NGD: Halcyon NL-00 Walnut and Lutz

[jdto]

At long last, I have this beauty in my possession! A year ago last summer, I contacted Ed Bond at Halcyon and we got started on the process of making this guitar a reality for me. I wanted a small-body with a full sound and this delivers that in spades. The walnut back and sides are supposed to be somewhere in the middle between rosewood and mahogany for tonal characteristics. I don't know how to tell, as I've never played one of these guitars with either of those tone woods, but this one sounds fantastic It has a ton of warm bass for a "small body" guitar, but a balanced sound that I am really beginning to enjoy. It came with D'Addario EXP Phosphor Bronze strings, which sounded good, but I have now put on a set of Martin SP 80/20s, which have taken away some of the warmth, but given it a bit more punch. I'm not sure where I'll settle for strings as things develop, but both sound good in their own way. I tend to like 80/20s, but we'll see.

The little details like the headstock inlay, fretboard markers, rosette and the little line of light coloured wood in the binding are all flawless and it is really beautiful. I made the pickguard myself from a sheet of Tortoloid I got at StewMac and it turned out pretty well, although if you look really closely, you can tell it was done by an amateur (ie. completely unlike the rest of the guitar ). Anyway, I love it, it sounds great and I anticipate many years of enjoyment out of this beauty.

[bayoubengal]

Very cool! I also have a Lutz over Walnut NL-00. You will love it even more as time passes!

[Quebec Picker]

Beyootifull. Congrats and enjoy!

[Rockysdad]

Very nice, enjoy that guitar for years to come. I'm really wanting to try a Walnut back & sides guitar myself.

[jpd]

You guys in Canada have some mighty fine NL builders! How 'bout a sound clip?

[maxtheaxe]

Very nice! Also quite striking to me, as I have a custom-made, walnut strat-style electric with that same golden stripe running down the center. That thing rings like a bell even when not plugged in.

How does Lutz compare to the more familiar spruces like sitka, euro, addy, etc?

[Purfle Haze]

Looks great. Pick guard is fine! How did you choose the strap button location? I ask because it is uncommon.

Congrats, and happy strumming.

[TBman]

Congrats, looks great!

[Wade Hampton]

Congratulations, jdto. I'm a huge fan of walnut backs and sides for guitars, and have a couple of mountain dulcimers with black walnut bodies and spruce tops, too. I know Ed is a fan of black walnut as a tonewood, as well, as he and I have discussed our mutual enthusiasm for it via email.

Have fun with that great little guitar, and now you should get back to playing it.

Pete Townsend-style windmill strums and scissors kicks as you prance around your living room playing it are NOT actually mandatory, but perfectly understandable should you decide to indulge in them:

NOT Actually Jdto Playing His New Halcyon NL-00

Have fun!


Wade Hampton "I'm Not Jealous, I'm Not, I'm NOT!!!" Miller

[jdto]

Originally Posted by Rockysdad

Very nice, enjoy that guitar for years to come. I'm really wanting to try a Walnut back & sides guitar myself.

Thank you. If this one is typical of walnut, I say go for it!

Originally Posted by jpd

You guys in Canada have some mighty fine NL builders! How 'bout a sound clip?

Indeed, Ed is quite a talent! I will see if I can make some sort of recording.

Originally Posted by maxtheaxe

Very nice! Also quite striking to me, as I have a custom-made, walnut strat-style electric with that same golden stripe running down the center. That thing rings like a bell even when not plugged in.

How does Lutz compare to the more familiar spruces like sitka, euro, addy, etc?

Thanks! I do like the way that sapwood looks in the middle. As to the spruce, it’s tough to compare it as my other guitars are quite different, but Ed says it is a bit more lush with overtones than Sitka while also able to take harder strumming, sort of like Adi. I bow to his knowledge on the subject.

Originally Posted by Purfle Haze

Looks great. Pick guard is fine! How did you choose the strap button location? I ask because it is uncommon.

Congrats, and happy strumming.

Thank you. I asked for the button there because it’s out of the way and if I ever get up to the higher frets (not too often, but you never know), there won’t be anything in th way. Ed actually told me that is his preferred spot, believe it or not. He glued a small block on the inside to take the screw.

Originally Posted by TBman

Congrats, looks great!

Thanks! I’m immensely pleased.

Originally Posted by Wade Hampton

Congratulations, jdto. I'm a huge fan of walnut backs and sides for guitars, and have a couple of mountain dulcimers with black walnut bodies and spruce tops, too. I know Ed is a fan of black walnut as a tonewood, as well, as he and I have discussed our mutual enthusiasm for it via email.

Have fun with that great little guitar, and now you should get back to playing it.

Pete Townsend-style windmill strums and scissors kicks as you prance around your living room playing it are NOT actually mandatory, but perfectly understandable should you decide to indulge in them:

NOT Actually Jdto Playing His New Halcyon NL-00

Have fun!


Wade Hampton "I'm Not Jealous, I'm Not, I'm NOT!!!" Miller

Thanks, Wade. I am off to play until my fingers can’t take any more

[BrunoBlack]

That’s a great looking guitar, congratulations.

[Wade Hampton]

Originally Posted by jdto

Thanks, Wade. I am off to play until my fingers can’t take any more

Just try to resist implementing the big Pete Townsend finish and DON'T smash the guitar when you're done playing:

˙˙˙

Not if you like the guitar enough to play it more than once....


whm

[Steadfastly]

I think I've seen this somewhere else.

Yep, sure of it and it's still exceptionally nice.

[Glennwillow]

Very nice -- Congratulations! I'm so glad you are happy with your new guitar!

- Glenn

[Wade Hampton]

Originally Posted by Purfle Haze

Looks great. Pick guard is fine! How did you choose the strap button location? I ask because it is uncommon.

I can’t answer for jdto, obviously, but that location for a strap button is the favorite spot for some players, particularly Southerners: Doc Watson always had his strap buttons put there. It was fairly common in Missouri when I still lived there, and that’s where I put them on 12 fret guitars.

Since he lives in Toronto, jdto is presumably not an American hillbilly. But speaking as a Missouri native, I think we could be talked into giving him Honorary Hillbilly status....

whm