Nylon string goodness. Joel Austin Guitars Giant Sequoia/Bastogne walnut Sound Sample

[El Conquistador]

A client called to set an annual review appointment. He mentioned that he wanted me to see a new nylon string guitar that his neighbor had built him so he would bring it to our meeting. Now, I am lucky enough to own a number of world class luthier built guitars, so, I admit I may be a little hard to impress, and, I have been down this road before with locals who cobble together guitars that are strictly at the hobby level at best. But, not wanting to embarrass my clearly exited client, I was prepared to open the case and say something like, "Boy, that's a guitar all right."

However, when the client arrived and I did open the case, my first thought was "Wow, what a cool looking guitar!". When I took it out of the case, the more I saw, the more impressed I was. It was beautiful with an unusual and wonderful design aesthetic. Then I strummed an Emaj chord and what I heard almost made me sit down. Huge tone with an actual treble response that sustained. From a nylon string guitar! I looked at my client and said, "I gotta meet this guy".

Now it just so happens that I have begun to get into Brazilian music lately and had just been thinking I needed a nylon string guitar, but, all of the classical guitars I demoed thus far were uncomfortable to play. But, this guitar played like butter. So, my client said he would arrange a meeting.

When we met, we hit it off right away. I found that while the company is named after his son, Joel Austin, his name is Dave Philp. He is a master carpenter by trade and an excellent guitar player by choice. He told me his son had given him a book on building classical guitars for an Xmas present and so he decided to build himself a guitar. Then his son wanted one, then his brother wanted one, and so on, and so on. The one I demoed was, I believe, his 19th guitar and he had 3 more on the bench in his shop looking out over the Sierra foothills.

So we talked commission, price (which is ridiculously low in my experience) and then woods. He mentioned that he had fished a huge log of Giant Sequoia that had washed down from Sequoia Park out of the river behind his house last year during the big rains, and sawed it into top sets. I happen to already have a Giant Sequoia topped guitar and consider it a primo top wood, so, that was a quick yes. He then told me he had access to an orchard of Bastogne walnut trees that he had been sawing up into B&S sets. I have always wanted to use walnut, not to mention local walnut, so that was a yes again.

So, here are what we are going to use: Walnut B&S, Giant Sequoia top, Doug Fir bracing, Spanish Cedar peones, ebony fretboard and bridge.


Her is another shot of the Giant Sequoia:

Oh, and for the end graph and head stock logo, a nice piece of Manzanita from his property.

Here is the actual Manzanita branch from which this is taken.


He has already started the build, so, this should go quickly. I am beyond excited for this build.

Steve

[Jamiejoon]

Manzanita! That's very cool. I want manzanita or madrone details on a guitar.

[CoolerKing]

What!?!? So cool! Following along.

[Guitars44me]

Interesting story, and very nifty woods!!!

Thanks for sharing this with us all.

Looking forward to seeing her come together

Paul

[Cocobolo Kid]

I will be following as well, and am looking forward to seeing how this turns out. Congrats Steve.

[gitarro]

This link looks like that luthier's website....

https://www.joelaustinguitars.com/the-story

It's cool to learn of builders whom one has never heard of before and who are making guitars of fresh and distinctive appearance.

[colins]

Steve, great to see this build thread. Very happy for you, and a shade jealous too!

Col

[justonwo]

Super cool. Keep the photos coming!

[Diamondave]

Thanks for sharing, excited to watch this come together...!

[RGPGuitars]

I will be interested to see the build of a guitar that impressed you so much. Especially the top bracing, side construction and neck joint. Russ

[El Conquistador]

Originally Posted by RGPGuitars

I will be interested to see the build of a guitar that impressed you so much. Especially the top bracing, side construction and neck joint. Russ

Coming.

Steve

[El Conquistador]

Here is a teaser, and Tim, this is what you are going to get.



Steve

[Nemoman]

Very cool!

I've always wanted to try to incorporate Manzanita from my property into one of my custom builds. Now I know I'm not crazy (at least about that anyways!)...

[Jamiejoon]

Me too. The (root) burl on really old manzanitas can be incredible looking. Don't know how stable it would be, but have seen it used on bowls and vases.

[El Conquistador]

Originally Posted by Nemoman

Very cool!

I've always wanted to try to incorporate Manzanita from my property into one of my custom builds. Now I know I'm not crazy (at least about that anyways!)...

Originally Posted by Jamiejoon

Me too. The (root) burl on really old manzanitas can be incredible looking. Don't know how stable it would be, but have seen it used on bowls and vases.

Here is the source for this luthier:

Steve