Time for another Kostal build thread … Modified Dreadnought

[nobo]

BACK AND SIDES PART DEUX

So, Jason sends me an email…

He tells me that whilst he was apprenticing with Ervin Somogyi, there was a set of flamed claro walnut on the shelf which Ervin had bought years ago. He said it was truly beautiful, and that sides have the same amount of flame as the back as they were cut from the same billet. Jason used to look at it every day and really wanted to build a guitar out of it. So he offered to buy it. He and Ervin talked about it on four occasions, but Ervin wasn’t willing sell it, saving that it was one of the nicest sets of walnut he had ever come across tonally, and just didn’t want to part with it.

Towards the end of Jason’s apprenticeship, Jason helped Ervin out with a few things and Ervin ended up giving the set of walnut to Jason as a gift.

Jason had it stashed away for a rainy day and was planning on saving it, but said he thought this was a pretty good time to use it if I was interested.

I guess you can imagine that I was very interested! And I hadn’t even got to downloading the attached photos.

When I told my wife, Jo, about the background to the walnut - rather than the glazed expression that typically descends when I start waxing lyrical about guitars - she said that it was a genuinely lovely story and though it was very kind of Jason to be offering to use that piece for my guitar. I couldn’t agree more. Hearts and minds already won! I was left feeling very lucky, flattered and fortunate!

As an aside, I there’s an additional connection to walnut in general: Jo has a dream of one day planting a walnut orchard. Jason didn’t know about that, but I wonder if it was influencing my thoughts at some level!

So I was basically sold.

And then I saw the photos … which will have to wait for another post!

[nobo]

Originally Posted by ericcsong

I would have loved to see a cedar Kostal! Maybe that'll be my #3 And Walnut is an awesome tonewood and super pretty!

Me too. I just wasn't bold enough to go there myself for "the one". My main two guitars are both cedar topped (one walnut/cedar), and I don't have any Euro Spruce guitars, so German it was.

How about a cedar topped OO for your #3?

You weren't wrong on the walnut front!

[ChuckS]

Originally Posted by nobo

...[snip]...
Back and sides
...[snip]...

In the end, I thought it’d be best to get Jason's input, as he's the one in the know – so promptly deluged his inbox with my rambling missives on the subject, and then spoke to him via Skype.

He said he had something in mind. And would email me in a bit...

Argh, the suspense …!

I know the feeling of "He said he had something in mind. And would email me in a bit...Argh, the suspense …!".

When I commissioned a guitar from Dan Bresnan I was verballizing what I hoped to get for the aesthetics of the BRW back and sides (tonal selection was for Dan to choose). He had shown me probably a dozen from his huge stock pile but I just wasn't feeling "this is it". Then he contacts me, tells me he found a set he was really excited about and felt it was what I was looking for, and then said he had to leave for a night out so couldn't get photos to me immediately.

[gfc]

Interesting thread and congrats on the kostal. If you wanted to try a jumbo with wedge I could arrange for mine to have a trip to TNAG hq. The wedge really makes a difference on comfort.

[rlxnply]

I was in town for work and to visit family but was able to swing buy Jason's shop today to pick out wood for my OM. I got to see this set first hand and let me tell you, it is stunning. Congrats on a grabbing this special set. He shop is everything everyone has said it is and more. I'll get some pictures up later in a seperate thread.

[justonwo]

You can't have too many Kostal build threads.

[nobo]

Originally Posted by gfc

Interesting thread and congrats on the kostal. If you wanted to try a jumbo with wedge I could arrange for mine to have a trip to TNAG hq. The wedge really makes a difference on comfort.

Ah, so you snapped up that marvellous Memphis Jumbo? Congratulations!

I heard the sound clips after I'd plumped for the MD and the walnut back had been put together... and was wondering whether I'd made mistake! It sounded simply amazing! I'd love to have a go in the flesh at some point, either at TNAG ... or perhaps I should host a mini Kostal Konvention here in Herne Hill (near Brixton) at some point in 2016...?

[nobo]

Originally Posted by rlxnply

I was in town for work and to visit family but was able to swing buy Jason's shop today to pick out wood for my OM. I got to see this set first hand and let me tell you, it is stunning. Congrats on a grabbing this special set. He shop is everything everyone has said it is and more. I'll get some pictures up later in a seperate thread.

That must've been a fun trip! Looking forward to your thread and the pictures.

I've not had the pleasure myself, but this great video gives you some insight in Jason's city of a workshop and his meticulous methods! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4ZTIdMVM7U

Good to know it looks great in the flesh! Photos never quite seem to do full justice to highly figured woods (not that it was lacking from the photos).

[nobo]

So, I promised photos... after all






Or, to sync up with a forthcoming movie release:


And one for the US sports fans:








So ... some walnut for you:






































... albeit not the expected flamed piece.

I said Jason had something extraordinary in mind....


























































But seriously, it was perfectly quatersawn:




























Ok, ok! Here you go:

[nobo]

Sorry, wrong email attachment!

But seriously (to use the, er, immortal words of Phil Collins):











And, spoiler alert, here are some slightly tweaked versions which may - I'm guessing? - give a slightly better idea of what it might look like under finish (though from other things I've seen, it's maybe a bit more mid-brown in person):
















Unlike my usual "maximiser" self, most uncharacteristically I didn't even ask to see photos of any other sets. How could I say no? I mean, this one already had my name on it!

[JamesO]

Beautiful wood! I can't wait to see what Jason does with it.

[ericcsong]

Originally Posted by nobo

How about a cedar topped OO for your #3?

You weren't wrong on the walnut front!

I'm not sure an 00 is for me just yet. The OM is plenty comfortable. But back to your Mod D. Man, your wood is incredible!

[steveh]

Got wood for your wood Dan.

Cheers,
Steve

[nobo]

On a somewhat related note, some of you may find this talk interesting about why luthiers do what they do, and what it is that customers get from handbuilt guitars...

Kathryn Marie Dudley conference at the Holy Grail Guitar Show 2015: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbsd...ature=youtu.be

[ukejon]

Beautiful! How exciting.

I've experienced Michael Watts' custom Kostal dread....absolutely mind blowing instrument. Huge sound....just perfect.