The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Custom Shop

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 11-17-2014, 05:57 PM
justonwo's Avatar
justonwo justonwo is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 7,120
Default Post Your Favorite Circa(s)

I have admired John's work for quite some time. I know there are a number of Circa owners here, but I don't think I've ever seen a consolidated thread about his guitars. If you own one (or have a lot of experience with one), please post your thoughts here. As always, photos are welcome and encouraged.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 11-18-2014, 05:53 AM
Michael Watts Michael Watts is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London UK
Posts: 2,984
Default

This Maple 000 came in and sold very quickly. Funnily enough I met its original owner over the weekend!

Lovely guitar...





__________________
www.michaelwattsguitar.com
Album Recording Diary
Skype Lessons
Luthier Stories
YouTube
iTunes
Instagram

Guitars by Jason Kostal, Strings by Elixir, Gefell Mics and a nail buffer.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 11-18-2014, 06:08 AM
Trevor M Trevor M is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Brighton UK
Posts: 1,593
Default

A fantastic guitar. Its now available at TAMCO.







And a mahogany OM (also available).









__________________
Trevor.

Last edited by Trevor M; 11-18-2014 at 06:20 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 11-18-2014, 07:34 AM
adlerburg adlerburg is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 137
Default

After having experience with what many would consider some of the world's finest builders, John is one of the very elite builders, and in there with the top 5... where those 5 are none better than each other... just differences.
My dear and distinguished friend also has a Circa of stunning Brazilian/Adi.. I'll see if he would also post, as his guitar would highlight this thread nicely.
Here's my Double 00 Cut in very rare straight grained Honduran Rosewood and Adirondack Red Spruce...
(I'm not sure why the burst looks red in pictures, as it's not representative at all The burst in person is a very deep rich cremona burst... oh well)









Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 11-18-2014, 10:45 AM
jmagill jmagill is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Asheville, NC
Posts: 1,221
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Watts View Post
This Maple 000 came in and sold very quickly. Funnily enough I met its original owner over the weekend!

Lovely guitar...



Here's my custom Circa 00, Italian spruce over Macassar ebony with a maple neck. More pix and my review here. This instrument was, interestingly enough, the inspiration for another John made with the exact same wood combination, the only exception being the headplate, which was unadorned. Again, interestingly enough, my guitar features my own customized version of Martin's original 1902 flowerpot which John has duplicated on the maple guitar above.



And here's my magnificent OM, red spruce over Madagascar rosewood with a mahogany neck. More pix and my review here.

__________________
Jim Magill
Director, The Swannanoa Gathering

Guitars:'07 Circa OM, '09 Bashkin 00-12fret, '10 Circa 00 12-fret, '17 Buendia Jumbo, '17 Robbins R.1, '19 Doerr Legacy Select, '12 Collings 000-28H Koa. Pre-War guitars: '20 0-28, '22 00-28, '22 000-28. Mandolins: '09 Heiden Heritage F5, '08 Poe F5 , 1919 Gibson F-4, '80 Monteleone Grand Artist mandolin, '83 Monteleone GA (oval),'85 Sobell cittern.

Last edited by jmagill; 11-19-2014 at 02:49 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 11-18-2014, 01:37 PM
justonwo's Avatar
justonwo justonwo is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 7,120
Default

Oh man, so many awesome Circas. adlerburg, I LOVE the look of that 00. Absolutely gorgeous.

Trevor and Micheal, that is a stunning maple 000!

Jim, your Circas and reviews have always been an inspiration. I have always loved the look of your guitars. I especially love this one! Drooooool.

Jim, how do would you compare the 2008 aid/Braz OM with the Adi/Madagascar OM in the photos above?







And this one!



Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 11-18-2014, 03:52 PM
jmagill jmagill is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Asheville, NC
Posts: 1,221
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by justonwo View Post
Oh man, so many awesome Circas. adlerburg, I LOVE the look of that 00. Absolutely gorgeous.

Trevor and Micheal, that is a stunning maple 000!

Jim, your Circas and reviews have always been an inspiration. I have always loved the look of your guitars. I especially love this one! Drooooool.

Jim, how do would you compare the 2008 aid/Braz OM with the Adi/Madagascar OM in the photos above?
Thanks for the kind words.

I have been fortunate to play perhaps a few dozen Circas, but most of them fairly briefly. The two I own, of course, I know well and have reviewed extensively at my website.

The Braz OM is owned by Ed Dodson. I remember when it was new thinking it had some of the richest, sweetest tone I'd ever heard. The sound didn't have quite the depth or volume of my OM (which already had a year's playing time on it), but it was still one of the most memorable guitars I've played.

I remember the Taz blackwood 000 as feather-light, with a beautifully balanced voice and dry-toned similar to mahogany or koa.
__________________
Jim Magill
Director, The Swannanoa Gathering

Guitars:'07 Circa OM, '09 Bashkin 00-12fret, '10 Circa 00 12-fret, '17 Buendia Jumbo, '17 Robbins R.1, '19 Doerr Legacy Select, '12 Collings 000-28H Koa. Pre-War guitars: '20 0-28, '22 00-28, '22 000-28. Mandolins: '09 Heiden Heritage F5, '08 Poe F5 , 1919 Gibson F-4, '80 Monteleone Grand Artist mandolin, '83 Monteleone GA (oval),'85 Sobell cittern.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 11-18-2014, 05:20 PM
Teleplucker's Avatar
Teleplucker Teleplucker is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 2,438
Default

I have posted mine several times, but there's always another opportunity to share. The first time I met John at Swannanoa he handed me a Mahogany 00 to try. It was one of those special guitar moments when you hear a sound you have been looking for. I didn't have the money to buy that guitar but I soon placed my order.
I went with a Mahogany 00, because that was the sound I was after. John told me that the 00 body size it is very easy to get very consistent results.
I asked if the cutaway would change the sound. John said in his experience the cutaway had no effect. That was good enough for me
[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]

I had John add a pick guard later. Of course since we are supposed to play guitars here's the Circa in action


The trio I play in recently recorded a cd. The 00 was used on a couple of songs, on one in particular I noticed that the treble strings sounded really nice. John told me that the hide glue that he uses makes those strings sound bright but not brittle. Who knows? Whatever he is doing he knows how to build a great guitar.
__________________
My YouTube Page

Last edited by Teleplucker; 11-18-2014 at 05:38 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 11-18-2014, 07:16 PM
Kahobbs Kahobbs is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 155
Default Circa Dread Adi/Braz

This Adi/ Braz Dread is from 2008. Per John, this is a lighter build than he is doing with Dreads these days.

The tone is glorious and you can't appreciate the true beauty of the Adirondack and Brazilian with out seeing the guitar in person.







Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 11-18-2014, 07:24 PM
Cocobolo Kid's Avatar
Cocobolo Kid Cocobolo Kid is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Posts: 1,015
Smile Circa

This one's my favorite so far. I just love this wood.
__________________
John
Tucson, AZ

2020 Kraut 00, Swiss/Brazilian, build
2018 Eady EG Pro Electric, Redwood/Mahogany
2013 Baranik Meridian, Blue Spruce/Cocobolo, build
2008 Baranik CX, Blue Spruce/African Blackwood
2008 Breedlove A20 Masterclass 12-string, Adi/IRW
2003 Thames classical, Euro/Brazilian
Fodera Standard 4 Fretless bass, figured walnut
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 11-18-2014, 08:37 PM
murrmac123 murrmac123 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Edinburgh, bonny Scotland
Posts: 5,197
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by jmagill View Post
This instrument was, interestingly enough, the inspiration for another John made with the exact same wood combination, the only exception being the headplate, which, again, interestingly enough, featured my own customized version of Martin's original 1902 flowerpot which John has duplicated on the maple guitar above.
The original Martin design is indeed a little more flowery, and also used snowflake fretboard inlays. IMO it does look better with the excess foliage removed.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 11-19-2014, 03:06 AM
Teleplucker's Avatar
Teleplucker Teleplucker is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 2,438
Default

Ed Dodson used to post on here from time to time, I think he owns three of John's guitars.
__________________
My YouTube Page
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 11-19-2014, 04:34 AM
jmagill jmagill is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Asheville, NC
Posts: 1,221
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cocobolo Kid View Post
This one's my favorite so far. I just love this wood.
The actual wood's a bit darker; I boosted the contrast and saturation a little in Photoshop to show the colors since it was devilishly hard to capture in the camera. This Brazilian was reclaimed from the roof beam of a house, which makes me think it must have been a pretty fabulous house...
__________________
Jim Magill
Director, The Swannanoa Gathering

Guitars:'07 Circa OM, '09 Bashkin 00-12fret, '10 Circa 00 12-fret, '17 Buendia Jumbo, '17 Robbins R.1, '19 Doerr Legacy Select, '12 Collings 000-28H Koa. Pre-War guitars: '20 0-28, '22 00-28, '22 000-28. Mandolins: '09 Heiden Heritage F5, '08 Poe F5 , 1919 Gibson F-4, '80 Monteleone Grand Artist mandolin, '83 Monteleone GA (oval),'85 Sobell cittern.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 11-19-2014, 04:45 AM
jmagill jmagill is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Asheville, NC
Posts: 1,221
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by murrmac123 View Post
The original Martin design is indeed a little more flowery, and also used snowflake fretboard inlays. IMO it does look better with the excess foliage removed.
Here's a side-by-side for comparison. I brought the original into Photoshop and went to work snipping, stretching and compressing to come up with my version, which also uses just simple slotted diamonds for position markers.
__________________
Jim Magill
Director, The Swannanoa Gathering

Guitars:'07 Circa OM, '09 Bashkin 00-12fret, '10 Circa 00 12-fret, '17 Buendia Jumbo, '17 Robbins R.1, '19 Doerr Legacy Select, '12 Collings 000-28H Koa. Pre-War guitars: '20 0-28, '22 00-28, '22 000-28. Mandolins: '09 Heiden Heritage F5, '08 Poe F5 , 1919 Gibson F-4, '80 Monteleone Grand Artist mandolin, '83 Monteleone GA (oval),'85 Sobell cittern.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 11-19-2014, 12:04 PM
Wolfram's Avatar
Wolfram Wolfram is offline
AGF Sponsor
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Kent, England
Posts: 973
Default

This one! I've loved the way this looks since I first saw it shared on my own Baranik build thread.

I've not actually played it though. Of the four I've tried, I was taken with an Adi/mahogany OM.


David

Quote:
Originally Posted by jmagill View Post
Here's my custom Circa 00, Italian spruce over Macassar ebony with a maple neck. More pix and my review here. This instrument was, interestingly enough, the inspiration for another John made with the exact same wood combination, the only exception being the headplate, which, again, interestingly enough, featured my own customized version of Martin's original 1902 flowerpot which John has duplicated on the maple guitar above.



And here's my magnificent OM, red spruce over Madagascar rosewood with a mahogany neck. More pix and my review here.

__________________
Wolfram

Perfecting the interface between you and your guitar.
wolframslides.com
Endorsed by Martin Simpson and Tony McManus.
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Custom Shop

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:39 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=