Cornerstone Roadtrip Guitar, the first stop

rick-slo · #1 09-21-2009, 01:00 PM

As many of you already know luthier Peter Marreiros (Cornerstone Guitars) has sent one of his Zion Fingerstyle guitars out on a player trip around the country for various people to experience hands on. I was fortunate to one of those and by luck of where I live the first on the list.

"Inspired by a verse in Holy Scripture the first of a series of seven was designed with to be a show guitar for the 2009 Healdsburg Festival of guitars. Olivewood back and sides with a Cedar/Englemann double top makes this a unique instrument in all aspects.
This guitar features a low profile five piece curly mahogany neck with Rosewood and maple laminations. Paua Abalone soundboard purflings with mitered curly maple violin purflings throughout the sides. Ryan inspired armrest bevel and Florentine cutaway make it a dream to play. Olive branch Inlay. 1.8" Nut width and 25.7" Scale.
Gotoh 510 tuning machines. B-Band A2.2 Pickup with Onboard Preamp (non-intrusive)."
The guitar is of good size have a lower bout of 16.5" and lower bout depth at tail 4.9".

On first opening the case I was presented with an absolutely gorgeous instrument with a very appealing over all body shape, a lovely dark shaded top, nicely visually balanced headstock and bridge, beautifully incorporated armrest bevel and olive branch abalone fretboard inlay. All the workmanship is spotless. More pictures are here http://www.cornerstoneguitar.com/olive1.html
Playing the guitar I found it to have a warm dark chocolate tone and because of that and the color of the guitar top I nicknamed the guitar "Truffles". Playability is very good and the strings ring balanced and articulate, and the guitar records well with my microphones. Descriptions of tone are very subjective so I will let these recordings speak for themselves. I think they captured the sound pretty well, at least with me playing it.

I recorded three songs.
First is a tune I named for the guitar which I call "Little Truffle". It starts with a somewhat dark chord and shows the guitar’s sound in both low and high chord positions.

http://dcoombsguitar.com/Guitar%20Mu...ne/Truffle.mp3

The second is called "Sustain Me" and shows the guitar’s handling of long sustains and harmonics.

http://dcoombsguitar.com/Guitar%20Mu.../SustainMe.mp3

Last is the old standard "Freight Train" for a little more upbeat and aggressive picking done on the guitar.

http://dcoombsguitar.com/Guitar%20Mu...eightTrain.mp3

Many thanks to Peter for letting me experience this guitar and would like to say that the rest of the people on the roadtrip tour are in for a real treat.
　
　
　

ship of fools · #2 09-21-2009, 01:14 PM

Yep go head and tease me, its coming so close and yet its so far away Rick and do to circumstances beyond my control I will have to miss it when it comes close, but thanks for the sound clips at least I have a good idea as to what it will sound like and I guess it gives me a very good reason for a holiday road trip to visit some of my US brethren and check out their shops and instruments they have in house, I do think it is a very beautiful looking guitar and sound really great, very nice work Peter and hopefully in the future we will get a chance to meet.Ship

Glennwillow · #3 09-21-2009, 01:26 PM

Thanks for the comments and sound clips, Rick. I will come back later this evening where I can listen at home.

Regards, Glenn

cc132 · #4 09-21-2009, 01:53 PM

Great playing. What is that bevel made out of?

ronmac · #5 09-21-2009, 04:40 PM

Nice playing, Rick. "Chocolaty" really describes the tone, although it has a nice bite to it, as well.

This is going to be an instrument that makes someone very happy.

Cornerstone Guitars · #6 09-21-2009, 04:41 PM

Rick,
thanks so much for taking the time and participating in this trip.
Absolutely fantastic playing!

Thanks again,

photomat · #7 09-21-2009, 04:54 PM

Wow, sounds great! Do you come in the case as well!? Great playing to showcase the guitar and your talent.

I think Seattle is the next stop on the tour..I will post a thread calling for Seattle AGF'rs to swing by this week(end?). In the meantime, if anyone is interested in giving it a go, I Live in Lynnwood ,WA (JUST north of Seattle where I-405 and I-5 merge). Please PM or email me to let me know our are interested.

Thanks!

Matt

tpp · #8 09-21-2009, 05:26 PM

The recordings sound wonderful!

jlott00 · #9 09-21-2009, 05:38 PM

thats prob top 10 best lookin guitars ive seen imho

dreamincolor · #10 09-21-2009, 05:44 PM

Rick - absolutely wonderful playing. Thanks for sharing those great clips.

Peter - congratulations on creating such a beautiful-sounding instrument.

fitness1 · #11 09-21-2009, 05:47 PM

nice playing......glad that I'm in the MIDDLE of this guitar's "road trip" The last two I've been on I was at the end and we ran out of time!!

I'm really looking forward to getting my paws on that one!!

BHulkster · #12 09-21-2009, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rick-slo

More pictures are here http://www.cornerstoneguitar.com/olive1.html

Thats the first time I ever felt like a guitar was out of my reach.....

That thing looks and sounds AMAZING. Sincerely and genuinely JEALOUS! lol

stuartb · #13 09-21-2009, 07:00 PM

Oustanding playing. Sounds like it would be a jazz monster - that guitar.

Freight train sounds awesome.

Stuart

D. Ramsey · #14 09-21-2009, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlott00

thats prob top 10 best lookin guitars ive seen imho

Having seen it at Healdsburg I can say ... You should see it in person. It gets even better

ScottAllyn · #15 09-21-2009, 07:13 PM

Those sound clips are really nice, Rick; I especially liked Sustain Me. This guitar sure can sing!

Quote:

Originally Posted by fitness1

... The last two I've been on I was at the end and we ran out of time!!

Doh! Unsay that quickly before it's too late! I KNEW I should have asked to be first!

The Road Trip website is now updated.