Bown 00 build - Lutz/Brazilian
 

Hi everyone

Ralph Bown is building a 00 for me, Lutz over Brazilian Rosewood. I have a left hand injury and need a smaller guitar than my current Sobell Steinbeck.

I first heard Ralph's guitars in the hands of John Renbourn and was smitten, but it was the shimmery gorgeousness of forum member Yrksman's Bown 00 that inspired me to talk with Ralph and he suggested he build me something similar.

Here are a few photos before he closes the box. More to follow I hope.

Jonny

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...46181391_w.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...8305459d_w.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...57492c6c_w.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...53e3b2c9_w.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...23670b22_w.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...17b035b5_w.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...6f39c34b_w.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...ae96352a_w.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...3c2e91b4_w.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...6f7787f3_w.jpg

Looking great, Jonny. Not long now!

Looks really good Jonny 👍

Saw it in the flesh this afternoon. Looking good!!

Very elegant, look forward to hearing you play it. Good luck with your recovery, too.

Is the Spanish heel a standard feature? Do you know why he chooses to build that way?

Yes it is. Ralph started out building classical guitars and carried on using the Spanish when he changed to acoustics.

I didn't know he uses the classical guitar building approach for his steel-string guitars. Interstesing

Great to have the opportunity to see the innards, especially the Spanish heel.

Stefan Sobell's neck joint is something similar, but apart from that, bolt on necks seem to be the norm - I discovered that Collings even use a bolt on neck which is odd given their adherence to the vintage Martin build concept. I'm sure the neck being integral to the body has an impact on the sound properties.

Apart from the heel, Ralph deviates from the classical build in that he closes the box with the top, not the back as classical builders would when building with a solera. (Interesting luthier trivia: in the Spanish classical guitar world, doble tapa, usually translated as double top, doesn't refer to a double soundboard, but to double back or lid, as the back is the lid that closes the box in Spanish builds.)

Jonny

"Discovered" sort of implies that it was being hidden, which it clearly isn't.

I presumed Collings used similar neck joints to vintage Martins, it was a revelation to me they use a bolt on neck - I was only speaking for myself when I use the word discovered; perhaps we are separated by a common language.

Jonny

Hi Jonny,

Excited to see this build coming together, and going to a player fully deserving of this special instrument.

Did you consider a cutaway? Given your classical background I suppose that you already master playing above the 12th frets without one.

Cheers,

Thanks Thom, I'm glad the build is well under way, once Ralph gets started he doesn't mess about, the box was closed today.

I've never really understood the need for a cutaway as a slight adjustment to the LH hand/thumb angle can easily manage stretches to the 19th, 20th fret. Then there is the whole debate over reduced air capacity, then (for those Somogyi builders) the area above the soundhole being a dead area and the cutaway having no detrimental impact on the sound...

I was happy for Ralph to replicate my classical guitar experience - we also spent hours discussing nut and saddle width and why steel string guitars are necessarily narrower than classical guitars, yet feeling the same under the fingers.

Jonny

Bown
 

I am a bit taken aback by how heavily braced the top appears to be, having said that I thought the same thing when I saw how Daniel Friederich braced his.

I have never played a Bown but I have played a Friederich so I know looks can be deceiving, it will be fantastic I bet.

Best Regards Anthony.

This is my Bown 00-12 which Jonny has asked Ralph to replicate. Bown guitars are life changing.

(Brazilian/Lutz)

https://youtu.be/mK6bW3v9xms

great sounding guitar and nice playing ta boot!

Thanks, Chris' is phenomenal, but of course my 00 will be better - well that was my only stipulation to Ralph.

Here's another recording I made on Chris', standard tuning:




Jonny

Well if yours turns out to be better sounding, then you will have a great guitar your hands. good luck!

I’ll demand royalties every time you play it 😂

Such a heavily braced guitar would have me running to get my deposit back, but I've never heard of Ralph Brown, so maybe his tops and backs are super thin? Do you know the measurements?
Also, re: Collings's neck system, I don't think you'd find any reputable builder or dealer who would say anything other than that every decision Bill made in the building process was aimed towards perfection.

Thank you for your thoughts. Are you a luthier?

Jonny

John Renbourn, Clive Carroll, Martin Simpson, Peter Rowan, Catfish Keith, Graham Coxin and many others haven’t got their deposits back and all but one have ordered more from Ralph Bown.

Does that tell you something?

Bown
 

I believe Collings puts a lot of wood in his guitars, I had a conversation with the Luthier John Hullah many years ago, he told me that Martin Fleeson recommended he build heavier.

The 2 Fleeson's that I own a 78 & 81 are very different guitars, the later one being much heavier, as to whether it sounds better is subjective.

I have owned several Collings, tried to like them and sold them all. I have played several Bowns and they are in a completely different class altogether. I have several good guitars but if the right Bown became available it's the only one I would add to my collection.

Good response Jonny 😀

I'm super-impressed you can tell how heavily a top is braced simply by looking at it.

I've not heard of Ralph Brown either.
In contrast, Ralph Bown has far more "name" players using his guitars than Ervin Somogyi and his acolytes combined, who seem to enjoy guru status 'round here.

I have to agree with this. I bought a Collings years ago to see what the fuss was about but, although a well-made guitar etc., a luthier built guitar like a Bown is in a different class IMHO. Some Bowns I've played have been the very best guitars I've laid my hands on; a pal has a spruce/Amazon RW OM that I would buy in an instant. Unsurprisingly, he's not selling.

And Bown's woodworking skills are unsurpassed. Equalled by a few, but unsurpassed.

Cheers,
Steve

Well said steveh, funnily enough I have that exact guitar you were talking about (OM/Amazon rw) on my lap now. Its not going anywhere, its magnificent

I hate you :cry: :cry: :cry:

Cheers,
Steve

There there Steve, I'll still let you play it at Ian's once a year [emoji3]

Where’s the other one?

I’ve played my size 2 and recently acquired all Koa 00-14 today.