way, adjustable
Pickups & electronics by K&K Sound: Two piezo transducers located under-saddle and at the neck heel; 2-channel 9-volt preamp, master volume control located on bridge, mono output
Materials
Body: Basswood (opaque black finish); optional mahogany (clear finish)
Neck: 3-piece rock maple with integrated headstock
Fingerboard: Rosewood (10-16” compound radius)
Tops: AAA Englemann spruce (natural finish only), AAAAA flame maple (natural)
Edge binding: Rosewood with b/w/b border, contrasting purfling within top edge
List Price, effective January 1, 2022: $4600
Every Viridis Guitar comes with a top-quality lightweight case by MONO Cases and a transferable 3-year warranty.