#1
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A Custom Build & An Introduction
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. Last edited by TomB'sox; 07-08-2020 at 07:03 AM. Reason: Selling needs to be done in Marketplace |
#2
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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
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Guitars; Esteban -"Tribute to Paula Abdul L.E." Arturo Fuente- Cigar Box"Hand Made" First Act-"Diamond Bling" Main Street- "Flaming Acoustic" Silvertone-"Paul Stanley Dark Star" Daisy Rock- "Purple Daze" |
#3
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Welcome to the forum. I look forward to seeing your builds.
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=================================== '07 Gibson J-45 '68 Reissue (Fuller's) '18 Martin 00-18 '18 Martin GP-28E '65 Epiphone Zenith archtop |
#4
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Ya, keep us advised.
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Yamamoto Jumbo 27 - Bashkin Placencia FanFret Cedar/EIR - Leo Posch DS12 Adj/Hormigo - Ovation Legion shallow body - - Taylor 562 GC 12 String - C. Freeborn Alto- Froggy Bottom H12C Adj/EIR- Ryan Nightengale Engelmann/Af. Blackwood - Kostal MD |
#5
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Glad you are here!
Beautiful instrument above!!! Welcome aboard.
Looking forward to more. That Koa is REALLY SPECTACULAR Stay ahealthy and have fun Paul
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3 John Kinnaird SS 12c CUSTOMS: Big Maple/Cedar Dread Jumbo Spanish Cedar/WRC Jumbo OLD Brazilian RW/WRC R.T 2 12c sinker RW/Claro 96 422ce bought new! 96 LKSM 12 552ce 12x12 J. Stepick Bari Weissy WRC/Walnut More |
#6
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Quote:
Video 1: https://youtu.be/9mGq9OJC0HU Video 2: https://youtu.be/ovWbSfAgdh8 |
#7
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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.
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PS. I love guitars! |
#8
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Quote:
As requested: |
#9
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Quote:
David
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David My Woodworking YouTube channel - David Falkner Woodworking -------------------------------------------- Martin, Gallagher, Guild, Takamine, Falkner |
#10
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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.
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-Gordon 1978 Larrivee L-26 cutaway 1988 Larrivee L-28 cutaway 2006 Larrivee L03-R 2009 Larrivee LV03-R 2016 Irvin SJ cutaway 2020 Irvin SJ cutaway (build thread) K+K, Dazzo, Schatten/ToneDexter Notable Journey website Facebook page Where the spirit does not work with the hand, there is no art. - Leonardo Da Vinci |
#11
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Beautiful instrument. Your inlays are very nice. I would like to see some pics of the inside of your new shop.
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BradHall _____________________ |
#12
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Guitars sound and look wonderful. All the best in your new venture and building career!
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#13
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Quote:
Cheers https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sXmugYYiEvw |
#14
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Quote:
David
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David My Woodworking YouTube channel - David Falkner Woodworking -------------------------------------------- Martin, Gallagher, Guild, Takamine, Falkner |
#15
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That paper crane inlay is awesome, beautiful build!
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