Urlacher Concert Cutaway - German w/ Camatillo Rosewood
 

Hi everyone,

I'm a little late making this, Rebecca has been working very fast on assembling this guitar already and I can't wait to receive it late summer/early Fall. I first played an Urlacher when visiting Dustin Furlow this past summer and it was by far the best steel string I had played for my style and technique. There wasn't too much reverb and also wasn't too flat sounding, it just felt perfect. I have an album I hope to record soon of my late father's music and didn't want to do it on my Maton (which is a fine guitar for most things) if I knew there was the possibility of having a guitar from Rebecca built.

Rebecca and I have since been talking and finally decided to begin this build a few weeks ago and I will hopefully be receiving it at Tom Bowersox's B.I.G event in Texas this September, possible sooner.

It took some time deciding the woods but Rebecca and I both feel confident this combo will suit my needs well. She said that the Camatillo rosewood is quite dense and similar to Brazilian in taptone. Another name for the wood is Mexican Kingwood and it is a true Dalbergia I had never heard of. Here's a few photos she's sent me the past week and spec's we decided on below! Thanks for reading!


https://i.imgur.com/kcPj7ny.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/7mB4Rkw.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/czAQGmu.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/5dQcfUY.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/R5tGzRv.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/czAQGmu.jpg

Nut width: 1.81"
Saddle spacing width: 2.31"
Scale: 25"
Neck thickness at first position: 0.83"
Body depth: 4.2"

Looks like beautiful woods to begin with, Karlijn!

I look forward to hearing you play this one at BIG(er)!

Yes, wonderful looking woods for sure. Having heard you play, I think you will bring out the best in this guitar and visa versa! Very excited to hear it, and maybe see it delivered, at B.I.G.!!! Also, welcome to the AGF! We are lucky to have you!

Karlijn,
First off, you play so beautifully. I regret I won't meet you at BIG in Texas, but I look forward to hearing more of your music as you share it with the world. I bet the duets with Dustin will be amazing.

Second, GREAT choice with the Camatillo. I am jealous! So beautiful and unique and promising! I have been searching for a quartersawn set of Camatillo for years. Soon-ish I will be having a Brazilian Kingwood guitar made for me by John Kinnaird.

I look forward to seeing this build develop, and to hearing the guitar some day.

Jamie

Sweet texture on that back and sides! You will put it to good use, am I sure : )

Might be a bit biased, but I have a feeling this is gonna be good ;)

I'm not biased at all and I reckon you're right! Looking amazing so far.

Great organic look, loving the cohesiveness of the rosette and back wood's figuring.
Also a fan of your playing :)

Will be following this one with close attention.
Cheers,

Beautiful! Hoping to hear it live in TX.

Yep!
 

I second Tom! Welcome, and glad you are here!!!

Salud

Paul

This is so great to see. You've made a fabulous choice. Having met Rebecca during the last two shows at LaConner (remember the good old days?) she's a gem of a person and an incredibly talented luthier. Congrats, I suspect this guitar will win your heart over quickly and will take you to new spaces that you'll love. We all can't wait to see what new creations you two bring on next.!!

So cool to see you here on the ole AGF, man.. and cool you saved a couple builds for your own enjoyment ;) hope to get to play one of yours soon.

Thank you for following along, everyone. Looking forward to B.I.G!

Congratulations on this build, and once again, B.I.G. will unveil some new beginnings! It will be a treat to hear you debut it, and perhaps a dueling Urlacher duet with Dustin!

I am by no means an expert, but I thought Camatillo was a lot more purple. Perhaps the pictures aren't capturing the color correctly, but it looks a lot more like Brazilian Kingwood. It could be that I am wrong too, for they are closely related cousins. Both, from what I've read, are extremely rare, especially for back and sides. I have Camatillo bindings and bevels on one of my guitars, and it is indeed purple (it does darken a bit). Regardless of species, it will be a pleasure watching this come together.

I believe it is like Cocobolo in that it has a wide range of appearances. This is called either Mexican Kingwood or Camatillo according to Rebecca. She just finished bracing the back and is moving on to bracing the top!

https://i.imgur.com/T9FjyFC.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/AwlBr4S.jpg