The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Custom Shop

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 12-03-2021, 12:41 AM
justonwo's Avatar
justonwo justonwo is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 7,120
Default Build Thread: Circa OM-42 Adi/Braz

Yeah, I know. Another Circa build thread?! What could you possibly do with another Circa, justonwo? Torture it within an inch of its life, of course!

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of John Slobod's guitars. In the last several years, he's formulated a recipe that really appeals to my tonal aesthetic; he focuses on volume, headroom, and mids, while letting the bass blossom over a longer period of time (which it does after a year or two, or sooner, depending on the instrument). A fundamental part of this sound has been John's use of a slightly taller X brace. I now have four Circas built in this paradigm. I have three OMs, all with Adi tops. Two with rosewood and one with mahogany back and sides. And a German spruce and German maple 000-12. And while I love all of them for various reasons, I probably come back to the OM-28 for one reason or another.

Having waxed poetic about John's luthier kung-fu with various friends - among them our own USB Chord, who is extremely well versed in all things Circa - we have often pondered a Circa that returns to the original recipe, which was more of a vintage Martin replica. A looser, more bass heavy variation more reminiscent of John's earlier work (or so I am told, I have played only one or two from the pre-tall X brace era).

While John and I wait for the style 30 purfling to come to life for my triple 0 project (0-12, 00-12, and 000-12), I thought it would be exciting to round out the Circa collection with something a little different. And by a "little different," I actually do mean just a little different.

So I've asked John to undertake an OM-42 build with a looser, bassier feel. Probably not too dissimilar from my Brondel OM-42, to be honest. I'm going full Tammy Faye Bakker on this baby, with Adi and Brazi draped in full style 42 regalia. And while this OM is unlikely to ooze eyeliner like TFB, I am fairly certain it will ooze a most holy-rolling tone. Watch the magic as laser-perfect miters and birds beak craftsmanship unfolds! In the words of John Slobod (and also Garth Algar), "I just hope you don't think it sucks!"

Body: OM, non-cutaway
Top: IPGUG Red Spruce
Back and Sides: SYKG Brazilian rosewood
Neck: Bird's beak mahogany
Bridge: Is there anything other than ebony pyramid??
Scale length: 25.4" of course
Nut width: 1 3/4"
Saddle spacing: 2 5/16"
Tuners: For sure
Frets: EVO Gold 55090, the only way to fly
Ajustable truss rod: Heck no!
Case: Probably a good ol' Ameritage. Bulky, but it does the job. I have enough solvent-releasing Toxee cases in my life.

And without further ado, I give you . . . the tonewoods. And . . . a center strip. We decided to go for a set of Braz with a little flair.











Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 12-03-2021, 04:27 AM
iim7V7IM7's Avatar
iim7V7IM7 iim7V7IM7 is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: An Exit Off the Turnpike in New Jersey
Posts: 5,152
Default

Beautiful Woods + Great Builder = Watching



















__________________
A bunch of nice archtops, flattops, a gypsy & nylon strings…

Last edited by iim7V7IM7; 12-23-2023 at 04:44 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 12-03-2021, 05:01 AM
jt1 jt1 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,062
Default

Oh, my!

This will be wonderful.
__________________
John
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 12-03-2021, 06:54 AM
Vaillant75 Vaillant75 is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Paris, France
Posts: 323
Default

Yes Yes Yes!
Banjo tuners to get the whole 42-style goodness?
Just got my own OM 42 from a fellow AGFer and I am stocked with it. Indeed it's a 2018 model and there is a splash of "modernity" in the way the bass blooms.
Your addiction makes for our own enjoyment
Best.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 12-03-2021, 08:34 AM
brianlcox brianlcox is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Würenlingen, Switzerland
Posts: 542
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vaillant75 View Post
Yes Yes Yes!

Banjo tuners to get the whole 42-style goodness?

Just got my own OM 42 from a fellow AGFer and I am stocked with it. Indeed it's a 2018 model and there is a splash of "modernity" in the way the bass blooms.

Your addiction makes for our own enjoyment

Best.
I had heard from a mutual friend that that circa had made it's way to Europe! Excellent choice! Enjoy it in good health!
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 12-03-2021, 10:25 AM
justonwo's Avatar
justonwo justonwo is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 7,120
Default

I had also heard that about the OM-42. Congrats!

No banjo tuners for me, I'm afraid. And no bar frets either. Although banjo tuners look cool and retro, I much prefer the function of simple Waverly tuners.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 12-03-2021, 10:43 AM
JCM615 JCM615 is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 209
Default

When you get it, and it's so good that you don't care to play anything else, can I have 1st dibs on the OM-28??
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 12-03-2021, 04:29 PM
justonwo's Avatar
justonwo justonwo is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 7,120
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by JCM615 View Post
When you get it, and it's so good that you don't care to play anything else, can I have 1st dibs on the OM-28??
I'll probably just put it out on the curb for someone to take. It will be dead to me by then . . .
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 12-03-2021, 05:14 PM
JCM615 JCM615 is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 209
Default

Pay no mind to the unaccustomed vagrant in the black convertible hanging around your curb. He's a bit off-center but relatively harmless.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 12-03-2021, 05:14 PM
Kenny B Kenny B is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Elgin, IL
Posts: 953
Default

Looks really nice, would love to get on his list someday for a future build.

I think this will be a most amazing guitar once it is done.
__________________
Beneteau Concert cutaway Sitka/Maple 2009
Beneteau Baritone Sitka/Walnut 2005
Beneteau Concert cutaway Adi/Honduras Rosewood 2003
Maple Beneteau for sale
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 12-04-2021, 06:01 AM
cigarfan's Avatar
cigarfan cigarfan is offline
Music soothes the soul!
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Within the blast radius of Washington D.C.
Posts: 5,177
Default

Nice start. You are one lucky dude!
__________________
Life is like a box of chocolates ....
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 12-04-2021, 10:57 AM
FormerFoodie FormerFoodie is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,176
Default

Drool...

I'm going to look forward to this thread as this beauty comes together.

Love that Braz!!!!
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 12-04-2021, 01:31 PM
Nemoman Nemoman is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: N. California
Posts: 3,140
Default

Those woods are ridiculously beautiful--what an awesome build!
__________________
2013 Stehr Auditorium (Carpathian/Myrtle)
2015 Stehr Auditorium (Adi/BRW)
2020 Baranik Meridian (Blue Spruce/Manchinga)
2020 Wilborn Arum (Tunnel 14/Coco)
2021 Kinnaird Graybeard (BC Cedar/Bog Oak)
2022 Kinnaird CS Student Build (Adi/Padauk)
2023 Kinnaird FS (Italian/Koa)
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 12-04-2021, 01:33 PM
Diamondave's Avatar
Diamondave Diamondave is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Venice CA
Posts: 2,576
Default

I love that set, this is gonna be a primo 42, exciting...!!!
__________________
onedayatatime
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 12-04-2021, 05:02 PM
usb_chord's Avatar
usb_chord usb_chord is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,627
Default

Congrats, bud! Really excited to see this one come together.
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Custom Shop

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:39 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=