NICK KUKICH (Franklin Guitar Co.) The OMC (German Spruce / Cuban Mahogany)

[jt1]

Brilliant work, as always from Nick. Thanks for sharing this with us!

[iim7V7IM7]

Originally Posted by jt1

Brilliant work, as always from Nick. Thanks for sharing this with us!

You are quite welcome JT.... These posts are honestly here to help others in the future when considering commissioning a guitar from (Nick or inserts other luthier’s name here). We know that the signature sound of builders tend to differ, but we don’t really have a clue as to why. Photos series like these give just a peek behind the curtain.

Because Nick has been building as long as he has and has his roots in the OM, people think of him as a “traditional” builder. These photos clearly show that Nick is what I call an “evolved traditionalist”. His approach to bracing his top has obviously evolved to achieve sonic goals and structure over 40+ years building guitars.

Additionally, the OMC plantilla was designed from the ground up. It is 5/8” larger and 1/8” deeper than a traditional OM. Nick did this to compensate for the lost body volume due to the cutaway.

[TomB'sox]

I don't think I have seen the most proximal braces be cut through the transverse brace to continue on up before? Am I wrong that this is quite unique?

[ChuckS]

Originally Posted by TomB'sox

I don't think I have seen the most proximal braces be cut through the transverse brace to continue on up before? Am I wrong that this is quite unique?

I believe this is Nick's implementation of "A bracing". Alan Carruth did something similar on the 000 he made for me.





You can see the notches for the 'A' braces in the neck block chin.

[TomB'sox]

Originally Posted by ChuckS

I believe this is Nick's implementation of "A bracing". Alan Carruth did something similar on the 000 he made for me.





You can see the notches for the 'A' braces in the neck block chin.

Yes, I can see that, cool. Different bracing treatment below. There are certainly a lot of bracing patterns that result in wonderful sounding guitars!

[justonwo]

My Klepper is built that way as well. Not sure how long people have been doing this. It definitely looks cool!

[TomB'sox]

Hmmm, I guess it is more common than I thought! Look at me, the village idiot yet again!!!!

[mhw48]

Originally Posted by TomB'sox

Hmmm, I guess it is more common than I thought! Look at me, the village idiot yet again!!!!

Actually a very interesting question, thanks for asking it: it produced some interesting answers. Out of curiosity I looked inside my Franklin 12 fret Dread and discovered there are 2 transverse braces, with the "a" braces going through both. (Sorry for the fuzzy photo)

[iim7V7IM7]

Originally Posted by mhw48

Actually a very interesting question, thanks for asking it: it produced some interesting answers. Out of curiosity I looked inside my Franklin 12 fret Dread and discovered there are 2 proximal braces, with the "a" braces going through both. (Sorry for the fuzzy photo)

Likely a second upper transverse brace (UTB) to resist the extra load of a 12-string.

[iim7V7IM7]

Originally Posted by TomB'sox

Hmmm, I guess it is more common than I thought! Look at me, the village idiot yet again!!!!

Tom as you can see the same structual A-frame concepts to help a guitar not fold in half around its soundhole has been used by others.

[mhw48]

Originally Posted by iim7V7IM7

Likely a second upper transverse brace (UTB) to resist the extra load of a 12-string.

Not a 12 string, but a 12 fret neck -- so since the upper bouts are larger than on a 14 fret-ter, I guess more area of soundboard that needs support...

[iim7V7IM7]

Originally Posted by mhw48

Not a 12 string, but a 12 fret neck -- so since the upper bouts are larger than on a 14 fret-ter, I guess more area of soundboard that needs support...

My bad....Gotcha, kind of like a Gibson Roy Smeck 12 fret dread...

[mhw48]

Originally Posted by iim7V7IM7

My bad....Gotcha, kind of like a Gibson Roy Smeck 12 fret dread...

Exactly!
By the way, did I say the rosette looks incredible? Great choice!

[iim7V7IM7]

Here are the Cuban Mahogany back set clamped into Nick’s 17’ radius dish fixture.



A touch of the fiddleback figure can be seen in the dished Cuban Mahogany back set in the shot on the left and a Spruce back reinforcement strip (pre-ladder bracing) on the right.



The bent Cuban Mahogany rims, four Spruce side reinforcements and Honduran Mahogany neck and end blocks.



Kerfed Spanish Cedar back linings being glued to the bent Cuban Mahogany rims.

[justonwo]

Shaping up to be super lovely! Keep them coming!