Build Thread: Circle Strings Parlor Guitar

[jim1960]

It's confirmed. She'll be arriving tomorrow.

[Nemoman]

Awesome--congrats, Jim!

[jim1960]

Originally Posted by Nemoman

Awesome--congrats, Jim!

Thanks much!

[jim1960]

I finally got my hands on this guitar today. The pictures do not do this instrument justice. This guitar is stunning in person and the finish is flawless. I can't say enough good things about Adam Buchwald. He exceeded my expectations and for that I'm very grateful.


This is the letter of thanks I sent to Adam this evening...

Adam,

My past two days have been hellacious. Between too many meetings at work (which are the bane of my existence), a tire blowing out on the drive home last night, and a bunch of other things of varying degrees of doom and gloom, I've been about ready to snap bones with my teeth. So the guitar arriving today was the thing I needed to take the edge off.

And she did.

So let's start by talking about your photography skills. They're lousy. This guitar is much more beautiful in person than was conveyed by any of the photographs you sent me. The woods are gorgeous. The shedua back has a depth to it that makes you feel like you're staring through the rippling water of a clear river and you can see right down to the bottom. The top ...well, I suppose I should be honest here. I wasn't thrilled with the look of the top at first. I said nothing because I was committed to letting you pick out the wood you thought best to achieve the tone goal (see? I trusted you way more than you realized). As time went on, I starting appreciating the top a bit more ...perhaps not fully sold but more comfortable with it straying so far from the monochromatic cedar parlor on your website. But in person, it really is beautiful. Not beautiful in the traditional sense of the word, but beautiful like a Charles Bukowski poem or a Tom Waits ballad where you stumble past these characters who are sort of social outcasts only to learn later that their stories are richer than your own and you wind up regretting not having said 'hello' when you had the chance. This is easily the most beautiful guitar I own and you really are a lousy photographer.

As for how she sounds, I haven't played her enough to say I really know her well yet, but initially I'd say "sweet" is the right word to describe how she sounds. I think that's especially true of the mid-range tones which ring like bells. She sounds quite lovely when I play her softly. If I dig in a bit, she comes back at me like an angry redhead (I know of no creature more dangerous). She's capable of many moods but where I think she truly shines is when I play her in a minor key. I was sitting there playing around a bit some of the usual neighborhoods... D, G, C ...then I started playing something in Am and it was like "Oh... hello" ...kinda like if Amy Adams sat down at your table with a bottle of vodka and two glasses and said, "Let's see where this goes."

Suffice to say I'm very happy.

Thank you.
Jim

[jim1960]

As I complained about Circle Strings' Adam Buchwald's photography skills not being up to the task of showing just how beautiful this new guitar really is, I figured I'd better give it a go and see if I can't show her off a bit better. I took these today. Someone who visited Adam's shop and saw this guitar remarked that "it looked like a creamy cup of coffee." Apt.

[jim1960]

At the request of another member, I'm re-adding some photos of this build since the old photos were on Photobucket and are no longer visible.

Western Red Cedar top


Shedua back and sides


Cutting the maple for the rosette


The finished rosette with Petros Purflex inner and outer rings


Sides bent, top and back braced, Petros Purflex backstrip


Box assembled


Maple bindings being glued


Ebony fretboard


Neck carving


Fretboard inlays


Finished neck


In the spray booth



Neck and bridge install

[jim1960]

Assembled and strung

[jim1960]

A better photo of the bracing, as requested.

[Deft Tungsman]

Thanks, Jim, for reviving this thread with the added pictures.

This little beauty sure looks like a sweet little guitar. No wonder you commissioned another one from the same builder! I actually like the broad racing stripe effect on the cedar top, it gives the front of the guitar a bit more character to go with the back and sides.

Can you tell us what's the scale length? And what are the dimensions of the soundbox?

[BrunoBlack]

What a great looking guitar! Beautiful trim details.

[GeoffStGermaine]

Thanks for taking the time to add these pictures back in. I never saw the original thread, but it's a beautiful guitar! I really like the use of the Celtic themed Purflex.

[jim1960]

Originally Posted by Deft Tungsman

Can you tell us what's the scale length? And what are the dimensions of the soundbox?

Scale length is 24.9. I don't know the dimensions offhand.

[jim1960]

Thanks for all the compliments on this guitar. Adam Buchwald is a great luthier and a very good guy to work with on a build. I can't say enough about not only the fantastic tone of this guitar but also the playability makes it a real joy to hold. I got on his list again quickly because I'm pretty sure he'll be out of my price range before too long. Currently, his base price is very reasonable.

Here are a few more shots of the guitar. I took these because I didn't think Adam's shop photos really did justice to the instrument. It's so much more beautiful in person than the pictures let on.

[iim7V7IM7]

Beautiful guitar...congratulations...