Help me identify the perfect acoustic

kmckenna45 · #1 06-25-2021, 06:13 PM

Hi,

I'm continuing on my search for the perfect acoustic guitar (sound familiar?).

I've bought/sold/owned probably 20 acoustics - and I've whittled it down to the following requirements/desires - I'm not big on fancy trim - I can't afford it.

Do you know of a guitar that has the following?

3/4" Nut
Spruce Top
Rosewood Back & Sides
Dreadnought
Short Scale
12 frets

Anyone have any ideas?

I loved my J-45, but it was a HOG.

warfrat73 · #2 06-25-2021, 06:16 PM

Sounds like a custom order to me.

Tannin · #3 06-25-2021, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmckenna45

3/4" Nut
Spruce Top
Rosewood Back & Sides
Dreadnought
Short Scale
12 frets

I always struggle with imperial measurements, but even I know that not many guitars have a nut as narrow as that!

mcduffnw · #4 06-25-2021, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmckenna45

Hi,

I'm continuing on my search for the perfect acoustic guitar (sound familiar?).

I've bought/sold/owned probably 20 acoustics - and I've whittled it down to the following requirements/desires - I'm not big on fancy trim - I can't afford it.

Do you know of a guitar that has the following?

3/4" Nut
Spruce Top
Rosewood Back & Sides
Dreadnought
Short Scale
12 frets

Anyone have any ideas?

I loved my J-45, but it was a HOG.

There is the Gibson J45 Custom Rosewood. Those are fabulous looking and sounding guitars. Worth a look if you loved your J-45.

duff
Be A Player...Not A Polisher

BrazGuy · #5 06-25-2021, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmckenna45

Hi,

I'm continuing on my search for the perfect acoustic guitar (sound familiar?).

I've bought/sold/owned probably 20 acoustics - and I've whittled it down to the following requirements/desires - I'm not big on fancy trim - I can't afford it.

Do you know of a guitar that has the following?

3/4" Nut
Spruce Top
Rosewood Back & Sides
Dreadnought
Short Scale
12 frets

Anyone have any ideas?

I loved my J-45, but it was a HOG.

Ok this sounds like a custom shop guitar, Slope J 12 fret dalbergia back and sides, it might be a great combination, I don't think you will find anything like this waiting for you on the wall of guitar center or any store, at least no so easily, so if you have to wait for a custom order I encourage you to talk with Mister Richard Hoover I played a SC guitar once and was the best acoustic I ever played, and SC are one of the best companies to order a really custom guitar, I mean you don't see a Slope J 12 fret with rosewood back and sides every day (this is really different) this guys on Cali knows how to build different stuff. It would sound great, full and powerful, for me will never be my perfect guitar, I love small but deep body guitars, they H13 are my perfect guitar, but it's personal taste. If you want, and this have potential to be your perfect/dream guitar, just do it.

Brucebubs · #6 06-25-2021, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tannin

I always struggle with imperial measurements, but even I know that not many guitars have a nut as narrow as that!

Yes, I prefer 1 11/16' to 1 3/4" ... that 1/16" makes a difference but I don't think I could cope with a whole 1" lopped off!

wguitar · #7 06-25-2021, 10:19 PM

I visited Northern Lights Music in NH recently and played this Bourgeois. Really sweet guitar!! Doesn't check all you boxes but seems to be close to what you describe. Perhaps it'll get you in the ballpark.

https://northernlightsmusic.com/coll...eois-ds-custom

The search is 1/2 the fun !

Good luck!

zmf · #8 06-25-2021, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmckenna45

I'm continuing on my search for the perfect acoustic guitar (sound familiar?).

You just jot down a few specs and end up with a perfect guitar? Is it really that easy? Had no idea.

If I had to have rosewood, I'd ask Santa Cruz Guitar Company to make me a D-12 with rosewood B/S. But this is totally irrelevant to your search.

Hope you find the mystical "one".

SRL · #9 06-26-2021, 12:12 AM

I'm kind of in the same boat as OP here. 1.75" nut, 2.25" spacing, spruce/rosewood, short scale. I can live without 12 fret and a big body, so I have an Eastman e20-OM (24.9" scale), which is a bit of a compromise but a nice instrument to play.

However, I do often wish that it had the bass of a larger guitar. Sadly, I can't find anything that fits that bill, short of a custom order. All the big guitars are 25.5 scale, or if they're shorter scale, they have a 1.68" nut.

MisterOM · #10 06-26-2021, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SRL

I'm kind of in the same boat as OP here. 1.75" nut, 2.25" spacing, spruce/rosewood, short scale. I can live without 12 fret and a big body, so I have an Eastman e20-OM (24.9" scale), which is a bit of a compromise but a nice instrument to play.

However, I do often wish that it had the bass of a larger guitar. Sadly, I can't find anything that fits that bill, short of a custom order. All the big guitars are 25.5 scale, or if they're shorter scale, they have a 1.68" nut.

Same specs here, the hunt continues. It used to be that it was harder to find 1.75" nut width, now that spec is very common but builders like Martin are tightening up their string spacing at the saddle. Frustrating. I'm on the hunt for a new guitar with a somewhat limited budget (2k max).

Scotso · #11 06-26-2021, 07:56 AM

Larrivee 60-SD or 40r-SD has all that you want but the short scale.

Dru Edwards · #12 06-26-2021, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scotso

Larrivee 60-SD or 40r-SD has all that you want but the short scale.

That was my thought as well except for the scale length.

8strings · #13 06-26-2021, 09:26 AM

I need to get my $.02 in here. I am fortunate enough to own two custom guitars built by Dan Roberts of Roberts Stringworks in Belgrade, Montana. An extra short scale Minstrel...bought used, so not custom for me...and a Troubadour, built for me, are both 13 frets, and amazing instruments. He would build exactly what you want, and I can't imagine you being disappointed.
In fact, we did go around between 12, 13 and 14 frets.
Like all high quality customs, you will get what you pay for, and I have found Dan just GRRRREAT to work with, besides being a really nice fellow. The only downside is that is webpage is a little outta date and he may have a long waiting list; it would be best to give him a call.
I have NO financial interest here. We met at the Bozeman airport in 2012 while I was on my to Alaska and he was heading south to do some work with mandolin builder Tom Ellis....my Collings A case in hand started the conversation. I had pretty much given up playing guitar at that point and was pretty much
mando-centic at the time.
Well, never say never, and little did I ever imagine I would spend so much time in his workshop and now so much time behind his guitars.

J Patrick · #14 06-26-2021, 05:52 PM

If I desired such a guitar I would custom spec out a Kopp K-35….

darylcrisp · #15 06-26-2021, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wguitar

I visited Northern Lights Music in NH recently and played this Bourgeois. Really sweet guitar!! Doesn't check all you boxes but seems to be close to what you describe. Perhaps it'll get you in the ballpark.

https://northernlightsmusic.com/coll...eois-ds-custom

The search is 1/2 the fun !

Good luck!

i'm not into dreads, or 12 frets, or slot heads. had a few of all mentioned. but my goodness there is something dynamic looking about this guitar. i think i could get around all my previous "not into's".

d