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So, I was having a lot of trouble with feedback using acoustic guitars at band rehearsals, so I hatched this idea. It's an inch bigger than a Les Paul in both directions and joins at the 14th for balance. Before tuners, it weighed in at 2.4 lbs. Though the build was rooted in utility, I'm pretty happy with the aesthetic results too. Thanks for looking....

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John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

That is too cool!!!!! You should offer these bodies in on-line store just kidding But if you did it would be cool

not my type of binding, but the whole guitar looks pretty good!! You use it as an acoustic?

clean work!

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Olivier Gauthier
Montreal, QC

ooooh I just realized that it's not even a binding and it really is what it looks like... now I like it a lot hehehe

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Olivier Gauthier
Montreal, QC

That is just too cool. Love the box joint top.

Steve

John, what a cool way to join the top to the sides! It looks like rope binding.

Mike Franks
www.mjfranksguitar.com

Looks great John! Love the fingerjoint top to sides....do you plat it acoustic?

Chuck

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Nice concept! How is it amplifyed?

there is little doubt John cut the body and top on CNC. After all that is his buisness Still is too cool

I want to see the neck joint

Very nice John.

You've been away too long. There are people here now who aren't familiar with your work.

Edit; Michael beat me to it.

I've been thinking of doing the exact same thing, except for the CNC part and the box joint. I was thinking of using an OM shape, 14 fret, similar cut out on the body. How deep is the body?

I love it!!! Very cool John my friend!!!

Dude...That's scary beautiful! Nice to see you back in the saddle!

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

That's just way cool, John!

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

What they all said. Heck...I'm not even sure I understand it! But I think it's pretty cool! How does it sound?
Patrick

John...great job. Very cool.

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Brad
Avon, OH

Awesome John! Reminds me of my Tom Anderson Crowdster. I had the same problem in bands and now I can bury a drummer without a hint of feedback. Are you using an undersaddle PUP? Which one, Baggs Element? I think you should offer these as a kit, I would buy one!

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jw ( o)===:::

You never cease to amaze me, John.
Nice work!

Thanks for the nice comments, guys. It got it's first test drive last night and I have to call it a resounding success. It cut through like a knife with two other guys on electric guitar and a keyboardist to compete with. It has all of the presence of an acoustic with none of the low-mid boominess. I think it is able to sound like an acoustic because the top is only .08" thick and the braces don't touch it. They're about 1/6" shy, so the whole thing can move except the bridge. The pickup is a b-band undersaddle that I threw in just to test it, but it sounds so good, I think I'm leaving it in.

This thing's really got me thinking about building guitars again. I'm a happy camper. I'll post sound clips over the weekend.

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John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

John that is just killer man!

Very cool!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

I am loving it...how does she sound?

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www.ziegenfussguitars.com

Do it! I'd imagine you've got a long list of neat ideas by now on things that wouldn't have been possible before...and you get great prices on components!

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

That's awesome, John. It reminds me of John Mayes' version, but with your touches. I bet it sounds great.

You certainly break a lot of rules there. Couple of questions:

1. When you say you play it acoustically, you don't actually mean acoustic with no amplification, right? You mean you are playing though a transducer pickup rather than a electro-magnetic pickup, or do you really mean acoustic?

2. The bridge doesn't move? How is it possible to have an acoustic guitar and not have the bridge move? The bridge DRIVES the top motion that generates the sound. The bridge is like a speaker magnet and the top like the cone. If you immobilize the speaker magnet you don't make sound. I don't understand

3. The top is not braced at all? How do you prevent the strings from ripping the top to shreds if it has no bracing?

Super interesting concept and beautiful execution!