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  #1  
Old 07-01-2017, 08:21 PM
JDatlen JDatlen is offline
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Default Datlen Luthiery guitars for SBAIC

Hi folks,

My name is John Datlen. I have spent most of my career working as a cabinetmaker/finish carpenter doing high end residential work in the SF Bay Area. I started building guitars about 6 years ago after a visit to Bruce Sexauer's shop to purchase a string bass from him. He welcomed me into his guitar shop and I was blown away. I must have been bitten by the guitar building bug that he has residing in his shop. His work has been a constant inspiration for me.

I started out building classical guitars and transitioned to steel string about 4 years ago. Most of my steel string guitars have been patterned after classic "Martin" shapes. Recently I designed a new OM and 00 model which I will be introducing at the SBAIC. I have been selling my work privately and through Mighty Fine Guitars in Lafayette, Ca.

I will be bringing 3 guitars to the upcoming Santa Barbara Acoustic Instrument Celebration.

The first is my new OM cutaway. It is well under way in finish right now but I will post some shots of the build. Enjoy!

Adirondack Spruce
East Indian Rosewood
Mahogany neck
Ebony fretboard and bridge
Black acacia bindings
Zebra wood inlays
Gotoh 510 tuners
25.4 scale length








Last edited by JDatlen; 07-03-2017 at 01:39 PM. Reason: Incomplete information
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Old 07-01-2017, 09:31 PM
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Very nice detailing. Should be a winner!
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Old 07-01-2017, 09:52 PM
Marcus Wong Marcus Wong is offline
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Guys, please do yourselves a favour and head down to his booth to try these guitars out. I just played a couple of John's guitars yesterday and was absolutely blown away..... I'm now trying to figure out how to add a guitar or two of his to my collection!
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  #4  
Old 07-02-2017, 08:12 AM
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John built me a guitar that I've had now for a few months and, without exaggeration, it is incredible. RIDICULOUS value in Johns work right now.
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Old 07-03-2017, 09:42 AM
JDatlen JDatlen is offline
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Here is a couple more shots of the OM.


[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

I have been building with standard "Martin" shapes for my OM up until now. This new shape is my take on an OM.
I laid out the scale length, 14 fret to body and the soundhole location and the sketched out this shape.
I made the lower bout a bit rounder and moved the waist up closer to the soundhole.


[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]
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Old 07-03-2017, 11:32 AM
dlowry dlowry is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JDatlen View Post


Wow - that's some scary scalloping on the x-brace! Is it a trick of the lighting, or are you down to 5 - 6 mm there?

Drew
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  #7  
Old 07-03-2017, 12:07 PM
JDatlen JDatlen is offline
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Quote:
Wow - that's some scary scalloping on the x-brace! Is it a trick of the lighting, or are you down to 5 - 6 mm there?

Drew
Hi Drew,

It measures just over 6mm. That location is already quite stiff with the bridge plate as well as the bridge on the face of the guitar. Seems to work for me!
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Old 07-05-2017, 10:37 AM
JDatlen JDatlen is offline
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Guitar has about 5 coats of varnish at this point.

[IMG][/IMG]
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Old 07-07-2017, 10:59 AM
JDatlen JDatlen is offline
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The second guitar I will be bringing to SBAIC is my new design for a 00. It is based on the new OM model but scaled down to the 00 size.

Redwood top
Claro walnut back and sides
black walnut neck
ebony fretboard and bridge
EIR bindings
Gotoh 510 tuners
25.4" scale

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]
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Old 07-10-2017, 10:34 AM
JDatlen JDatlen is offline
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Ready to close the box.

[IMG][/IMG]

Bindings on and cleaned up.

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

Headstock is done. I did a 4 way bookmatch with some of the Claro walnut.

[IMG][/IMG]
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  #11  
Old 07-10-2017, 01:13 PM
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Looking really sharp so far. I love the headstock!
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Old 07-12-2017, 09:44 PM
JDatlen JDatlen is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TomB'sox View Post
Looking really sharp so far. I love the headstock!
Thank you TomB'sox!

[IMG][/IMG]

Fitting the neck joint.

[IMG][/IMG]
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Old 07-13-2017, 07:25 AM
CaE CaE is offline
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Very nice work. The headstock detail in particular is exceptional. Well done.
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Old 07-17-2017, 12:17 PM
JDatlen JDatlen is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Ensor View Post
Very nice work. The headstock detail in particular is exceptional. Well done.
Thanks Chris!! Here is a pic after a coat of finish.
[IMG][/IMG]

A few more pics of the finishing.

[IMG][/IMG][IMG]

[/IMG]
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  #15  
Old 07-17-2017, 12:24 PM
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SMOOTH.....!
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