Official Luthiers Forum!

John, It all sounds very exciting to me. What about a bolt on instead of glue on neck? This might make assembly and setup easier for inexperienced builders (like me!) The Crowdster is a bolt on (see pic) I think an onboard volume would be cool but with all the different pickup options you would have to settle on one to keep things simple. The Baggs Element has a nice small volume wheel that could be added somewhere out of the way. That is one of my beefs with the Crowdster, the volume, treble,mid and bass are right on the top, les Paul style and it is distracting. Here's a couple snaps.

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jw ( o)===:::

Mahogany back/neck and I'm also a fan of K&K pickups. My only top experience is with Sitka so I'd like to see what others think here.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Whoa. Hadn't seen the Crowdster before. At first glance, I thought I had stolen somebody's idea without realizing it.

A bolt on version might be possible, but I think most people would want the set neck. I was thinking of including a little printed tutorial with the kit that explains my step by step method for glueing up set necks. Works every time.

Would on-board D.I. be of interest? Balanced XLR right out of the guitar to a PA?

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John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

John,
I think the bolt on option would be great. It would be really easy to do a neck reset with that bolt on. At least make it an option. As for the DI and XLR, I wouldn't use it, but others may find it useful.

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Tracy
http://www.luthiersuppliers.com

Ok, we'll offer a bolt-on, but you're not going to need a neck reset. There's nowhere for the bridge to move to.

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John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

I would prefer the set neck with no onboard electronics (edit: except the K&K of course). Is it any wonder that everyone can build the same thing and they'll all be different

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Set or bolt on doesn't matter to me, but I'd love standard 1/4 out, and my choice of electronics.

John,

What a creative idea! Very nice and it sounds great!

Offer options for pretty tops......redwood, flamed koa, curly maple, etc. this is one area where you can use something other than spruce. Even cedar tops might have a nice look.

A may get a kit myself. Is there a case that will fit this shape?

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Formerly known as Adaboy.......

I think it is more about replacing a broken neck. That's a pretty beg advantage.

For a pickup - I think the DTAR Wavelength with the volume and tone control would be great.
If the K&K Western mini worked, that might even be better. No battery and feedback would not be an issue.

I want one!

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"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." G. K. Chesterton.

John, do you think the Crowdster employs the same internals?

Nice job.

Mike

The Crowdy is chambered but nothing like John's. Being the Curious George that I am (does that mean I'm a monkey?? )
I have taken the back cover off and looked around inside to see the chambering. Not real open. Tom Anderson would never let me see the inside, I asked a bunch of times. It's really intended for loud environments. The top is mostly there for looks, the sound is mostly the strings over the saddle and moving the pick-up. I think simple 1/4 out would be best too. I think a set neck would be fine too. I always wanted a 12 string version but Tom was always too busy to fiddle with it and his peg head does not lend itself to a 12 string. maybe that could be an option too. Is your head spinning yet John?

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jw ( o)===:::

So you bought one and took it apart?

That's good, and I get it. So Tom's is more solid?

Thanks for the input guys. I don't see any suggestions here that are outside of the realm of possibility. I'm a little hesitant to offer hardwood tops because I think the primary appeal of this thing will be the exceptionally realistic acoustic sound, which will certainly be dimished by swapping tops. Maybe I'll build one with a maple top and just see what happens.

Joe, do you know off-hand what your Crowdster weighs? I remember my guitar came in at 2.4 pounds before tuners and electronics. I think it's just under four completely assembled.

So here's my plan; I'm going to do some re-design to accomodate some of these options, make it more user friendly to assemble, tweak a few things that I think will make it sound better still, and run some stress tests to make sure it's good for the long haul. Then I'll churn out another prototype. Shouldn't take too long. The first one was a one weekend project.

I'll probably take pre-orders on this since the materials are going to be a little pricey and I really don't know what the demand might be.

Also, I'm not planning on offering the box-jointed top on the kits. If anyone was wanting that, please say so.

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John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

Put my name on the list!

Sounds like a great plan, John. The box joint, while cool, probably adds more cost. As builders, we have the ability to add our own purfs, bindings and other aesthetic touches. The box joint could be a premium upgrade later should folks want such a feature.

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

John, what does a kit mean?

What comes in the box, and what is left to do?

Thanks,

Mike

Mike,
John mentioned this on page 2 of this thread:
"Closed body with mortise and binding channel cut
Cavity Cover
Neck with paddle headstock
Matching bridge, fingerboard, and headplate"

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Tracy
http://www.luthiersuppliers.com

John, My Crowdster is about 6.5 LBS. It's like an electric in all respects except sound. Rick Turner makes a very light stage acoustic. Ricks are called the Renaissance RS6 and RN6. They are braced very similar to an acoustic but have a center block (if I remember correctly) and no soundhole. As soon as you go cuttin' holes in these things the feedback resistance goes out the window. That's why Taylor's T-5's are somewhat duds. They aren't very good at being an acoustic and they aren't very good at being an electric. You need to run down and plug yours into my PA and SPS-1 and studio set-up and we can A/B these and see where they stand. I like everything you have mentioned so far.

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jw ( o)===:::

Before I decide to get one I want to hear a sound clip of Smoke On the Water played on one.....

bummm bumm bumm..bum bum ba-bummm..bummm bumm bumm..ba bum

thats me tapping out the intro on my moniter zeroed in on the photo

John you can call this the WALP (Wakins Acoustic LP) pronounced the wallop!

Oops, got a bit excited and missed that. Been wanting a "crowdster" like guitar...thanks

Unfortunately, we've already got a name for it, but WALP really does have a ring to it...

Joe, I may have to take you up on that. Especially if it warms up a little soon and I can impose on JJ at the same time for a quick round at his club.

I've been thinking about the sound port idea, and I really don't think the instrument is loud enough acoustically to bring any significant additional volume to the players head by way of a side port. I also agree with Joe that the likelihood for feedback would be greatly increased by even a modest vent.

I've also considered cutting some designs (celtic knots, leafy patterns, etc) into and through the top for visual interest as an option, but these could be done in the upper bout where they will have minimal affect on the sound and they can be backed with a rosewood veneer so that they only appear to be holes.

Just thinking out loud.....

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John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

IMO...just the basics...sell the sound. The bling and more expensive stuff can come later once it is accepted.

I see a round of golf in your future! Late March or early April.

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

Really nice, John!

Man that box-joint faux rope binding effect is incredible! I'm not saying your guitars have to have it, but it is an incredible visual effect.

She sound really nice plugged in!

Dennis

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Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

Thanks guys. I think for a kit I probably want to steer clear of anything 'signature'. People like to add that stuff themselves (or have me add it for them and no one else).

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John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts