Wide Sky Guitars PL1

[jim1960]

So here's what happened...

I was looking through these threads because I was thinking I might want to have an 00 built and I wanted to see what different builders were offering in that regard. At some point I stumbled upon the Wide Sky Guitars website and didn't find a 00 but being curious I poked around. I saw the PL1 but didn't think too much about it because it's a Gibson-esque guitar and I've never met a Gibson guitar that I felt compelled to buy.

Anyway... he had a 000 model and I was wondering how it sounds so I looked for a YouTube video. Didn't find one, but I did find a couple for the PL1 and gave them a look. It's a really unique kind of sound. To my ears, it's like something like a small bodied bluesy guitar with a bit of resonator mojo in the mix. I can see myself writing some really different kinds of songs on a guitar that sounds like that.




I spent a good part of last week going back to those videos over and over. Yesterday I emailed the builder, Patch Rubin, and started talking to him about the guitar. I had a ton of questions.

Tonight, I pulled the trigger on the down payment.
I'm not modifying much regarding Patch's design. Going with the burgundy option, 1 13/16 nut width, and I'm probably going to go with taller frets than he's installing as standard. He's putting on frets that are .039" tall. I'm probably going to opt for something in the .045"-.050" range. And I'm going with Waverly tuners (butterbean knobs, relic nickel finish).

The best part? Patch says he should have the guitar ready for me in 2-3 months. I guess that 00 is on hold for a while.

[JJI]

I think these guitars are ridiculously cool, man.

[Brad Goodman]

I love the sound of this guitar.

It is a similar guitar to the one that Sam Chatmon (Mississippi Shieks) played.

[Patch Rubin]

Thanks Jim, I'm excited to get more and more of these PL1s out there!

Originally Posted by Brad Goodman

I love the sound of this guitar.

It is a similar guitar to the one that Sam Chatmon (Mississippi Shieks) played.

It looks like Sam Chatmon plays a Gibson L-37, which might have some similarities to the L-1 that I've replicated. The L-37's lower bout is a little over an inch wider at 14-3/4" and they seem to be 14 frets to the body. made between 1937-41.

Brad, for some reason I'd never heard of Sam Chatmon until your post and I'm loving the youtubes I've seen so far. Thanks for turning me onto another great!

[Brad Goodman]

Originally Posted by Patch Rubin

Thanks Jim, I'm excited to get more and more of these PL1s out there!



It looks like Sam Chatmon plays a Gibson L-37, which might have some similarities to the L-1 that I've replicated. The L-37's lower bout is a little over an inch wider at 14-3/4" and they seem to be 14 frets to the body. made between 1937-41.

Brad, for some reason I'd never heard of Sam Chatmon until your post and I'm loving the youtubes I've seen so far. Thanks for turning me onto another great!

Yes, Sam Chatmon is one of the greats. His half brother is Charlie Patton.

[oliverkollar]

Originally Posted by Brad Goodman

I love the sound of this guitar.

It is a similar guitar to the one that Sam Chatmon (Mississippi Shieks) played.

Nice one man! It does sound like the Gibson Sam played in the Lomax footage.

Good ear Brad!

[Patch Rubin]

Thought I'd share some progress on this round of PL1s. Jim's is on the left and I'm hoping to glue the top to the sides tomorrow.

[jim1960]

A couple more shots of my PL1 being built.

[jim1960]

The bindings are going in on my PL1. The box is going to be stained burgundy when all is said and done.

[jim1960]

Patch sent me a few more build pics of my PL1.

The neck joint...


The fret board...


The neck is ready to be carved...

[riverrummed]

Thanks for the link to Patch's site. Killer looking guitars and that PL1 you have in the works should be a lot of fun. I really don't like the looks of Martin and Martin clone D-style guitars but out of curiosity while cruising the site I decided to check out what Patch does in a Dreadnought (thinking maybe he has a J-45ish thing). Whoa, David Lindley, in about as concise a manner possible, sure gives a glowing report...and he ought to know a little about guitars! Next time I'm down Taos way I'm going to see if I can stop by the shop and play a few of these Wide Sky guitars.

[jim1960]

Originally Posted by riverrummed

Thanks for the link to Patch's site. Killer looking guitars and that PL1 you have in the works should be a lot of fun. I really don't like the looks of Martin and Martin clone D-style guitars but out of curiosity while cruising the site I decided to check out what Patch does in a Dreadnought (thinking maybe he has a J-45ish thing). Whoa, David Lindley, in about as concise a manner possible, sure gives a glowing report...and he ought to know a little about guitars! Next time I'm down Taos way I'm going to see if I can stop by the shop and play a few of these Wide Sky guitars.

I'm pretty stoked about this guitar. Funny enough, this is the 2nd time I've commissioned a build and found out that David Lindley was a fan of that builder. The first time was for a bouzouki that I had made by Paddy Burgin in New Zealand.

[Patch Rubin]

Sean Hayes just posted this video of him on his PL1. He recorded a few songs with the PL1 to tape and videoed the process. There is really no better feeling than watching and hearing someone make their art with your art.

[jim1960]

Originally Posted by Patch Rubin

Sean Hayes just posted this video of him on his PL1. He recorded a few songs with the PL1 to tape and videoed the process. There is really no better feeling than watching and hearing someone make their art with your art.

Really looking forward to having that tone at my fingertips.

[jim1960]

Got some more pictures of my PL1 which is getting close to done.

The head stock and neck have been shaped...


and fitted.


The first coats of burgundy have been applied to the front and back.