Howard Klepper 00 Pernambuco build

[redcloud]

I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to work with Howard on a very special project. As most of us on the AGF already know, Howard is truly passionate about music and the art of Lutherie. His recent build for Wade was something to behold. He is truly an artist.

The instrument: 12-Fret 00 recurve body in Pernambuco with an Italian Spruce soundboard harvested from the Fiemme Valley. The back will have a center piece of quarter sawn African Blackwood. I have left some/many esthetic finish choices up to Howard (he certainly has an "eye" for those things); yet I believe the bindings, bridge, and fret board will be in Madagascar Rosewood.

The outcome of Howard's hard work, skill, and devotion to his craft should certainly be exceptional. I hope my fellow forum members will enjoy the trip with me.

[JohnM]

I'll be watching this one! I really enjoy Howards work, and smaller guitars in general.

[Wade Hampton]

Very cool, Scott. Pernambuco is one of those lesser-known tonewoods that really sing when given a chance, and I'm sure you'll get a terrific guitar from Howard.


Wade Hampton Miller

[mesa]

Congrats Scott and Howard......I'll be looking forward to this!

[Trevor M]

This is going to be exiting.

[Howard Klepper]

The guitar is underway! Here are the first photos.

The joined top, with an outline of the recurved and cutaway body shape:



The back, of dead-on quartersawn pernambuco, with an African blackwood center. Some beeswing figure shows in the pernambuco; this kind of figure is only seen on a quartersawn surface. It will eventually come out better under a finish.



The rosette is in, and the soundhole cut. Scott (Redcloud) said he liked the look of my Brazilian/Blackwood 00 in my web gallery, so I will be incorporating some elements of that design. The buckeye burl rosette is one of them. But Scott has been great about giving me artistic freedom on this guitar. When people do that I tend to start throwing in some little extras; a lagniappe as they say in New Orleans. The African blackwood center piece is one of those; it's also part of the design of the Brazilian/Blackwood guitar. No doubt there will be some others.

Here's that rosette:

[redcloud]

Howard:

Thanks so much for the posting and pics. the sound board and back woods are excellent; The ABW is perfect! The rosette is simply "KILLER"; I love it. Create away, my friend.

If I forgot to mention it, I did book a room for my wife and I for Healdsburg. I am really looking forward to meeting you.

[Marc Durso]

I was completely smitten by Howard's Red Guitar at a past Healdsburg. A charming musical instrument. Congrats!

[redcloud]

Originally Posted by Marc Durso

I was completely smitten by Howard's Red Guitar at a past Healdsburg. A charming musical instrument. Congrats!

Thanx for the nice comments. Howard is truly an artist. I will occasionally peek at his website's gallery pages and just salivate.

[Howard Klepper]

I've spent a lot of the weekend improving the fencing for dog containment. Little feller has become an escape artist! But I got into the shop for some work on Scott's guitar today, too.

Back strips are inlayed. This is some of my custom half-herringbone to match the rosette borders:



And then the crossgrain backup strips get glued on in the go-bar deck:

[redcloud]

Howard, the half-herringbone looks great with the ABW and Pernambuco; thanks.

Hope you solved your wandering pet problem. We have a Golden Retriever that simply goes awandering and can't seem to find his way home iif he gets out and is off leash. I think he is just dumb; yet my wife thinks he is just friendly and likes to meet others. Perhaps, a combination of the two.

[TaylorsAllKinds]

Very cool rosette. Love the blackwood wedge! Is that just for visual benefit or is there a sonic impact?

[Welshboy]

Love that rosette!

[Rollie]

Burl buckeye with rope purfling rosette/rare Q/S pernambuco/african blackwood /AAA Italian Spruce = Another Fine Howard Klepper masterpiece....

[Welshboy]

I've only played one of Howard's guitars - the Dovetail Madness in Trecor's shop - but what an extraordinary instrument howard's craftsmanship is superb.!