Thomas Rein Osage Orange build...Video added!
 

I'm now in the midst of rebuilding a small guitar-collection, having settled-in on 25"/24.9" as a "standard" scale length.

The first guitar (last Fall) I had really bonded with (tonally and in every other way) when I was examining full-scale (25.4") guitars again was a RJN-3C from Tom Rein...his "3" model is essentially an OM with a slightly "classical" flavor, shape-wise...and the "RJN" stands for Tom's adjustable neck-angle feature, which has proved to be a great feature...

...so when I did then decide to move forward in replacing the 25.4" Rein, the obvious direction was to commission a new, slightly shorter scale guitar from Tom!

We agreed on an experiment with Osage Orange, which many of you know is a wood whose tap-tone resembles Brazilian, but is a domestic wood that can most easily be found in sizes that require a 4-piece back, which would have been fine with me.

However, Tom had one set of O.O. that was full-sized, and rather straight-grained...visually a good thing for me, if not somewhat plain. I'm more than "good" with this, for sure!

Tom also recommended a Euro moon spruce top that he had, something from Switzerland, and with a "FSC" designation...FSC is Forestry Stewardship Council. They give their certification to companies who practice sustainable forestry.

So we're using rather responsible-woods for the top/back & sides...and Tom has now also purchased some other full-sets of Osage Orange for future-builds. Good deal.

This guitar will have some of my usual specs for fingerboard widths/geometry (tapering a bit wider), and will use a 2-1/4" bridge spacing.

I'm excited that this guitar has now been started! Here are a few initial photos that Tom sent...we'll see what his time permits for additional photos...I'll try to keep this thread updated as possible.

Thanks to Tom for sharing this ride with me...should be a great instrument...

http://www.larrypattis.com/Rein/LoRes_oothread1.jpg

http://www.larrypattis.com/Rein/LoRes_oothread2.jpg

http://www.larrypattis.com/Rein/LoRes_oothread3.jpg

http://www.larrypattis.com/Rein/LoRes_oothread4.jpg

Looks awesome, Larry. Glad to hear you’re able to play the longer scales again. Hope that means you’ve found sustainable/reliable pain management. That Osage orange is knockout wood. That’s going to make one hell of a guitar.

What do you think of Osage orange relative to pernambuco?

Larry, that’s a beautiful, quartersawn set of Osage Orange...:up: Osage Orange will usually significantly darken across time into more of a lighter brown hue due mostly to photo-instability. My Black Cherry and Pernambuco guitars have both darkened over time from their initial state. Keep that in mind when making design decisions.

Thomas Rein Osage Orange build...underway!
 

I've actually never played or heard (to my knowledge) a Pernambuco guitar...







Thanks, Bob...will do!



The more I look at the photos, the more I like the overall look of the O.O...and the trim we chose for the backstrip...we'll see how things look on the rest of the guitar!

Congratulations Larry! It's great to see another build with your name on it! I look forward to watching this one progress.

Looking forward to seeing this one develop. Thomas Rein is an awesome builder!
Steve

This is great news, Larry. I have discovered that a 25” scale length hits the sweet spot for me as well.
Osage orange is an intriguing choice and I will be happily following this thread to its wonderful conclusion- hearing you play the finished guitar.

Best,
Jayne

Stunning! Love the Osage Orange!

Well that’s looking great...

I always wondered if Osage would look good with a burst?

Maybe a nice antiquey tobacco burst?

D

I'm awed by that piece of wood--fabulous. The trees are as shrubby as they can be, so finding one that well quartered without little pin knots is a real treasure.
I know you'll enjoy it!

Steve

Can't wait to hear you play this one, bro'. Tim

Hi Larry—Just to add my own experience with a piece of Osage Orange that I got from the heart of a fallen tree, its final hue was almost identical to Honduran mahogany, a beautiful rust color and not lemon at all. Its tap tone is incredible. —Richard

Should be called Osage Yellow. I like the idea of a burst.

Larry here is a website with a number of photos of newly cut and aged Osage Orange...

http://hobbithouseinc.com/personal/w...e%20orange.htm

An LP build is always exciting to follow. One of my favorite quotes on this forum over the past year (i am paraphrasing) was when Larry said, "realizing that someday I will be dead, I decided to commission a new guitar". Words to live by.