My arch-top design results in both great dynamic range and a broad palette of tonal color. In addition to creating a strong solo instrument, this unique archtop guitar has amazed musicians and collectors who have played it. The sound is a cross between a flat top and an archtop. Players have compared it favorably with D'Aquisto's later hand-made instruments. While I was meeting with Dweezil Zappa, I had a chance for Ray White (one of Frank Zappa’s guitar players) to play this instrument. He was so impressed at this way this guitar played and sounded. He was such a hero of mine and that was a great honor for him to play one of my instruments.

This is a one-of-a-kind archtop with a glued-on bridge, X bracing, bridgeplate, and circle-of-sound bracing that nobody has ever tried before. This was the prototype for the SoHo 16. ‘The Lotus’ was played at one of the Long Island guitar shows, by someone who worked for Premier Guitar magazine. He did a version of Steve Howe from YES “The Clap” and the huge crowd that formed during his performance was a career highlight of mine. He commented, “This guitar sounds like a piano!” which was a huge compliment. Al Di Meola also played this guitar and he loved the sounds and playability of this instrument as well.