Build Thread: New Era Maurer 000-12 Adi/Koa
 

There aren't too many builders out there that make recreations of the old Larson Brothers guitars. Tony Klassen of New Era is one of the few. Although the wood combinations are a little atypical for the Larsons, he's going after that classic Larson sound. We'll be using laminated braces and the guitar will be "built under tension" just like the originals. The only modification from the original design will be a slightly deeper body to keep the guitar from sounding boxy.

We'll be doing quite a bit of pearl inlay. This will get the "Style 8" treatment.

Design: 000-12
Top: Adirondack spruce
Back and sides: Koa
Neck: Laminated with carbon fiber rods
Scale: 25.5"
Nut: 1 3/4"
Saddle: 2 5/16"
Bridge and fingerboard: Ebony
Laminated braces

http://jus-tone.com/misc/NewEra/New_Era_Maurer_001.jpg

http://jus-tone.com/misc/NewEra/New_Era_Maurer_002.jpg

http://jus-tone.com/misc/NewEra/New_Era_Maurer_003.jpg

http://jus-tone.com/misc/NewEra/New_Era_Maurer_004.jpg

http://jus-tone.com/misc/NewEra/New_Era_Maurer_005.jpg

http://jus-tone.com/misc/NewEra/New_Era_Maurer_006.jpg

Look forward to watching this one come together...:up:

Beautiful koa, dude. You rock.

Congratulations, and nice to see another koa guitar being luthiered.

With this and the Circa coming in I worry about whether you will have space restrictions Juston. If you do run low on space, well I'm here to help....

Beautiful!
Is that a cloud pickguard I see drawn on the form?

When you get a chance, can you explain a little bit about being "built under tension"? Thanks.

Thanks for rubbing it in. :)

That's Larsonesque for significantly radiused tops and backs.

You can read more about the Larsons' building style here, a reproduction of my Fretboard Journal about the brothers and their instruments.

It means the built their guitars with a substantial arch to the top and back, which I suppose means they forced both under tension. I assume they added the arch by bracing on a dished table, but JT probably knows more. I wonder how this compares to what Laurent Brondel and Stefan Sobell do on their guitars?

John Thomas, is there also a lengthwise arch to the back? Are the top and back domed or laterally arched?

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...xfXVk_8KsAUKKF

It is. Not sure if I’ll go for one, but maybe! They are so cool.

I love Tony Klassen’s passion for authenticity, impeccable craftsmanship, and awesome tone. Will watch this one with interest!

Mainly laterally arched, with a bit of longitudinal arch, too. So, sort of domed. But, then, the example I'm inspecting right now is 100 years old and, like me, may have lost some of its shape with age.

The inlaid cloud pickguard improves tone by 11.686 %.

Beautifully played, my friend.

Thank you, kind sir!

This is looking great! I can't wait to see that Koa under finish - it already looks alive in its unfinished state!

Better image of the tone-enhancing pickguard:

https://scontent.fbed1-1.fna.fbcdn.n...6e&oe=5E219E14

The pickguard is inlaid into the top, which is the thinnest guitar top I've ever encountered. Those Larson boys were unique and talented.

Yeah, I’ve always loved that cloud pickguard. So unique and cool. I may just do it. I wonder if Tony will inlay it into the top!?

He must. As Tony well knows, just having the cloud pickguard in the same room as a guitar improves the guitar's tone by 3.687 %. Gluing the pickguard to the finished top improves tone by 7.897 %. Inlaying the pickguard, as we all know, improves tone by 11.686 %. No rational luthier would resist inlaying a cloud pickguard.

OK, I know Tony well. He's not often rational, but if you strike at the right moment ...

Justonwo will you be having the steel rod running from neck block to tail block that the Larson brothers sometimes used? (Substituted for carbon fiber I suppose)

Negative. I believe that was the Prairie State guitars for the most part. I don’t like the look and I’ve heard they aren’t the best tonally. This will be like the 20s Larsons except no 1 7/8” nut.

looking great Juston! Will you adopt me if I buy a mahogany guitar? :D

Really looking forward to this build, if it is as good as the Fairbanks KGal the we are in for a treat. Cheers.

How about this to go with the style 8 theme?

http://jus-tone.com/misc/NewEra/cloud_with_inlay.jpeg

I Love it!

It's perfect!

A vine growing up into a cloud? Juston and the beanstalk?

It's one of my favorites of the Larson Brothers inlays.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.yuku...b230894140.jpg

Love it John :up:

You sure that wasn't 11.7%?

Thank you, kind sir!