Help me celebrate 40 years of building!

[harvl]

... I was hoping that by putting in that I would need to build all new jigs to do something other than an OM or Dread would limit the other choices

No mercy... I see how you guys are...

Wood and inlay thoughts are appreciated but they don't count until that question is asked

[BBWW]

I think a 000 is in order. I'm just saying'. Small and powerful, something a little out of your more common styles.

[dirt1966]

A modified dread sounds really nice...

[LewisBrookshire]

I vote for a 000 12fret, slotted head stock with a dread depth body.

[H165]

12 fret 1 3/4" nut long scale 000.

[cotten]

I think ole Harv is pullin' our collective leg. No way he's been building guitars for 40 years. He's only about 34!

OK, maybe I'm wrong, but I would expect someone who's been whittling on banjo necks and such for 40 years to look a lot more grizzled. Why, Harv can get around spryly without his walker, most all the time!

Congratulations on this upcoming milestone, my friend. Because I like what you've been doing so much, I got nothing.

Except thanks!
cotten

[harvl]

Originally Posted by cotten

I think ole Harv is pullin' our collective leg. No way he's been building guitars for 40 years. He's only about 34!

OK, maybe I'm wrong, but I would expect someone who's been whittling on banjo necks and such for 40 years to look a lot more grizzled. Why, Harv can get around spryly without his walker, most all the time!

Congratulations on this upcoming milestone, my friend. Because I like what you've been doing so much, I got nothing.

Except thanks!
cotten

Cotten....Thanks!....but you need new glasses

[Steve Kinnaird]

Harvey, you're TOO generous opening up the decision making process to the whole world. Let me restate that--reserve some of those decisions for yourself.
That being said, let me tell you what to do:

Build the very first guitar shape you ever did. Whatever it was.
This is a celebration of your career--so far.
Let's see you dance with the first one that got you out on the floor.

(And then we can tell you all the rest....)

Steve

[Otterhound]

I would love to see a 00 built totally of domestic materials . I won't go too far and suggest that it be a lefty .
I will even donate a back/side set of Walnut for an all domestic short scale 00 12 fret . I know just the piece . It has been resting for over 5 years .
Congratulations on 40 years of building . May you have many more .

[harvl]

Originally Posted by Otterhound

I would love to see a 00 built totally of domestic materials . I won't go too far and suggest that it be a lefty .
I will even donate a back/side set of Walnut for an all domestic short scale 00 12 fret . I know just the piece . It has been resting for over 5 years .
Congratulations on 40 years of building . May you have many more .

Thanks for the wood offer but to make this work I need to use wood that is in my shop, ready to start building with on Jan. 1 As far as the lefty, all of my guitars can be strung up either left or right (barring a cutaway obviously)

[harvl]

OK, so it’s time to move to question # 2 but first here is what I have decided for the body style. Just for the record the vote was 00 – 7, 000/OM – 7, Dread – 5 (I counted all votes so if you voted for a 00 or 000 each got 1). The body style I’m choosing is based partially on the tally but also based on the comments of a couple of people.

Steve: Build the very first guitar shape you ever did. Whatever it was.
Jay: ...something a little out of your more common styles.
dekutree64: I shall vote... a banjo.

...no wait,... how did that get in there...

My first guitar was a modified dreadnought, way back before it was trendy! I really never even thought about it until people started to mention a modified dread (I actually had to look it up to see what exactly was modified... who knew!) my first guitar was based on an old beater my dad had, I traced it and never looked back. in fact I didn’t realize that I had essentially reproduced it with my prototype Voyage Air dread (in 2004, back before there was a company called Voyage Air) so really, this model actually has 2 ties to my “beginning.”

Now what is interesting (and should help to understand why I didn’t go with one of the models that got more votes) is that one of the “mods” on that first guitar was that while it was a dread it was only 15” at the lower bout! likewise, when I designed the original VG dread I wanted it to fit in the same case as the OM (to make it as small as possible and so I didn’t have to stock 2 cases) I was amazed to find just how close the 2 guitars, separated by so many years, were in shape and dimensions. So, the body of choice will be my “modified” dread, it’s where I started, I think dreads are my best guitars and it should satisfy anyone who prefers a smaller body size. The main difference between the “original” the the VG-D is the VG-D is a slope-shoulder. Just for fun here are pictures of my first guitar and my first VG dread.

[dekutree64]

Originally Posted by harvl

dekutree64: I shall vote... a banjo.

...no wait,... how did that get in there...

You said "40 years since I whittled my first banjo neck", so I figured it was worth a thought to go back to the beginning

I approve of your choice though. I just finished up a 15" dread-like guitar, with short-ish 24.75" scale. Love it. I'll definitely be building more.

Now what's the next question?

[riorider]

Very cool! 15" modified dread, nice curves on that beauty Harv!

Next question?

(oh, and a suggestion to consider... depending on how this anniversary guitar turns out, maybe a limited run release based on the same shapes and woods, but perhaps with more standard ornamentation?)

Thanks for the ride!

Phil

[ChuckS]

Harvey,
Interesting choice on body style/size. I'm glad that the final selection wasn't simply based on AGF votes. I also like that the body size isn't typical dread width; I like 15" lower bouts. What's the body depth going to be?

[El Conquistador]

Harvy,

Hopefully it will not be a slothead. : )

Steve