Carmen! - Minarik Lotus | Orange Burst | Early Korean Production | Serial No. 000022

Meet Carmen

Minarik Lotus | Orange Burst | Early Korean Production | Serial No. 000022

Adoption Fee: £495

Have you ever admired the wonderfully unconventional designs of B.C. Rich, but wished for something with a slightly more elegant approach to standing out from the crowd?

Allow us to introduce Carmen.

She’s a Minarik Lotus, and she’s rather extraordinary.

Minarik guitars were created by designer Marc Minarik, whose early involvement with B.C. Rich and association with Bernie Rico helped shape his interest in instruments that challenged conventional guitar design.

The resulting guitars combined striking visual identities with familiar, practical construction, creating instruments that were as distinctive to look at as they were enjoyable to play.

And Carmen is a particularly beautiful example.

Her spectacular Orange Burst finish shifts between glowing amber, golden honey and rich copper, highlighting the wonderfully figured quilted maple top beneath.

The distinctive Lotus body takes inspiration from the familiar single-cutaway silhouette, transforming it with flowing contours and a dramatically sculpted upper horn. Elegant contrasting binding outlines the shape, while gold hardware provides a beautifully coordinated finishing touch.

The result is an instrument that looks equally at home on stage or displayed as a piece of art.

Her set-neck construction is complemented by a beautifully finished mahogany back and neck, while the bound fingerboard features delicate decorative inlays that continue the floral theme.

The black headstock carries Minarik’s distinctive emblem and an intricate pearlescent lotus flower inlay, accompanied by gold machine heads.

Carmen is fitted with two humbucking pickups, providing a versatile selection of warm clean tones and fuller, more powerful sounds.

A three-way pickup selector and four volume and tone controls allow straightforward adjustment of her sound, while the Tune-o-matic-style bridge and stopbar tailpiece provide a familiar, reliable playing arrangement.

A Particularly Early Example

One of Carmen’s most interesting features is her serial number.

Stamped into the rear of her headstock is 000022.

Our research indicates that Carmen belongs to the earliest period of Korean Minarik production, making her a particularly early example of the Lotus.

Minarik guitars are relatively uncommon in the UK, and early Korean examples are especially interesting to enthusiasts of unusual and discontinued instruments.

Although her exact manufacturing date has not been independently established, her low serial number and early-production characteristics make her an appealing example of the company’s history.

Condition and Restoration

Carmen presents beautifully, with her spectacular figured top and Orange Burst finish remaining the centrepiece of the instrument.

She has some cosmetic signs of previous use, particularly to the rear, consistent with a pre-owned guitar. Please examine the photographs for details.

As with every Stray, Carmen has received our comprehensive workshop treatment, including fret levelling, crowning and polishing, electronics cleaning and a full professional setup.

Her action and intonation have been carefully adjusted to ensure she’s ready for her next owner.

A Very Special Stray

What makes Carmen so appealing is her individuality.

She’s not simply another variation on a familiar guitar design. From her flowing Lotus body and beautifully figured top to her ornate headstock detailing and unusual early-production history, she has a character entirely her own.

For players and collectors who appreciate distinctive instruments, beautiful finishes and something a little outside the ordinary, Carmen offers a wonderful opportunity.

Carmen is available for adoption at £495.

Professionally serviced, carefully prepared and ready for her next chapter.

The Stray Chord

Rescue • Restore • Rehome

Every Stray deserves a second chance.

Even the ones that appear to have escaped from an art gallery.