A Custom Build & An Introduction

[LiggettGuitars]

Hello AGF! It’s quite a pleasure to be here after many years of drooling over the custom builds of many luthiers I admire. Allow me to introduce myself:
My name is Benjamin Liggett, and I’m a luthier from Tulsa, Oklahoma. After attending Roberto-Venn school of luthiery in 2012, I returned to my hometown of Tulsa and immediately began working as a luthier at Bishline Banjos, alongside luthier Rob Bishline. During that time I built several guitars under my own brand Liggett Guitars, some electric and some acoustic. I got free reign of their shop, and got to hone my inlay skills, doing custom inlay for many Bishline customers and other luthiers alike. I estimate that I got to carve about 1000 banjo necks while at Bishline. What a great opportunity! Not to mention finish work, fretwork, sanding, and all other aspects of luthiery.

Over the last couple years I’ve been preparing my workshop in anticipation of going full time, and that time has come!
I now have a fully operational workshop with all the woodworking tools and timbers I’ve been amassing while working at bishline. Sanders, saws, storage racks, chisels and even a spray booth.

While at RV I did lots of research about the somogyi school of building with double sides, so the top and back could be braced lighter due to the stiffer outer frame. Last year I set out to build such a guitar for myself and the result of that was “The Crane”, a walnut OM, with a Sitka spruce top.

It has lots of the things I’ve always wanted in a personal acoustic, ie. arm bevel, oil finish neck, Art Deco inlays adorning the back and sides, paper Crane fretboard inlay, and a pin-less bridge. The back bracing is a lattice style with ebony caps on the joints. The guitar is tonally well-balanced, and projects quite well. It has great headroom, but reacts well to a soft fingerpicking technique. It gets LOUD if you drive it with a pick. I find that there is a lovely “bloom” when strumming chords. Needless to say, I'm sold when it comes to this style of building. Moving forward however, I'd like to refine a style that's more "me" and not as obvious a nod to somogyi apprentices.



I had hoped to keep this guitar for myself, but alas, business dictates that I need to let it go.

As for what's next.... I recently received a STUNNING set of Koa back and sides from the fine people at koaguitarsets.com, and I cannot wait to get this next build rolling! Thanks for having me here guys, I love the forum and I'm glad to finally be participating.

[Tele1111]

Hey Ben,

Looks like some very nice work. Welcome to the forum. I like the Art Deco style and pinless bridge. Do you have sound samples of the guitar?

Mark

[DanR]

Welcome to the forum. I look forward to seeing your builds.

[Racerbob]

Ya, keep us advised.

[Guitars44me]

Beautiful instrument above!!! Welcome aboard.

Looking forward to more. That Koa is REALLY SPECTACULAR

Stay ahealthy and have fun

Paul

[LiggettGuitars]

Originally Posted by Tele1111

Hey Ben,

Looks like some very nice work. Welcome to the forum. I like the Art Deco style and pinless bridge. Do you have sound samples of the guitar?

Mark

Thanks very much Mark. Here's a couple rough sound samples. I'll take some recordings with good mics soon.

Video 1:
https://youtu.be/9mGq9OJC0HU

Video 2:
https://youtu.be/ovWbSfAgdh8

[TomB'sox]

Welcome to the forum and thank you for becoming a sponsor. The guitar sounds wonderful, it would be great to see a close up of the inlay on the fretboard if you had one.

Congrats on a beautiful instrument.

[LiggettGuitars]

Originally Posted by TomB'sox

Welcome to the forum and thank you for becoming a sponsor. The guitar sounds wonderful, it would be great to see a close up of the inlay on the fretboard if you had one.

Congrats on a beautiful instrument.

Thank you sir!

As requested:

[difalkner]

Originally Posted by LiggettGuitars

Thanks very much Mark. Here's a couple rough sound samples. I'll take some recordings with good mics soon.

Video 1:
https://youtu.be/9mGq9OJC0HU

Video 2:
https://youtu.be/ovWbSfAgdh8

Beautiful instrument and looks like very clean work. The sound is good, too. Shoot your videos in widescreen so we can see more of what's going on, please.

David

[Gordon Currie]

Some nice detail work. Nicely done cutaway.

I like the walnut back - what type of walnut?

I can hear the 'bloom' you mentioned. I like that in guitars.
There seemed to be plenty of sustain - good in my book!

I'll pile on and encourage you to make more recordings/videos.

[BradHall]

Beautiful instrument. Your inlays are very nice. I would like to see some pics of the inside of your new shop.

[Rwpierce]

Guitars sound and look wonderful. All the best in your new venture and building career!

[LiggettGuitars]

Originally Posted by difalkner

Beautiful instrument and looks like very clean work. The sound is good, too. Shoot your videos in widescreen so we can see more of what's going on, please.

David

Finally recorded with some decent mics. Please forgive my playing, everything goes to hell when the red light comes on!

Cheers

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sXmugYYiEvw

[difalkner]

Originally Posted by LiggettGuitars

Finally recorded with some decent mics. Please forgive my playing, everything goes to hell when the red light comes on!

Cheers

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sXmugYYiEvw

That red light will do the trick every time!! Sounds good to me. And the widescreen video is much better, too.

David

[bendandsnap]

That paper crane inlay is awesome, beautiful build!