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This one has been a long time coming. Getting married in the middle ate up a big chunk of time, but I did plenty on my own to slow it down too. This is a variety of firsts for me. I started with the OLF MJ plans for the body shape, and made up everything else. It's a multi-scale, baritone, with a wedged body. Back and sides are bubinga, top is stika spruce, bindings are ebony, and all the stuff out front is bloodwood.

Thanks to everyone here. Your help was invaluable.

Mike

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Mike Lindstrom

It's a very pretty guitar, Mike. I don't know much about these multi-scale, fan fret instruments but more and more people are trying them it seems. Can you tell me the scales you chose for the two E strings, and maybe why you selected those scale lengths? I've never played one of these guitars, but it has always seemed to me that scale lengths closer to one another (less difference between the two extremes) would be more comfortable to play. However, I've noticed that most builders use bigger extremes. Naturally, I'm curious about this.

Looks to me like you did a first rate job on this guitar. Congratulations.

Patrick

All those fancy tools to build a guitar and you couldn't find the wire clippers?

Beautiful guitar, I love that figure on the back plates!

The TSA probably confiscated them! Just kiddin'.

Nicely done Mike. How does it sound? The reverse butt wedge is an interesting concept too. Gotta love that Bubinga.

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Bill Hodge


One does not simply, own enough guitars!

You haven't seen my shop!

But really, I'm still messing with the nut and saddle, so I didn't want to cut those off just yet. Plus, the cats love them.

Mike

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Mike Lindstrom

It's too soon to say how it sounds. The first day was mellow, but too muddy. I kept wanting to tune it up another step or two. After a couple of days, it's coming into it's own. It lacks the overtones and chimeyness of my smaller guitars. We'll see how it grows, but I wonder if it may be the heavier strings too.

That bubinga came from "Whiskey Joe" or something like that at an OLF swap few years back. I've got a sister set to it to use soon.

Reverse butt wedge? I didn't know there was a right way. I mean, "Yeah, that's just what I was going for."

Thanks for the kind words.

Mike

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Mike Lindstrom

I knew nothing about them myself, but since I don't sell them, I don't want to keep making the same guitar over and over. These scales are about 27" and 29" as measured at the edge of the fretboard. I say about, because the fretboard got narrower than originally intended. I wanted a 29" to get decent sound out of the bass and be able to tune down to A if I really wanted to. I went with 27 because when I drew it out, it looked cool that way.

If I do another, I would shift them a bit to make the square fret around 3 or 4. My friends who actually play don't have any trouble with it, but I do. I think I'd also do a 14 fret neck to move the bridge up the lower bout a ways. I love the look of the long strings, but I'd like to hear the difference it made getting more of the lower bout hanging off the end of the bridge.

Mike

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Mike Lindstrom

I have wondered the same, I made 2, one with 5/8 difference the other with only 3/8, the bridge can be standard and you can barely notice. However at Healdsburg I tried one with the more radical difference, it was still very comfortable to play and the bass was amazing. If the player is heavy handed, they will pull things out of tune, bending up is different then bending down.
Rob

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Hey Mike, didn't mean to sound like I was implying there was a right or wrong way, in regard the the wedge. Just thought it was interesting is all. Actually, I kinda like it!

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Bill Hodge


One does not simply, own enough guitars!

So they usually go with the fat part in front? Just like my six pack abs.

I didn't know there was a convention. I wonder why? Could be to suggest the lines of a tailpiece??? Mine go every which way. I'm just happy if they reach all the way from the front to the back. If I remember, this one almost didn't.

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Mike Lindstrom

Nice looking guitar Mike! So why is it plugged into the house?
Rick

Beautiful! Very nicely done!

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PMoMC

You'll poke an eye out with that thing kid! (From a "Christmas Story", My favorite movie)

That Bubinga rocks! Really nice work!

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

You don't wear eye protection when you play?

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Mike Lindstrom

Wow...that bubinga is something special. looks great

Really nice, beautiful bubinga to. .

Lars

Some kinda yummy!

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince