Happy Birthday for Rod's Arena OM!

Today's a happy birthday for Rod's German Spruce and Walnut Arena OM. This instrument reminds me again why I like walnut so much. Walnut instruments seem to have a strong and wide open midrange and upper-midrange, and this this particular instrument responds very quickly to a light touch. Rod's guitar is headed for South Africa now. It's always a thrill for me to think of my instruments travelling far and wide around the world. Thanks, Rod! :)

Rio Performance on Public TV

In 2009 I had the pleasure of building a baritone instrument for Tim Drackert, a very fine fingerstyle player, and member of the Rio bossa nova group. Rio has just been featured in an hour-long program "11th and Grant". It's a fantastic performance, beautifully staged, lit, and recorded. So I invite you now to head over to Rio's website and settle in. If you'd like to hear the baritone right away then this link will cue it right up for you. Wow, thanks Tim...what a treat! :)

Showtime for Ron's Baritone Nylon String Crossover

I've recently completed Ron's Cuban Mahogany and Engelmann Spruce Baritone Nylon String Crossover. This instrument's longer scale length (string length) of 27"and heavier baritone-weighted nylon strings allow it to be tuned down to a fourth or a fifth below standard pitch, so that the outer strings are tuned to B, Bb, or A. It features an Engelmann spruce top, Cuban mahogany back and sides, koa rosette and headstock overlay, and cocobolo fingerboard, bridge, binding, and armrest bevel, as well as the cutaway, Ryan-style armrest bevel, Manzer wedge, and side soundport design elements. Thanks Ron, I had a great time building and playing your guitar! :)

Gallery 1 - During Build
Gallery 2 - Ready for Finish
Gallery 3 - Completed Instrument

Showtime for Jonathan's German Spruce and Wenge Arena

I recently completed Jonathan's Arena model instrument. The top is German spruce and the back and sides are wenge, one of my favorite woods. Jonathan is a classical player, so he specified a relatively wide 1&7/8" nut width, as well as a fuller neck profile such as you'd find on a classical. Jonathan also chose to have a Ryan armrest bevel built into his guitar. This makes it so much more comfortable to play; it's one of my favorite optional features to include on my instruments. This is my first left-handed guitar. It's a strange relationship to have with an instrument...to have made it, and to be so intimately connected with it in a way that feels like I'm in command of it...and then to be totally unable to play it! :) But I can give it a strum and listen to the notes as I play it upside down, and I have a very good feeling about it. I'm particularly like the thickness and sustain of the treble notes on the first string as I play high up on the neck. The notes are clear and full in every range. I just wish I could play it! Now I know how all you lefties out there feel! :)

Gallery 1 - During Build
Gallery 2 - Pre-Finish
Gallery 3 - Completed Instrument

Carl's German Spruce and Cuban Mahogany Baritone Has Landed

Carl has just received his German Spruce and Cuban Mahogany Baritone. I really enjoyed playing this guitar during the brief time I had it before delivery. Even though it's a moderately large instrument with a 16" lower bout, the sound comes out real quick. I like to hear a very steady note over the course of the sustain, with a deep fundamental that "snaps" on fast, and with upper partials that sustain throughout the course of the note...even when the instrument is played lightly. Carl's instrument really delivers in this way, so I'm very happy. Carl chose to include the Ryan Armrest Bevel and also the Manzer Wedge on his guitar, making the body of the instrument especially comfortable. Thanks, Carl! :)