Build Thread: Circa OM-18/21 Adirondack Spruce and Mahogany
 

I am a great lover of the vintage Martin OM. I've played a few primo examples at Schoenberg, so I THINK I understand that sound pretty well. I've also played countless reproductions of "the real thing" and I think that allows me to triangulate pretty well.

Since receiving my rosewood Circa OM in 2016, I've been pining after a mahogany twin. I've had a couple of Slobod builds slots waiting in the wings for a while now and things all seem to be coming together at once. Matthew Partrick and I have been nerding out over specs for an OM-18 and he convinced me to add some 21 stylings. So while it's an 18 in the sense that it's mahogany and spruce, it'll have some 21 stylings like rosewood binding, a herringbone rosette, and some low key diamond inlays on the fretboard. I'm sure it'll veer slightly at some point off the style 21 map, but the basic concept is to take it up a notch.

Body - OM, non cutaway
Back and Sides - Curly mahogany
Appointments - Style 21 mostly
Pyramid Bridge
Graphite truss rod and Plek
1 3/4" nut
2 5/16" saddle spacing
EVO 55090 wire
Shade top

I've not had any problems with my two non-adjustable graphite rodded guitars, and we're shooting for light as possible on this guitar.

The top will be shaded to something approximating this.

http://jus-tone.com/misc/circa/OM_18/OM_Burst.jpg

John has picked out some gorgeous curly mahogany that apparently has gorgeous tap tone and weight. So we're off to a good start. Building should start right after the holidays.

http://jus-tone.com/misc/circa/OM_18/Circa_OM-18_04.JPG

http://jus-tone.com/misc/circa/OM_18/Circa_OM-18_01.JPG

http://jus-tone.com/misc/circa/OM_18/Circa_OM-18_02.JPG

http://jus-tone.com/misc/circa/OM_18/Circa_OM-18_03.JPG

Photos of the final guitar.

http://jus-tone.com/misc/circa/OM_18..._OM-18_31.jpeg

http://jus-tone.com/misc/circa/OM_18..._OM-18_32.jpeg

http://jus-tone.com/misc/circa/OM_18..._OM-18_33.jpeg

http://jus-tone.com/misc/circa/OM_18..._OM-18_34.jpeg

http://jus-tone.com/misc/circa/OM_18..._OM-18_35.jpeg

http://jus-tone.com/misc/circa/OM_18..._OM-18_36.jpeg

http://jus-tone.com/misc/circa/OM_18..._OM-18_37.jpeg

http://jus-tone.com/misc/circa/OM_18..._OM-18_38.jpeg

http://jus-tone.com/misc/circa/OM_18..._OM-18_39.jpeg

Awesome! the 4th Circa~ The mahogany set looks beautiful~ Looking forward to this build~

Love that fiddleback 'hog!!!!!

I remember when that 'burst Circa popped up on the classifieds. It took everything I had to not move on it. Yours is going to be special. Love the fact that you've got a lot of variety in your Circas!!!!

Looking forward to seeing the rest of the build progress!

So it's an OM - 19.5!

Love the sunburst, and the mahogany is drool worthy.

Col

You are torturing me. My first built with John starts in early 2020, probably a 7/8D-12 fret in Adi/Hog. Thanks to you, I will need at least three more ;)

Seriously, congrats on this one (and the others you posted, the beautiful Maple 000, and that Brazilian...), the set looks fantastic!

Beautiful Honduran Mahogany Juston...:up:. It looks like the stuff that Jerry Hibdon (Hibdon Hardwoods) was selling 3-4 years ago.

Nice! Another curly mahogany in the works!

My goodness, Juston. I can't keep up with all of your builds, but know that each one makes me jealous. You spec them out perfectly. I have some variety in my stable of guitars, but I completely understand where you're coming from loading up with Circa's. My OM from John is just heavenly.


Mark

Gorgeous wood! Thanks for sharing this with us.

Hey, as long as I'm here, I've a question. I remember a build post in recent months that you didn't start. Alas, I can't find it. I've gone back 10 pages into the AGF archives. No luck, yet. Any suggestions? I'm recalling a thread by a guy who goes by the name of a pretentious jazz chord. Suggestions? :) (Apologies to my good friend, Bob. I couldn't resist.)

I know, I guess I'm a bit of a super fan. It doesn't hurt that John's fun to work with.

I always keep my eyes peeled for used Circas. I wish I could have afforded the OM-42 that was on sale here for months.

19.5 is a good idea, though it would be breaking new ground to move away from whole numbers. But why not?

Been there, my friend. I had to wait a few years before my OM build started in 2016 and put these deposits down ages ago knowing I would want more. Schoenberg gets Circas every once in a while and that really fuels the fire!

I don't think it's Hibdon, Bob, but I'm not sure. John told me it was acquired 10 years ago. He's been saving it for his very favorite client . . . but then I talked him into allowing his second least favorite client to use it.

You really just can't have too much curly mahogany. It alway satisfies!

Yeah, I'm really loving John's work and I'm especially appreciate that he covers so much territory sound-wise. I also love my OM. It's a bone shaker.

I don't know about anyone named Bob. I do know there's someone that calls himself The Artist Formerly and Currently Known As iim7v7v7x. I'm not sure on the pronunciation.

Actually, Bob did give me the run down on what that phrase means on the phone last month and now I feel 1) smarter and 2) cooler.

Perhaps if I had chosen I7-IV7-V7 you might have remembered...:)

Maybe something with a bit more "Rhythm," say, Imaj7 vim7 iim7 V7 iiim7 VI7 iim7 V7. :)

Agreed, my current screen name is a bit too rubato...:)

Uh oh, ladies and gentlemen. We got ourselves here a musical nerd standoff!

Hold on to your hats!