Build Thread: Buendia OM Cutaway Multiscale Adi/Hog

[justonwo]

I met Leo Buendia in 2016 before the SBAIC show. He's local to my area, and he was just finishing up his apprenticeship with Ervin, if memory serves. He's always been very generous with his time and has become a great friend over the years. I've played 5 or 6 Buendias over the years and have been consistently impressed. Although they are a pretty significant departure from my usual tastes (traditional, dry guitars), I have observed that his guitars are the most Martin-esque of the Somogynistas I have played. Do I want another Martin-style guitar? After my Circas and other traditional guitars, probably not. I have that sound covered from just about every conceivable perspective. With the Buendia, I'm really wanting something well outside the box I'm used to. Fortunately, I've played enough Buendias at this point to know with some certainty just what I'm in for.

I remember stopping by Leo's shop when he finished the adi/mahogany guitar he ultimately displayed at SBAIC, and I remember hearing just how much a guitar can change in the first hours after being strung up. I think when I laid hands on the guitar, it had only gotten strings that day, and I was basically the first play it. The dramatic change that took place in the first 30 minutes of playing was hard to describe. Suffice it to say that it was a totally different guitar by the time I left Leo's shop that day. By the time it reached SBAIC as a show piece, it was quite impressive. I had the following to say at the time:

"I played this guitar extensively at SBAIC. One of my favorite at the show for sure. Huge bass, lovely mids and trebles. A very balanced guitar. And of course exquisitely beautiful. I was especially impressed by the complexity in the mid range and high notes. The upper mids were clear as a bell. The tone was on the dry side of the spectrum, but tremendously sophisticated with a wonderful musicality. I expect as the adi-topped guitar ages that notes will bloom even more than they already do. There will be no shortage of power and glorious tone. A total masterpiece, Leo! Thank you for sharing it with us."

By the time SBAIC came to a close in 2016, I had commissioned a guitar from Leo. Life came along and Leo graciously allowed me to delay (long story, I will spare the details except that Leo probably helped more than he should have). I have had the opportunity to play new Buendias every once in a while, including a breathtaking 00 he made for my good friend Jason Choi, who has since passed away. Jason absolutely loved that guitar, and his widow, Joan, is keeping it for his kids. Jason's guitar was incredible, and I decided to use a sister set of flamed mahogany for my own guitar. I will treasure visiting Leo with Jason and hearing that guitar for the first time. I sure do miss Jason.

https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...=516315&page=4

I also got a chance to play a Brazilian OM from our own Diamond Dave maybe at the second SBAIC show? Another stellar guitar, though the French polish made me nervous! And with my fingerpicks thrashing around near DD's top, I'm sure he was nervous as well.

Anyway, Leo has been warning me my slot is coming, and now the time is finally here. I visited his shop last week, talked over some details, and enjoyed a pre-holiday lunch with the man himself. Some 7.5 years have passed since we first met. Wow, the time really flew.

The build is underway. Here are the details.

Body: OM, cutaway
Top: Red spruce
Back and Sides: Flamed mahogany
Neck: Mahogany
Bridge: Ebony
Scale length: 25-26" multi-scale, 7th fret parallel
Nut width: 1 3/4"
Saddle spacing: 2 5/16"
Tuners: Possibly Rodgers
Frets: EVO Gold 55090 if we can get it (otherwise Nickel 55090)
Accents: Green inlays, possibly with a carving on the end graft and headstock. We'll see.
Case: Hoffee Super Cancer, green exterior color to match the inlays, gold interior

[iim7V7IM7]

Congrats… (following)

[Carpinteria]

I have really enjoyed your build threads and look forward to seeing this one progress. So sorry about the loss of your friend. Thanks for bringing us along for the ride. Dave

[Deft Tungsman]

This is spectacular news, Juston!! I am so happy for you and Leo both. No lo maltrates, que le tengo mucho cariño, ok?

A fiddleback mahogany 00 that Leo built in 2018 is one of the very best guitars I’ve ever played. You’ve chosen well.

I eagerly await updates on your build, dude!

[lfarhadi]

Looks like it's going to be a gem, Juston!

What the story with the EVO frets? Have they gone out of business?

[TomB'sox]

Congrats, I am sure it will be outstanding.

[doodahdoug]

I'm looking forward to following along with this build Juston. I'm sorry to hear about your friend Jason's passing. I was able to play his 00 when Leo displayed it at the 2018 Woodstock show and it was outstanding. A day later at Woodstock I purchased a Tyler Robbins R.1ca guitar which was also made using a set of "The Fiddleback Tree" mahogany that Hibdon Hardwoods quickly sold out of.

You're in great hands with Leo. If you have the opportunity, since you're in the same area as Leo's workshop, I hope you'll get to check out the BRW and Tree Mahogany OM's that he is building concurrent with your OM and share how the sound of each of those compare.

[dcn]

Leo's work is so striking! Congrats on the build. I am especially fond of how he builds color into his accents.

Curious on your case - is "Hoffee Super Cancer" a typo? Or are you referring to the sometimes strong offgassing from the inside?

[justonwo]

Originally Posted by iim7V7IM7

Congrats… (following)

Thanks! Second to post, again!

Originally Posted by Carpinteria

I have really enjoyed your build threads and look forward to seeing this one progress. So sorry about the loss of your friend. Thanks for bringing us along for the ride. Dave

Thanks, looking forward to getting started. My little nod to Jason.

Originally Posted by Deft Tungsman

This is spectacular news, Juston!! I am so happy for you and Leo both. No lo maltrates, que le tengo mucho cariño, ok?

A fiddleback mahogany 00 that Leo built in 2018 is one of the very best guitars I’ve ever played. You’ve chosen well.

I eagerly await updates on your build, dude!

Thanks for the kind words, Deft.

Originally Posted by lfarhadi

Looks like it's going to be a gem, Juston!

What the story with the EVO frets? Have they gone out of business?

Jescar stopped producing them because the alloy supplier no longer makes the alloy.

Originally Posted by TomB'sox

Congrats, I am sure it will be outstanding.

Thanks, B'Sox!

[justonwo]

Originally Posted by doodahdoug

I'm looking forward to following along with this build Juston. I'm sorry to hear about your friend Jason's passing. I was able to play his 00 when Leo displayed it at the 2018 Woodstock show and it was outstanding. A day later at Woodstock I purchased a Tyler Robbins R.1ca guitar which was also made using a set of "The Fiddleback Tree" mahogany that Hibdon Hardwoods quickly sold out of.

You're in great hands with Leo. If you have the opportunity, since you're in the same area as Leo's workshop, I hope you'll get to check out the BRW and Tree Mahogany OM's that he is building concurrent with your OM and share how the sound of each of those compare.

Yep, I'll probably get a chance to try those others. Glad you got a chance to play Jason's 00. It was a special one.

Originally Posted by dcn

Leo's work is so striking! Congrats on the build. I am especially fond of how he builds color into his accents.

Curious on your case - is "Hoffee Super Cancer" a typo? Or are you referring to the sometimes strong offgassing from the inside?

Not a typo. I own a bunch of Hoffee cases, all of them many years old. Some of them no longer have an odor. Some still smell terrible. Not a fan of any off gassing and think they could be better made.

[Jamiejoon]

Congrats, you certainly won’t be disappointed. Leo is a wonderful person and a tremendous luthier. I played Jason’s 00 in Leo’s shop when it had just been built and I remember thinking it was the best guitar I had ever played. It brought tears to my eyes. Leo is building me one like it in a couple years.

[jmagill]

Juston,

When Leo built my Brazilian Jumbo back in 2017, and I announced that my review of it was now available on my website, you were the first to comment.

I'm thrilled that you're finally having Leo build you one also and I'll be following every post of the process! How many frets to the body? I see you spec'd ebony for the bridge. Ask Leo how a Brazilian bridge might affect the tone.

I'll be eagerly watching this magnificence take shape...

.

[tommieboy]

Originally Posted by justonwo

Frets: EVO Gold 55090 if we can get it (otherwise Nickel 55090)

The Jescar website shows the 55090 EVOgold as still being in stock.

Tommy

[usb_chord]

Originally Posted by justonwo

I have had the opportunity to play new Buendias every once in a while, including a breathtaking 00 he made for my good friend Jason Choi, who has since passed away. Jason absolutely loved that guitar, and his widow, Joan, is keeping it for his kids. Jason's guitar was incredible, and I decided to use a sister set of flamed mahogany for my own guitar. I will treasure visiting Leo with Jason and hearing that guitar for the first time. I sure do miss Jason.

This is so cool. Wow. Beautiful tribute!!

[roscoe2311]

Oh man, I'm really looking forward to watching this one come together!