Well,
I'm trusting USPS to get this one to Northern MN safely. I packed it up about as securely as can be without an armor case. I don't generally have time to post many pics since I'm always busy in my shop, so I thought I'd display a couple of pics. I'm not quite there with my photography skills yet so I only have a few shots worthy of showing and those aren't that great really, but I'm improving. These pics do this instrument no justice compared to seeing it in person. I built this one as per the custom requests of it's new owner. He wanted it to be built of a variety of American woods with a simple appearance so it is mostly that. It does however have some EIR incorporated for visual effects, and a Morado fretboard. The sound and responsiveness of this guitar are so sweet and this thing is loud projecting every note with clarity. It responds well to a light touch when finger picking, yet gives what you want on demand when driving it hard with a pick. It is well balanced between the Bass, Mid-range, and Highs and performs well un-amped in a large or small room. Leaving it at the post office, I felt extreme remorse as if I'd shipped off one of my own children. I guess because all the others are local so far, I get to see them from time to time and hear them as their voice matures. I do have some sound clips of this but it will be a while before I have time to get them on line.
Specs are as follows;
The body is my own variation of the OM size with a transparent pick guard
Soundboard is Master Grade Sitka
Back is Texas Mesquite (this stuff really does sing like BRW)
Sides are 1/4 sawn American Black Cherry
The 7 pc neck is Claro Walnut-Mesquite-EIR-Quilted Maple
Binding and HS Veneer is EIR
Semi-Spherical Fret ends (Thanks Charles Fox and Sylvan Wells)
Morado Fretboard w Bone Nut
Pinless Claro Walnut bridge (Thanks Jeff Elliot and Mike Doolin) w Bone Saddle
Standard X bracing on the soundboard and Dbl X bracing on the back (Thanks Michael Bashkin)
6 In Line Waverley Tuning Machines
EM6000 Lacquer on the body
Tru-Oil finish on the neck. (I know some don't care for Tru-Oil, but it makes a neck feel soooo good, and is easy to maintain.)Attachment: RVH1.jpg Attachment: RVH2.jpg Attachment: RVH4.jpg
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The saddle may look a bit tall in the photo (it is 3/16 above the bridge) but this is the way this particular player likes his to appear at the bridge. Probably because he played a Gibson lap steel and a Dobro for so many years. I had to set the neck just right to accept this while still allowing for a good medium to low action at the twelfth. He picks lightly by finger and drives hard with a pick and I believe this one will meet the specific needs he expressed. Can't wait to get feedback from him when it arrives.
![[:Y:]](./images/smilies/smiley20.gif "Thumbs Up")
). A couple of sources for some quality Mesquite are ![[headinwall]](./images/smilies/headbangwalluf8.gif "Mad")
This particular set I had gotten at a superb price from a luthier in GA that was quitting the trade a few years ago. It had sides but they would have made the OM sized body too shallow. Thus, I used them as part of the 7 pc neck. I have 1 other piece I plan to use someday as a fretboard.