Official Luthiers Forum!

It's finished!

This past week I finished my 14th guitar a BRW OM which I have decided to name after my dear friend JJ.

This is the second guitar in a series of 2 OMs which are for all intensive purposes built identically.  The only difference is the choice of woods with the first one being Carpathian/Koa and this one BRW/Adi.  Both guitars are just under 4 pounds.

The design concept for this one was to only use three woods, very nice woods, for the entire guitar.  I wanted to pay homage to the great guitars of the past by using BRW, Adirondack spruce, and Honduran mahogany.  In addition I wanted this guitar to look like it was dipped in BRW (no jokes please.....).

Credits: 

BRW - back/sides, rosette, bridge blank, head plate - Brad Goodman
BRW - bindings - Allied
BRW 3 degree, non-slotted custom bridge pins - Louis
Adirondak Spruce top - Allied
3 piece Honduran mahogany neck - Sir John Watson
Finish - Tony Ferguson

I have been waiting for a sunny day here in frigid Michigan to take these photos and it is just not going to happen for me......  It's gray again today so I did the best I could under the circumstances.....

To preempt requests for sound clips - I have none but as always will post sound clips when and if I get a decent player over here who agrees to be recorded.  Promise!

















And here is where she now lives.



Thanks for looking!

Hesh, awesome as usual my friend.

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My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Beautiful, Hesh. 

 

Scrumdiliumptious!

Hesh, you keep threatening to play "Smoke on the Water", so maybe we'll get to hear this baby soon?

By the way, an overcast sky is the ideal condition for photography. Richer colors and softer shadows from the diffused light.

Lookin' mighty good!

Dennis

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Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

Hesh--

That is quite a guitar!  I really enjoyed JJ's enthusiasm at being able to play it.  Come to think of it its quite a pair that you have built.

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Jim Howell
Charlotte, NC

Hesh,

The woods look gorgeous together and the design is elegant. Great work again

Based on JJ's description it sounds and plays wonderfully too. If I had the money I'd come over and do some recording for you. There must be some acoustic players in the Michigan area that would love to come and do the honours for you.

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

You HAVE to be pretty happy with that! It just cries out "play me". And it
appears to me that the biggest decision of the day would be "which one this
time". It looks like you have some pretty similar body styles. I'd say you are
in a pretty good position to give us your impression of different tone
qualities of different woods? How 'bout it?


Cheers,
Danny

Stunning guitars Hesh. I was going to ask what you were doing with all your
guitars...I guess the better question is: When's the jam session at your
place?

Jamie

Whoah Hesh ->
Better and better!!!
You are cranking out some fabulous guitars mang!!!
Cheers
Charlie
PS Id also be interested in hearing your opinions on sound comparison.... thanks for posting

Hesh, I really like the simplicity. Elegant and clean. Not even any fret markers! Just the wood and the lines (and Tony's finish!) speaking for itself.

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http://www.chassonguitars.com

stunning and very inspirational...thanks for posting the pics!

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http://www.PeakeGuitars.com

Just beautiful Hesh! I'll take the one on the right if that is okay. . Is it
possible to get sound samples for all your guitars? Oh yea, you might want
to buy another rack, they filling up!

Tracy

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Tracy
http://www.luthiersuppliers.com

Thanks folks this is always perhaps the very most exciting time for me in guitar building and that is showing you guys what I have been up to.  So it's a GREAT day for me!!

Dennis does the cloudy day light benefit extend inside?  It's 25 degrees out there and RH wise crack city so I had to take these with light through the windows.

Jim thanks for the compliments about my pair.......

Dave bro if I had the money I would fly you over here after hearing your fantastic playing!!!!

Danny buddy funny you should mention that.  JJ sat here and argued about that very question.  I maintain that the BRW guitar has more shimmering highs and tighter bass and projects a clearer note.  He would not agree but would agree that they sound different from each other and I agree to that too.  And there is an Adi top in the mix which I believe plays an important if not very important role.

Koa guitars sound great too but I hear a touch of darkness and more of a mahogany sound but without the better projection of mahogany.

I found this chart in Elderly's latest mailing and I believe they borrowed it from Martin.  Here the various tonewoods are described for tone - a very subjective thing to do.  But you know something - of the woods that I have used, which is much of the list, I completely agree with the descriptions.  It's pretty rare that I agree with anything either........



Charlie my friend I like them both but the BRW guitar is exciting for me to play.  Smoke on the Water has never sounded better......

Kent Tony's finishes are indeed superb in all respects!!!!

Tracy buddy at some point I hope to be able to have many sound clips available.  For now though I have the local OLFers who have played my guitars and their impressions - that is why I always buy lunch.....

Hesh, Really nice! I agree with the others on the simple elegance of it.
That is getting to be quite a rack

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

Hesh,

Congratulations!

We need a 5 star emoticon.

That guitar looks superb in workmanship and blend of beautiful tonewoods. So glad to hear that it turned out so well. I hope to play this one someday soon!

In an earlier post you referred to your guitar as "she" yet named it JJ... I am ok with that

I am flattered my friend though unworthy for such an honor.

As stated before...both of these guitars really made an impression on me. Way different than anything you have done to date. I really applaud you for the hard work and committment to your sound as you worked toward the completion of these guitars. Of course, the BRW is special and is well worth the effort. You did that ancient tree proud.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Gorgeous dude...your body of work is impressive, and growing.

Hope you are well.

Bill

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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

Very nice and elegant!!!

Glenn

Great work again Hesh, very nice wood choices, you can join the Kinnaird brothers in being honorary Brits.

But, we do need A:B recordings of the siblings please. If Dave can't come over, send a ticket (better make it two so the boss can come) and I'll be glad to help out.

Now take a couple of months off, and just sit down and play them!

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Hesh, you are the man.  Those are both beautiful.  The powder must be working wonders.    You sure are spending a lot of shop time these days.  Someone would die to play those guitars for you.  You might have trouble getting them back though.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

very nicely done hesh. What are you doing with all thoser guitars. Starting to look like my office.

Very, very nice guitar(s). Nice touch on the heel cap and cont. of the figure in back. You have a lot to be proud of in your guitars.

hooooOOOWWEEEEE!!! Nice work, Hesh!

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Congratulations, Hesh!

Enjoy playing and sharing it!

An absolute beauty. Boy you have a lot of guitars on the rack.
How do you decide which to play

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Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com