Circa (John Slobod) 00 - A Build Thread
 

If you wake me up out of a dead sleep and ask me “Quick! Who is your favorite guitar builder??” I’m certain I’ll reply without hesitation - “John Slobod of Circa Guitars in Portland Maine”. As of now, I’ve played about 1/4 of his entire output. How? Well, it was strange balance of intent and being in the right places at the right times. Over the past 8 years or so I’ve really put myself in the way of them. Dealers, friends, festivals and everything in between.

When you play that number of guitars from any marker you start to notice some pretty strong themes. Obviously John’s guitars are just freakishly well executed. I always say if you’re impressed by the fit and finish of a Collings, close examination of a Circa will startle you. John’s lines are as clean as they come, the way the purfling meets and disappears (good luck finding the glue joint!), his bridges, volutes, arched slot-head walls, the whole package. It’s so elegant and subtle; the inside of the box is a complete and utter marvel!

The thing about John’s work that has impressed me most is how versatile and consistent he is when voicing his guitars. I’ve played guitars of his that respond to a light touch like a high-end cedar-topped classical. Others that seem to have unlimited headroom and more projection than what should be possible in an un-amplified steel string. I've played large rosewood guitars of his with the EQ balance of great mahogany OMs and parlor sized Circas with dread-level bass response and expansiveness. The thing all of his guitars seem to share, though, is a well-placed fundamental and the greatest midrange frequencies known to mankind.

We’re doing a 00 in German/Maple, braced in John’s vintage style with a low X, some scallop and fairly light overall build. He voiced a lot of 00s that way earlier in his career (still does, of course) and I’ve found those tend to work best for the way I like to play guitars this small. Cosmetically, I’m sorta going for the combination of Al Petteway’s two Circa 12-fretters - his 00 and the 000c. This is actually the first Circa I’ve done to my specifications. I just checked my records and this build has been pending for SEVEN YEARS. Good news, though - you’ll be hearing the finished guitar in 2 months or so!

And now, some pics!

Here’s what I requested -

https://i.imgur.com/UMGRbXCl.jpg

And here it is on the shelf! (I was informed later that there IS one more maple guitar in this batch) -

https://i.imgur.com/MuOenAil.png


https://i.imgur.com/gYauIO8l.jpg


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https://i.imgur.com/UNTU1V6l.jpg


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https://i.imgur.com/qmoqhYUl.jpg


Some additional thoughts - I LOOOOVE the look of that maple next to the binding! I just can't stop looking at that slot head!! The pyramid bridge suspense is KILLING ME. I'm thinking of doing simple ebony bridge pins. Ebony nut?! Not sure yet. . . John is currently experimenting with stains to see if he can achieve a transparent or opaque black finish for the neck. That's the only risky thing we're shooting for with this one. I went with black binding to more effectively integrate the body with the neck of this guitar. I'd be remiss if I didnt mention Michael Watts' and his magnificent signature model as a big part of my inspiration here. Dear buddy ol' pal, I hope you'll forgive the co-opt!

I've decided this build thread needs a theme song. I'm going with -

:eek: Eye-popping, gorgeous! That could be the perfect guitar. Well worth the wait, I think. Call me if you need somebody to test drive it for you! Congratulations!

00 Maple Slobod, smart man....!!! These next two months will go by in a split second compared to 7 years:roll:

WOW!!! Congrats!!! You are much more patient than me (LOL). That just looks down right gorgeous. Can not wait to see the finished product. You are very fortunate to have experienced so many of John's great instruments. I have just acquired my first Circa. It's an early build from 2002 and the workmanship/sound and playability is just exceptional.

Best of luck

Gorgeous. Thanks for sharing the pics with us.

My, my, that's sublime !

German spruce/maple Circa 00 = wish-list guitar.

Thanks for sharing the pics and scratching the itch.

I'm also on his list for a long-scale 12-fret 00, different materials. I'm still on the fence about a cutaway. Your build has me buzzing, actually! Beautiful, especially in all of the details!

I also have a soft spot for a maple Circa 00.. Particularly the black and white scheme. Will enjoy this one.

Congrats...:up:

Congrats on a beautiful build. I briefly played one of John ‘s guitars at the 2019 Swannanoa Week and the clarity and responsiveness was amazing.

The problem with Slobod is that his work is so sloppy. I mean, clearly he just threw that thing together.

If you awakened me in the middle of the night I think I would say, “SlobdelGeyt. Where’s my binky? Brian, what are you doing here? Now that I’m awake, and since you’re here, please stop posting those clips of you playing on Facebook. You’re making us look bad. Leave the Circa 00-12 here and please let me go back to sleep.”

Congratulations Brian, I'm on his list for 2021 and I'm going maple also. Still trying to decide Adi OM or 000c. Would love to hear your impressions when you receive this beauty and put it through its paces.

I have played a number of John's fine guitars over the years. Congratulations on this beauty!

Best,
Jayne

Hi Brian, thanks for the pictures. I am very very excited for you. Is the second guitar by any chance a Adirondack/Maple OM? That would be mine which John expects to deliver in spring of 2021.

Gorgeous guitar. I so want a Circa. Mine scheduled for 2022.

That sure is a pretty guitar, and that slotted headstock it stunning!

I believe this is my 1000th post. There's no better way to hit that milestone than with a comment on an awesome Circa build post. Maple, no less!!!!

This is insane. I wonder what his output is now. Based on serial numbers, It's got to be close to 200? If that's the case, that makes your statement even more jaw dropping. How the heck did you get your paws on so many Circas? :D You weren't even at Slobodopalooza at Schoenberg's a while back...

No doubt that John will nail this. For my maple, the neck was a darker hue than the body. So he stained the finish just right on each of the individual components so that it would blend together. I have 110% confidence that he'll crush it for you here. I'm super curious to see what this looks like!!!!

I'm super excited for you. I can't wait to hear one of your awesome videos with this axe. As many of us know, John builds some pretty special guitars, but I feel his maple guitars are incredibly special! :up:

Brian, the elephant in the room is that you could make a paper bag sound celestial. Accordingly, you need a great guitar far less than the rest of us. You should just carry on with what you have and donate the Circa to me: I need it more than you!

I've played a few Circas and "Collings" immediately sprang to my mind in terms of fit-and-finish. In many ways the Circas were so cleanly built they reminded me of those. Not a flaw anywhere to disclose they are "handmade" (and especially not "homemade"!). The pics of your guitar are so crisp.

One in particular sticks in my mind, a 12 fret 000 spruce/IRW with cutaway that had seriously celestial trebles, but in a Martinseque fashion rather than modern West Coast. Lovely.

Cheers,
Steve

I’ve played a few maple Slobods. They are simply magical. Whatever he does with German maple, he’s really able to bring out the best in that wood. I will have a 00-12 from him at some point. Can’t wait. Very excited for you!

Breathtaking
 

What an AXE!!! Amazing detail! Woohoo....

Enjoy this in the best of health and spirits!

Salud

Paul

Hey Brian, that black binding against the maple is incredible. Love it! There’s a similar guitar at Schoenberg’s. A long scale 00 in maple too, but with tortis type binding. Have you or anyone here played that? Would you say that John builds along the lines with Jules Borges, or a bit more modern? Didn’t John apprentice with Dana Bourgeois and Borges before going out by himself too?

I’ve never played a Maple Circa but I’ve heard Stuart Ryan play his 000-12 and that’s one of the top tones in my head.

Keeping an eye on this thread!

SURELY. I sure hope so, anyways!

Patience for these sorts of things and a modest income often go hand-in-hand! :lol:

Thank you!!

Yes indeed. He really put that wood combo in a 00 on the map. For me, at least! Al Petteway’s first Circa ruined me for life!



What woods? Based on the ones I’ve played, I wouldn’t be concerned about a cutaway negatively effecting the sound! They’ve been consistently wonderful

The neck is the one big question mark. Still not sure what we’ll settle on. I may need to have you guys help me out . . .

Thanks as always!!

Thanks! Clarity is definitely his thing! Here’s hoping for Swannanoa 2021. . .


“SlobdelGeyt” If only this forum would allow me to change my name. . .

Rob! Well, whenever things are somewhat normal again, I’ll just bring it by. You know we’re not far away nowadays. Paradise Valley! His 000 is not to be missed. Juston and I played the same 000 Maple that Schoenberg’s had a few years ago. It remains one of the best sounding guitars I’ve played (including Walkers, pre wars and whatnot. . . )

Thanks, Jayne!!

Yes, actually TWO more in this batch - an OM and a 000-12 Fret!

Congrats!!

Ohh dear the Circa slotted headstock and pyramid bridge are the stuff of legend!


Congrats, Foodie! I’ve always admired your tastes ;-) Thanks for the kind words and the encouragement to keep going in this direction. The maple thing can be tricky, with regards to overall aesthetic. I loved Michael Watts’ solution. Excited to see where we end up! Oh, and yes, after this batch, John will be over 200. Probably around 210 or so?



Ahh, way too kind, Steve! Thank you. I’m mostly just in love with the idea of a well-executed guitar. Ed Claxton is another builder that comes to mind pretty often for me. Kim Walker’s stuff is magnificent and if I’m being honest, the best of the Froggy Bottoms I come across are of similar fascination to me. Marc Maingard is another I love. I think I recall that Circa 000 12-fret. I didnt get to play it, but John mentioned it as one he was especially proud of!

Thanks Juston - I’m excited too! He has started working on the lacquer now. I can’t wait to record this thing.

Thanks so much, Paul!


I’ll never understand how Stuart could ever be without THAT guitar. The recordings he made with that thing were just marvelous. I know that long scale 00 maple pretty well, actually! It’s fab - great clarity and evenness throughout the EQ. VERY warm... one of the “sweetest” sounding guitars I’ve come across. It doesn’t have a ton of volume, but it makes up for that in the way it responds to a light touch. Really really nice in alternate tunings. The tort binding it very pretty in person. If you look closely, you can see the routed "shelf" that the binding sits in the more translucent areas of the material.

I won’t let you down!

Lacquer!

https://i.imgur.com/p7WjlPa.jpg https://i.imgur.com/DUHtrCc.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/nXCMyYC.jpg

It never fails... Flamed maple under finish always gets my heart rate up and makes me light headed... :up:

Keep the pics coming!!!! :D

Shortly before the pandemic, I took a trip out to Schoenberg's shop. I played quite a few guitars and that Circa was my personal favorite. A really beautiful guitar that sounded lovely.

It's a delightful guitar. I saved this pic of the boxed endgraft John posted awhile back -

https://i.imgur.com/3Yw8Li2l.jpg