[TaranGuitars]

Originally Posted by David Wren

Great story ... and great looking guitar taking shape Rory!

Thanks David! Next instalment coming today - hope you enjoy!
All the very best,
Rory

Originally Posted by Guitars44me

I am a big fan of MS! And of OLD Martin 000-18s, too. (Even though I do not have one, sigh...)

This will be most instructional and FUN too!

Carry on and enjoy!

Paul

Thanks Paul - it was a fantastic project to work on.

More coming soon!
All the best,
Rory

Originally Posted by Deft Tungsman

What thrilling project, man! To embark upon it with such consideration must provide plenty of self-doubt or second-guessing, those little hindrances you work through and learn from as the build progresses. Thanks so much for giving us a glimpse of your growth as a luthier.

Thank you. The process certainly allowed for lots of that which was exciting and illuminating in equal measures! More to follow...
All the very best,
Rory

Originally Posted by jmagill

Can you talk a bit about what you mean by 'spit'?

Hi,

In terms of 'spit', Martin and I considered this to be about the power at the start of the note. We were looking for a powerful but controllable punch which we called 'spit'.

All the very best,
Rory

Originally Posted by M Sarad

After playing a half dozen Martins from 1930 to 1937, I know the magic inside those boxes, from the OM 18, 28, 45 to the OOO 18, each one was wonderful, with the guitars from 1930 having the most Mojo.

I prefer a lighter build. When I was first going down the custom road, I contacted Sobell. He let me know he built thicker and heavier than what I was looking for. A friend bought a Brazilian Sobell that he picked up from Simpson in New Orleans. When I played it, I couldn’t get what I wanted out of it. When my friend played it, it sang like a choir of angels. It was all about the projection.

The old Martins put my ears in the middle of that choir. The 1930 OM 28 Jim Baggett handed me three years ago was simply amazing. It had a deep and wide sonic landscape, with far more of everything I want from a guitar than my Merrill OM 28 of Brazilian and Adirondack. As they say, “ Close, but no cigar.” I had the $38,000 he was asking, but my house was getting AC and a new deck. Prudence prevailed.

I am in love with the sound of Sobell, NK Forster, and now I am smitten by the possibilities presented by Taran.

Hi there,

Many thanks. over the years, I have learned that the most important element of any build is understanding the clients requirements regarding what I call, 'response level'. If you are a heavier player, you need a guitar that doesn't break-up when played with more force but sings. However, if you are a lighter player you need the guitar to sing with the lightest touch. Each soundboard I make takes the client into consideration on this front and thus each of my guitars are bespoke to the client but ultimately have my Taran sound.

All the very best,
Rory