Im back!

The show was great, I had a blast! Got a chance to hang out with some guitar building buddies, made a few
new friends and had the pleasure of watching John Creech play my guitars for the two "mini concerts" each day.
John did a phenomenal job, as I knew he would! He also took home his Brazilian/Carpathian D14.

Here is my display table for the show, left to right is Johns D14, then Mikes 000-OMFS, an E2 made of Malaysian Blackwood with an addy top and another E2 Indian/LS redwood. I thought the Addy topped E2 was heading home with someone, as there were two very interested folks, it didn't though so I will have it with me in Montreal, Unless is sells between now and then.




Here is John playing Mike Crixells 000-OMFS. I will have more pictures and videos that I will be posting here at my blog
over the next day or so.




Here is John on his brand spankin new Brazilian D14.

Off to Miami!

Well, its finally here! The Newport in Miami guitar festival! I will have John Creechs spectacular Brazilian rosewood D-14. This guitar came out fantastic! Its a true cannon! Also going with us is Mike Crixells LS Redwood Flamed Koa 000-OMFS, this guitar is as the other end of the spectrum. Its a very lush finger style guitar. We will also have an E2 with a nice set of Malaysian Blackwood back and sides and and a sweet Addy top! If you are in Miami, please stop by the show and say hi! Oh I almost forgot. John Creech will also have his LS Indian E2 on hand for anyone that would like to test drive it.
I will try to blog some in the evenings after the show.

WEBSITE DOWN TIME

Starting Midnight on Friday, March 28th 2008 (ie. early Saturday morning). For a period of 24-48 hours my main site will be down as the company that hosts my site moves to all new servers. If you need to contact me please feel free to call 517-788-7570 Thanks!

Mike Crixells Sweet LS Koa creation!

Strings this week! And then its off to my good buddy Craig Lavin where it will wait for me to arrive in Miami for the show!

Bitter Sweet.

Always a bitter sweet time when I drop one of my babies in the mail to
head off to there rightful owner for the rest of there days :(
After changing out the Nickel Gotoh tuners for Gold tuners with black buttons (DOH!), I
said good by to Paul F's LS Redwood Cocobolo OMFS. It is now on its way to
to live in New Mexico.
With his out the door, I am concentrating on Mark Cashmans E2 which will be ready for the
Montreal Guitar show, also Jack Wills OMFS Twins. They are all three on the bench now in various
states of completion.
I am very excited about Jacks guitars! They are both made from similar pieces of Cocobolo.
The top on one is Cedar and the other Engelmann. They are braced identical.
Same bridge plate and brace stock. I am very interested in hearing the difference in the voices. The top woods
will be the biggest difference between the two. So this will allow me a great opportunity to A/B them.
More later!

John Creech's Brw D14

An update from the paint booth. John's brw dreadnought getting a nice tobacco burst.

Pauls OMFS is ready to ship!

My good friend and fellow guitar builder Stephen Ziegenfuss is blessed with the camera, he came over last night and took these pictures for me. Thanks Steve!
This is Paul's LS Redwood Cocobolo OMFS that has been featured on this blog over the last two months or so as it came together. It has now been strung up for the better part of a week. It sounds fantastic, I am very happy. Thanks for looking!

New Cocobolo!

Just in are two wonderful sets of Nicaraguan Cocobolo.
These both will eventually make two stunning guitars!
Inquire if interested!

Update on Pauls OMFS

With the Newport in Miami show drawing near I had to set this little beauty aside for several weeks as I finished up the D14 and the 000-OMFS. Now that their off to the finishing booth and can concentrate on getting this baby out the door to one very patient customer! Thanks Paul!
This guitar has fast become my most popular model and wood combo for fingerstylists. The LS Redwood top provides every thing that a cedar top can with an added sparkle and more headroom. Just an amazing tonewood!
The Cocobolo is, well, stunning in every way. Beautiful to look at and sonically incredible. It is by far one of my most favorite woods to work with. I just added two more wonderful sets of Cocobolo to my stash, I will post pictures above.
The bindings are Flamed Koa as is the rosette and the Headstock overlay, back strap, fretboard and bridge are all deap black Ebony.

Last night I did the final neck set and glued it down. Tonight I will fret the board. This one will be off to its new home in New Mexico by the second week of March.

Mikes 000-OMFS ready for finish!

D14 Update.

Just the headstock overlay and final neck fitting and sanding to do and its off to finish. This will be getting a deep lustrous tobacco burst.
This guitar will be available to be seen at the Newport in Miami Guitar show. Also, its owner John Creech will be doing a mini concert using this guitar! I cannot wait!

Stunning set of Guatemalan Rosewood

I picked up two stunning sets of Guatemalan Rosewood today! It is said to have the same tonal properties as Brazilian! I cant wait to use it! If this set speaks to you, give me a call! ;-)

Update on John Creechs D-14

I often think of this stage of construction as the "ugly duckling stage" I can see the pending beauty, but as the guitar is sanded and scraped in to shape, its almost as if its molting its ugly duckling feathers and reveling its potential.
I don't know? May be silly but its how I see it :-)
So, here is Johns D-14, the body is bound, the fretboard and bridge are some of the finest Brazilian I have. Now its on to the neck.

Update on Mark Cashmas top

Update on Johns Dreadnought

Here is a quick update on John Creechs D-14.
The top and back have now been glued to the rims. Bindings are next! Then were on to the neck.






The pair. Mikes and Johns.

Update on Mikes 000-OM Fingerstylist

A few pictures from today.

Long overdue update!

Hi Folks!
A quick update on a few happenings. First, Mike Crixells 00-OMFS is looking more and more like a guitar!
The top has been glued down to the body closing up the box. (Pictures later) John Creechs Dread has been fully braces and voiced and the back has been attached to the sides, Top should go on later this week. Next its on to the bindings for both. Mark Cashmans E2 will be getting its top bracing today. My goal is to have all three of these guitars ready for finishing by the first week of February. Lastly, a new mouth watering set of Koa has arrived, as well as another stunning set of Malaysian blackwood.

More on Mike Crixells 000-OM Fingerstylist

Next up is the voicing process for Mikes Top. Here it is getting the last of the braces glued down.



Here is Mikes Neck blank getting a sweet Brazilian rosette overlay glued down. The finish nails are there to stop the plate from sliding under the clamping pressure.






The neck with the plate glued on, truss rod slot cut as well as a pair of carbon fiber rods installed.


lastly, my NEW Go-Bar station!

Rosette update

Here it is, all done!

Premium Segmented Rosette with Red Heart ab ring.

Cutting a custom diameter circle from abalone for a rosette.



Testing its placement and size.



Here you can see the individual segments that make up the Brazilian rosewood ring. Sixteen in total, all orientated to allow the grain to flow outward, like rays of sunshine :)



Here it is dry fitted into the segmented Braz rosewood ring. Next I will add the inner and outer b/w/b purfling rings to the shell ring and level.

A few completed Rosettes

Here is Mark Cashmans bookmatched Brazilian rosewood rosette,



And a pair of Red Heart ab with Koa purfs for Jack Wills.