Post Circa (John Slobod) Photos!

[NTS]

This thread doesn’t disappoint. Congratulations to the owners of all these beautiful guitars. Thanks to all for posting them up. I’m very much enjoying browsing through all the photos.

[justonwo]

Originally Posted by Deft Tungsman

Jim, this latest batch of pictures is on a par with all the others.

Here are some pictures of what may be the plainest Circa in existence, my humble OM-18.

Gorgeous woods, pyramid bridge, perfection.

[Deft Tungsman]

Geez Louise, I never thought my guitar would garner so much attention!

You are correct, Richard, there's just enough bearclaw figure in the soundboard to create some earthy personality without entering bling territory.

I bought this guitar (2013 build, serial no. 98) from The Acoustic Music Company in late 2019. It was a consignment sale, probably one of the very last guitars to pass through Trevor Moyle's hands, as TAMCO now only deals in mandolins.

This April I attended a four-day Will McNicol guitar workshop in Brittany. Turns out that one of the participants from the UK was the first owner of my Circa!

El mundo es un pañuelo.

[FormerFoodie]

I couldn't find the "glamour" shots that John sent, but I think these still capture the essence of her beauty.

[Carey]

Originally Posted by Richard Mott

Humble OM-18 indeed! Mesmerizing mahogany and I’d swear there’s a little bearclaw in that top! For some of us, what looks like the plainest is actually the most timeless.

Beautiful soundboard wood I think, along with the rest of the guitar.

[Deft Tungsman]

Originally Posted by FormerFoodie

I couldn't find the "glamour" shots that John sent, but I think these still capture the essence of her beauty.

Thanks for posting these pictures, FF! What a lovely guitar!

I've had the great pleasure of playing one of your Circa castoffs, a glorious Adi/Braz OM-42, several times now. This maple keeper must be sublimissima!!

(Or should I say, "slobodissima"???)

[jmagill]

One last guitar:

7. A 7/8-size slope D (12 fret) w/ 'Martin Simpson' cutaway (Brazilian).

And a final note: These guitars were built during John's time living in Casco, Maine, although a few were built after his move to Portland. They still bear the 'Casco' labels because John, like any good New Englander, didn't see the sense in throwing away perfectly good labels, and used what he had left. All of the guitars shown here were new when I photographed them and are now 10-15 years old.

I imagine their owners are all very happy with them. If any who happen to own these guitars see this thread, chime in and let us know how they're doing...

[Deft Tungsman]

Another Circa with unobtainium-grade tonewoods!! Thanks again for posting and sharing the back story, Jim.

[jmagill]

Originally Posted by Scallywag

Beautiful guitars!

Anybody planning on bringing a Circa to B.I.G.? I'm dying to play one.

For Scallywag, SJ VanSandt and any others attending B.I.G. III, I will be there with my Circa OM #33 in Red Spruce and Madagascar Rosewood, featured in the first guitar photos I posted at the beginning of page 3 of this thread.

Our host, Tom Bowersox, has rightly asked that the focus of B.I.G be on the luthiers' instruments and not the guitars of attendees that might be for sale. So, if anyone would like to demo this guitar, PM me and we can arrange something off-site, after the event.

[soma5]

Originally Posted by jmagill

For Scallywag, SJ VanSandt and any others attending B.I.G. III, I will be there with my Circa OM #33 in Red Spruce and Madagascar Rosewood, featured in the first guitar photos I posted at the beginning of page 3 of this thread.

Our host, Tom Bowersox, has rightly asked that the focus of B.I.G be on the luthiers' instruments and not the guitars of attendees that might be for sale. So, if anyone would like to demo this guitar, PM me and we can arrange something off-site, after the event.

Will you be staying at the "official" hotel?

[jmagill]

PM has been sent.

[jmagill]

Originally Posted by soma5

Will you be staying at the "official" hotel?

Yes, I will.

[SuperB23]

I have a 2025 build with John and I've been considering one like this for myself potentially. Love this thread!

Originally Posted by jmagill

5. D with 'Martin Simpson' style cutaway made for Steve Baughman (Brazilian rosewood)

[Jofari]

Originally Posted by SuperB23

I have a 2025 build with John and I've been considering one like this for myself potentially. Love this thread!

That's a cool guitar. At first I wondered if it was the exact same one being played by Steve Baughman in this video, but the one in the video has a unique inlay at the 5th fret and a different headstock veneer (in addition to being nicely worn in).

[jmagill]

Originally Posted by Jofari

That's a cool guitar. At first I wondered if it was the exact same one being played by Steve Baughman in this video, but the one in the video has a unique inlay at the 5th fret and a different headstock veneer (in addition to being nicely worn in).

The Circa Steve's playing in this video is the one in post #35 of this thread. He's had it long enough now that I told him he can never sell it because his signature sound is now in that guitar, like Willie's Trigger or James Taylor's Olson.

I've known Steve for years, and seen him go through a number of guitars, and he's had a marijuana leaf inlaid into the fretboard of every one of them. I've always thought that must make them harder to sell. Or maybe easier. After all, he does live in California...