Kari Nieminen's
Versoul
guitars are some of the most exclusive made anywhere in the world. The Finnish luthier also has an impressive list of artists that own Versoul instruments including Kenny Burrell, Allan Holdsworth and Michael Landau. But Ronnie Wood is fast becoming Versoul´s biggest client with a total of nine instruments to date.
Wood purchased his first two Versoul guitars back in 2003 — a Buxom and Henry with gold-leaf top — and topped up with a Reso Sun resonator and Raya 6-string baritone a year later. Another Raya 6 baritone was ordered as back-up for the Stones´ tour and Wood has since purchased a 12-string solidbody baritone, an acoustic 12-string baritone, and a custom Raya 6-string.
On 5th May 2007, Kari travelled to London to meet up with Wood and present him with a birthday present of a 12-string Buxom acoustic in a unique blue/grey finish. Kari believes Wood not only likes the sound of the guitars but “he has an eye for things like the gold-leaf that I use — the more artistic side of my work.”
Kari´s certainly into baritones and he showed us a baritone Reso Sun resonator and baritone classical — highly unusual instruments but both sounded exceptional. “My focus is on experimenting with sound,” says Kari, “primarily in acoustic steel and classic guitars.” Oh, and hanging out with a Rolling Stone!
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