Circa D28 Brazilian - Adirondack

adlerburg · #1 06-29-2014, 09:45 PM

Warning: Guitar Porn AND Childlike gushing to immediately follow!

Just wanted to share the newest member of the family. I've been blessed/cursed to have owned and played some of the world's finest guitars from the world's finest builders... Blessed by being able to play and enjoy some of the highest level of instrument making ever... cursed in that the bar is set so high for me, that I'm so jaded to most guitars that many folks consider "high end" (Martin, Colliings, Bourgeouis, etc). Cursed in that very few guitars ever have the effect of taking my breath away. This guitar truly takes my breath away when I'm playing it. I think (from memory, so don't quote me with a gun at my head for truth) I can honestly say this is perhaps the finest representation of a 1930's Martin Dread I've ever seen/played.
This is a classic 1930's Martin Herringbone D28 design. It is a reminder why we started playing guitar as kids! The Brazilian set which is not insanely figured like some of the dramatic stump wood we see nowadays... but due to the nicely/mostly quartered set that is going off quarter in the wings, show incredible spider webbing and inklines .... coupled with the as-close-to-perfectly quartered Adirondack top that I've experienced... is packed with rayfleck ..coupled again with the warm deliciously woody tone that has very strong and prominent fundamental enveloped with appropriate amounts of overtones... not too much as seen in a lot of modern day finger style guitars... nor so little that would make you feel like you need a drink of water! I'm so astounded with this dread that I obviously can't stop gushing about it... it's almost sickening

I'll record some clips of it shortly, until then, here's some pictures of this baby!
Thank you Mr. Slobod for the inspiration to do nothing but play all day.

http://s1007.photobucket.com/user/ad...lideshow/Circa

justonwo · #2 06-29-2014, 10:15 PM

John's work is awesome. Congrats on your new guitar. It looks stunning.

billgennaro · #3 06-29-2014, 11:44 PM

I've played a bunch of John's guitars, but never one of his dreads. I believe John to be one of the best builders out there. And that Adirondack top has more silking in it then any I've ever seen (by far).

Best of luck with it.

Bill

iim7V7IM7 · #4 06-30-2014, 01:00 AM

Aside from being a great instrument no doubt, the designer in me also appreciates the tasteful Art Nouveau label design.

CoolerKing · #5 06-30-2014, 02:04 AM

Gotta love the pick guard!

Hierophant · #6 06-30-2014, 03:38 AM

One still can find many great sets of brazilian, but this adi is the best I've ever seen. I guess this really must be close to the quality that you got som 80 or 90 years ago.

psychojohn · #7 06-30-2014, 07:00 AM

A beaut of a guitar and congratulations ! A technical point/question that in no way detracts from the quality of your guitar: Weren't the 1930's D-28s twelve frets ?

John

adlerburg · #8 06-30-2014, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by psychojohn

A beaut of a guitar and congratulations ! A technical point/question that in no way detracts from the quality of your guitar: Weren't the 1930's D-28s twelve frets ?

John

Hi....Although there was a migration from the 12 fret round shouldered slotted headstock dread to the 14 fret D28, the 14 fret dread D28 was indeed introduced in the 1930's.
Mick

psychojohn · #9 06-30-2014, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adlerburg

Hi....Although there was a migration from the 12 fret round shouldered slotted headstock dread to the 14 fret D28, the 14 fret dread D28 was indeed introduced in the 1930's.
Mick

Thank you. 14 fret =Elbow pain; 12 fret =no elbow pain for me. I am hankering for a 1931 D-28 authentic (12 fret as I understand it) but can't justify the $.

John

adlerburg · #10 06-30-2014, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matthewpartrick

Gotta love the pick guard!

I know.
Actually, the light just caught it right to make it look that "beautiful"
It's really not at all that gaudy in person.. I might change it out some day if it bothers me to that point... but in person it actually looks quite right
THanks
Mick

FormerFoodie · #11 06-30-2014, 10:53 AM

I totally hear you. First of all, big time congrats. I scored a Circa earlier this year and I am still gobsmacked about how amazing it is. It just has this amazing "presence" that make other great guitars very mortal. The sobering conclusion I have arrived at is that I don't think I can stop at one Circa!

Thanks for the pics. I can't wait to hear your soundclips!

J.R. Rogers · #12 06-30-2014, 11:51 AM

Congrats! That's a beauty!

adlerburg · #13 06-30-2014, 01:56 PM

Thanks everyone for the kind remarks. For those who noticed the abundance of ray fleck in the top, that is definitely one of the things that I love about this guitar. I've had many guitars built with Italian, Sitka, Red (Adi), spruce... and don't ever remember seeing such an abundance of silking on an Adi top. Of course just the presence of ray fleck indicates the probability of a stellar top.. being that it only shows up when the top is right on the quarter.

Kahobbs · #14 06-30-2014, 03:02 PM

Gorgeous guitar Mick. Enjoy it! And let me know first it doesn't end up being a good fit for you.

CoolerKing · #15 06-30-2014, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adlerburg

I know right?
Actually, the light just caught it right to make it look that "beautiful" hahaha
It's really not at all that gaudy in person.. I might change it out some day if it bothers me to that point.
THanks
Mick

Is it a greven guard? I'd like to get some similar material for my upcoming Marklund OM28.