Master Builder Mark Piper spent over 200 hours working the maple on the guitars and getting the color right, so as to give the effect that they are actually on fire. Inside the Guild guitars, visible through the soundhole, is a hand painted portrait of The Sprite, the spirit of Nature. Circling around her face are butterflies of carved and engraved abalone. The inlay and ornamentation for these Guild guitars was designed by Chris Schnabel and Edgar Reynolds of Disney. They spent many hours working on the right designs, using bits and pieces of unfinished guitars to build their model.
Some folks just add ornamentation wherever it fits within the shape of the instrument.
Our challenge was to create a cohesive design for each guitar that complemented the feel of each scene. The interior portrait of The Sprite, the flamingos splashing in the water, and New York City in shades of blue, all incorporate the Art Nouveau design elements which the animation directors looked to when they made the film. Fender and Guild's delicate execution really captured the sense of movement we were hoping for. Adorning the headstock of both the Flamingo Strat and the Guild guitar is a sterling silver treble clef that, in the true spirit of Disney, sports mouse ears. On the D'Aquisto, that clef can be found on the ebony tailpiece.