Build: Baranik Meridian, Sick Cocobolo/Blue Spruce - Page 12

Cocobolo Kid · #**166** 10-06-2017, 08:44 AM

Matthew,

I am guessing the scale length on your Meridian is 25.6" on the high E, which is Mike's standard. Looking at the photos of your guitar, the low E looks to be about an inch longer. It would be easy for you to measure. I am curious because I will likely ask for a multiscale for my next Baranik build. Also, which fret is your "zero" fret (perpendicular to the fingerboard)?

Also, how is the playing comfort compared to your non-multiscale guitars? Does it make long finger stretches any easier or more difficult?

Knowing you, you did a lot of research in this area during your design phase, so I am very interested in what you learned.

Thanks.

Nemoman · #**167** 10-06-2017, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matthewpartrick

Both John and I can attest to Cocobolo and Blue Spruce to be an excellent combo. It is the most resonant guitar I have ever played...

Good to hear, Matthew, thanks.

That's exactly what I'm hoping for!

CoolerKing · #**168** 10-06-2017, 09:20 AM

THats probably right. The fan makes it feel longer. I’ll measure for you tonight. The perp is 7. It is an ergonomic dream. There is only one thing I would have done differently, which was to follow mikes advice and make the neck carve a little less deep and maybe the finger spacing a smidge closer. I would expect that if you’ve bonded with your neck it’s a known quantity for you, but I have freakish fingers and my hammer ons are much clearer when I have a little bit of space, since I’m a lefty and hammer on like I’m trying to drive a nail into a 2x4 ). Mike know what to do. Follow the humble guru and you can’t go wrong.

I know I’m biased, but I would put my Meridian against any modern guitar I’ve ever played. It is a once in a lifetime instrument.

riorider · #**169** 10-06-2017, 01:37 PM

You guys are stirring a rumbling, sleeping giant I thought was long put to rest....

I think I'd better go play some on the ones I have and renew my "all I need is you (and you, and you...)" mindset.

The anticipation will kill you, Nemoman (JV reference??), but it will be overshadowed by the realization. Buckle up. It's a wild ride....

Phil

colins · #**170** 10-07-2017, 01:17 AM

Hey Phil, I just released that your new Boswell is .... (drum roll) .....koa!

Do the other guitars gang up on it? Do you need to store it separately? Or are they all getting on well together?!

Col

riorider · #**171** 10-07-2017, 07:14 AM

(John, don't you love how we can so easily and smoothly derail your thread into a wandering Baraniak discussion??)

Col, yes - some of the nicest koa I've seen since my Taylor John Denver Commemorative, paired with (my favorite top) an incredibly straight, tight-grained redwood top.

I wondered why the Calton case I put it in kept tipping over during the night, but I suspect it's the Rainsong that is bullying it. The Baraniks are too classy, too elegant to engage in ruffianism...

Cheers from up top,

Phil

Cocobolo Kid · #**172** 10-07-2017, 10:59 AM

It's great to hear from you Phil, and you can derail my thread in any way you see fit. For instance, please post a pic of that special koa back on your Boswell.

The nicest set of koa I've seen (only in photos) is of a Baranik CX (serial number 06-115):

If Mike had more koa like this, I would definitely select it for my next build!

Cheers.

Nemoman · #**173** 10-07-2017, 01:07 PM

Phil--the anticipation is already starting to kick in what with seeing this sick coco again and your egging it on!

I should have mentioned your stash of Baraniks in my inspiration to commission a Meridian--they are all killer! Hope to meet you and play them some day...

Nemoman is just a nautical reference back to the days when I had my sinker redwood-topped GS...

El Conquistador · #**174** 10-07-2017, 10:05 PM

I would like think my Koa Baranik is up there.

Steve

colins · #**175** 10-08-2017, 02:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Conquistador

I would like think my Koa Baranik is up there.

Steve

Steve that does amazing things to my eyes!

Col

Wolfram · #**176** 10-08-2017, 06:47 AM

Wow - great to see this thread again - that's a real beauty!

A quick word on multiscale geometry - Mike really executes this superbly. My Meridian Aurora (build thread here - back in the days before I was an AGF sponsor and Wolfram had not yet been dreamed of) is 25.25" - 26" and doesn't have a perpendicular fret (it would lie right between the 5th and 6th frets). It is supremely comfortable - I spent a lot of time with Mike getting the parameters right for the length of my arm and the way that I play - it fits me like a glove.

Aurora is now six years old, and I can honestly say I've barely played any of my other guitars in that time! Mike outdid himself and built me literally the perfect guitar - there is nothing whatsoever that I would change about it, nor is there any more I would ask of it. I love it dearly!

I am about to embark on another very special custom build with British luthier Tom Sands - for something completely different (a big modified dreadnought). We're specifically building it 'around' Aurora - to complement it, and give me that huge ethereal bass that I've just not heard from anything other than a Somogyi-esque Mod-D. Other than Aurora (which you would have to prise out of my cold dead hands) all of my other guitars will likely move on to pay for it, but I'm very excited about having two very different guitars that will complement each other perfectly.

In short - I think you're going to be more than delighted with your new Baranik (and I can fully understand riorider's rumbling, sleeping giant... I'm having to try very hard to keep mine sleeping soundly having seen this thread again...)

Cheers,
David

Cocobolo Kid · #**177** 10-08-2017, 08:45 AM

David,

Thanks for the post, and I'm glad you are so happy with your Baranik Meridian, as am I. I just reread your Aurora build thread and wow is that a special guitar.

It's hard to believe that you don't play your Hamblin GC much or are considering selling it to fund your new build. I remember reading the review of your Hamblin in Acoustic magazine, and the reviewer thought it was one of the best fingerstyle guitars he had ever played. As much as I love all my guitars, including my Hamblin GC, I will probably sell one to fund my new build as well. I just don't have room in my humidified den for another case and I can only play so many guitars. I try to play all my guitars fairly evenly as each has a unique sound that I enjoy.

If you do sell your Hamblin, someone is going to be very, very lucky. I even saved my copy of Acoustic magazine with the review of your Hamblin in it.

By the way, my first run Wolfram tungsten carbide slide is also a thing of beauty. Thanks for dreaming that up.

Cheers.

Nemoman · #**178** 10-08-2017, 11:50 AM

Yep, Steve--I'd definitely put that one right up there.

David--I enjoyed reliving your thread again. Stunning guitar!

I don't think I've ever seen or will see a Baranik that isn't a work of art...

riorider · #**179** 10-08-2017, 04:13 PM

Well, curiously enough Photobucket won't allow me to "3rd party" share new photos (we all knew that...) but it hasn't yet shutdown my previous photos. So, I can't show you NEW photos but I can point to a thread which shows the Boswell. I haven't yet taken time to take any good shots (but I will)... in the meantime, here's the post with the pics. It's not good lighting, and you cannot see the depth of the chatoyance / flame / 3D / "fall into the pensieve" beauty of the koa, but you can see a bit of it... http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...67&postcount=1

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cocobolo Kid

It's great to hear from you Phil, and you can derail my thread in any way you see fit. For instance, please post a pic of that special koa back on your Boswell.

Cocobolo Kid · #**180** 10-09-2017, 09:19 PM

The Boswell is a nice looking guitar Phil and I especially like the Koa. Like Colin, I am surprised you bought a "non-Tree" guitar. Your Baraniks are gorgeous, of course.

Some of my old Photobucket 3rd party links work, but not always, and most do not work at all. To fix this thread, I had to move all my photos to a personal website that I use for my photography (http://www.3catsphotography.com if anyone wants to take a look).