Stehr Auditorium has arrived
 

Joel and I worked together over the past several months to complete my new guitar. I selected a wild looking grain brazilian as that was the look I wanted for this guitar. I had asked Joel if he could cut a pelican sound port. Though he hadn't cut a port like this before, he accepted the challenge and did his usual extraordinary work. The guitar came out just as I wanted.

I've had the guitar about a week now and will say this is the best sounding guitar I have ever played. The neck feels perfect and fast. Strings are so easy to fret. Joel had set a very low action as I only play fingerstyle. The brazilian back vibrates loudly when I hit bass notes. The high strings are crystal clear and distinct. The guitar is perfect. I've included some photos that Joel sent me, plus some I took after it arrived home.

I've named the guitar 'Pelicduck.' Joel and I had passed sketches of the head and sound port back and forth so many times we both lost track. Somewhere in the process we ended up with a pelican that looked more like a duck than a pelican. Joel called the sketch a Peliduck and the name pretty much stuck. We designed a rope for the rosette.

Auditorium
Brazilian rosewood back and sides
Sinker redwood top with an edge burst finish
12 fret short scale 24.9"
Arm bevel
Cocobolo bindings and arm bevel
Maple back and side purfling
Florentine cutaway
Pelican side port
Double sides
Ebony fretboard
Dark Brazilian rosewood bridge
5-piece laminated neck with some finish bursting to match the top.

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Congratulations on your new Stehr; looks wonderful. I especially like the dark edge burst on the sinker redwood top (and the red coloration of the cocobolo arm bevel adjacent to the top). The variation in size and placement of the rosette pieces gives the rope a very 'real' look to it; nice.

Wow. This guitar just looks fantastic! Enjoy it and get some sound clips posted if you can. I would love to hear how it sounds!

WOW! Go JOEL!! Congratulations on your build!

Brad

Very elegant looking build. If it sounds as good as it looks it has to be amazing. Does the soundport add much to your hearing of it while playing?

Beautiful!

That is gorgeous!! I'm on Joel's build list and can't wait for my turn now!!! Sound clips, pretty please!!

Stunning.

Love the inlays and the burst.

I really dig the burst on the multi piece neck.

What a beautiful instrument!

Thanks everyone. Joel did a great job and it's a wonderful sounding guitar. I don't have anyway to record at present. Maybe Santa will be nice!

Congratulations and great job Joel.

Does the soundport add much to your hearing of it while playing?

Very little pitner. I have to concentrate on the soundport to hear it. It could be because the top is so loud.

Some folks will criticize BR if it is not tight-grain, quarter-sawn, etc.

But the stump-wood they are using now is drop-dead gorgeous (IMHO).

Congratulations! That is a stunner!

That is an awesome burst...looks great on that redwood top. And the rosette is amazing. Congrats!

Wow - both the top and back look amazing! Enjoy!

Thank you everyone for posting such nice comments! And thank you, Robert for posting pics and having me build you the 'Peliduck'! It was a fun build.

Joel