Jason Kostal OM

[fountainhead]

I am getting such a vicarious thrill from all this- when I finally get my own.......... I may just drop dead from joy!!!!!!

[Fngrstyl]

It is so beautiful, Steve. Amazing!

[steveh]

Originally Posted by matthewpartrick

This is firmed up by the fact that the MD guitars sound very similar to me. All in all they sound great!

As ever, the differences are more apparent when you have them in your hands. I think it's fair to say that Michael's MD is a bit of an outlier amongst the MD guitars I've played from Jason. Most obviously, it has a HUGE neck in terms of depth, but it also sounds quite different amongst that group.

Most who order want an MD that sounds "lush" to the player with deep, deep bass etc. However, as a regular live performer, Michael needs something that projects to an audience and that is easier to mic up and have it not feedback. His guitar is drier and very forceful tonally. Impossible to overdrive and great separation.

I hope Michael doesn't mind me linking to this; it's him playing his MD on a national radio station over here and gives a very true representation of how his guitar sounds. It's also one of my favorite tunes - watch Buchanan's 1976 version on YouTube - mind blowing (TABS PLEASE MICHAEL!).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mopjXyxLosM

My pal Jonny wanted a guitar much like mine and playing them side by side last weekend, it was amazing how close these two MDs sounded despite one being wenge with a wedge and no cutaway and the other being ABW with no wedge and a cutaway. They were obviously both cut from the same piece of cloth. Clearly, Jason has great tonal consistency if that's what the customer wants.

Originally Posted by fountainhead

when I finally get my own.......... I may just drop dead from joy!!!!!!

I hope I haven't made your expectations unrealistic but, honestly, this OM has exceeded mine. Remind us what you have on order and when?

Originally Posted by Fngrstyl

It is so beautiful, Steve. Amazing!

Thank you; I do wish you guys could play it.

Cheers,
Steve

[Michael Watts]

Originally Posted by steveh

As ever, the differences are more apparent when you have them in your hands. I think it's fair to say that Michael's MD is a bit of an outlier amongst the MD guitars I've played from Jason. Most obviously, it has a HUGE neck in terms of depth, but it also sounds quite different amongst that group.

Most who order want an MD that sounds "lush" to the player with deep, deep bass etc. However, as a regular live performer, Michael needs something that projects to an audience and that is easier to mic up and have it not feedback. His guitar is drier and very forceful tonally. Impossible to overdrive and great separation.

I hope Michael doesn't mind me linking to this; it's him playing his MD on a national radio station over here and gives a very true representation of how his guitar sounds. It's also one of my favorite tunes - watch Buchanan's 1976 version on YouTube - mind blowing (TABS PLEASE MICHAEL!).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mopjXyxLosM

My pal Jonny wanted a guitar much like mine and playing them side by side last weekend, it was amazing how close these two MDs sounded despite one being wenge with a wedge and no cutaway and the other being ABW with no wedge and a cutaway. They were obviously both cut from the same piece of cloth. Clearly, Jason has great tonal consistency if that's what the customer wants.



I hope I haven't made your expectations unrealistic but, honestly, this OM has exceeded mine. Remind us what you have on order and when?



Thank you; I do wish you guys could play it.

Cheers,
Steve

Very true. The reason I ordered from Jason in the first place was that I was confidant that he could build what I needed using his own (exquisite) tone as the foundation.

I was very specific about the voice and response (up to and including note decay envelope) that I was looking for and with his background as a player as well as a builder it was evident that Jason understood what I was asking for and was able to deliver a guitar that met and exceeded my expectations.

Thanks for linking the video, the sound there was taken with just one mic (an SM58 up close if I remember rightly) and there is some pickup in the mix too (K+K mini). I am toying with the idea of including The Messiah Will Come Again in the recording sessions I have scheduled for this May... might just make the final cut!

This weekend also gave me the chance to try Jonny's non-cutaway MD for the first time. Once again different, a beautifully judged and executed bespoke build that suited his touch wonderfully.

[Portland Bill]

Congratulations on your new guitar Steve,I saw Roy Buchanan perform Messiah at Birmingham Town Hall sometime in the late 70's.
Telecaster plugged in to a Fender Champ which sat on an old kitchen table

[steveh]

Originally Posted by Portland Bill

I saw Roy Buchanan perform Messiah at Birmingham Town Hall sometime in the late 70's.

You make me sick! From what I remember when we met, you'd seen pretty much everyone at one time or another including several people/bands who are now no longer with us.

VERY jealous!

Cheers,
Steve

[Michael Watts]

Originally Posted by Portland Bill

Congratulations on your new guitar Steve,I saw Roy Buchanan perform Messiah at Birmingham Town Hall sometime in the late 70's.
Telecaster plugged in to a Fender Champ which sat on an old kitchen table

Yes... I'm very jealous now!

[fountainhead]

I hope I haven't made your expectations unrealistic but, honestly, this OM has exceeded mine. Remind us what you have on order and when?

Steve,

Haven't said much as it won't be for quite some time...................... but I am in line for an MD in German / Madrose with a cutaway and a wedge. It will be a dream come true. And no you did not create unrealistic expectations- you just help keep this fire of anticipation stoked! :-)

[Wolfram]

Congratulations, Steve - that OM is truly exceptional! Enjoy!

I look forward to seeing/playing/hearing it again in July, all being well.

[steveh]

Originally Posted by Wolfram Slides

I look forward to seeing/playing/hearing it again in July, all being well.

Yes - could you PM/email me the date that Ian has set so that I can block it out.

I was particularly impressed by your fan-fret last Sunday...

Cheers,
Steve

[racman]

Congrats Steve, it sounds and looks fantastic!

It's given me something to think about for my future build ...

[steveh]

Originally Posted by racman

It's given me something to think about for my future build ...

Thanks +++.

You will not be disappointed. I think it's great that Michael has put those vids up. It's not often you hear 3 guitars by the same maker, in the same "ordinary" setting, with no blingy studio processing - just into a laptop. Should really help those of you who are pondering to come to a decision.

That was the plan anyway.

Cheers,
Steve

[usb_chord]

That OM does it for me. Then again, I'm of the (admittedly extremist) opinion that the OM is the only guitar shape that matters...

[ianLP59]

Originally Posted by steveh

Yes - could you PM/email me the date that Ian has set so that I can block it out.

I was particularly impressed by your fan-fret last Sunday...

Cheers,
Steve

Steve,

Rather (very) gutted that I could not be with you guys on Sunday. My July do is always on the third Saturday in July. So, for 2014, it's Saturday July 19th. I've posted here as regular attendees have been following this thread. Your new OM looks and sounds great and I'm looking forward to seeing it in the summer.

I have a new Romero banjo inbound at present and should get it within the next few days, probably early next week. I know that banjos tend to have very negative connotations with some folks, but this is the sweetest sounding open back banjo I've ever heard, so I'm rather looking forward to getting it.

I'm sort of done with guitars, at least for the present. But that has all been said so many times before...
Cheers,

Ian

[steveh]

Originally Posted by usb_chord

I'm of the (admittedly extremist) opinion that the OM is the only guitar shape that matters.

Extremist?

Clearly, the most sensible statement made in the entire thread IMHO.

Cheers,
Steve