Two Todd Rose guitars, an Allegheny and a Headwaters

[Todd Rose]

Hi all,

Here are two guitars I made in 2010 that I don't think I ever showed you all here on the AGF. I made posts about these on the Marketplace board (http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...d.php?t=411364 and http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...d.php?t=410156), and, while I was at it, I thought I'd share them here, too. The Allegheny and the Headwaters remain my two main guitar body shapes, and these are good examples of each of them.

First, the Allegheny. Similar to "small jumbo" guitars, it has a mid-sized body, 15 ½” wide at the lower bout. The high-waisted, curvaceous Allegheny shape places the bridge in the center of the lower bout for a full tone similar to guitars with 12 frets to the body, but the neck joins the body at the 14th fret for improved upper fret access. Upper fret access and soundboard motion are also enhanced by the elevated/floating fretboard extension.

This one has a Lutz spruce soundboard, palo escrito back and sides, Madagascar rosewood fretboard and bridge, Honduran mahogany neck and bindings, and lace sheoak and ebony accents. Evo gold frets.

It sounds so stellar that I've kept it for my personal player for the past 6 years, though I've decided I'm ready to part with it now.

Links to two videos of Michael Chapdelaine playing this guitar, to give you a taste of it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pfl9NC-mN0g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuMrPwlAUvY

Please see photos below.

Second, the Headwaters. This unique body has a 14" wide lower bout, placing it in the range of concert and grand concert size guitars. Again, the shape places the bridge in the center of the lower bout for a full tone similar to guitars with 12 frets to the body -- but the neck joins the body at the 15th fret for improved upper fret access. And again, upper fret access and soundboard motion are enhanced by the elevated/floating fretboard extension.

This Headwaters has a bear claw sitka soundboard; ziricote back, sides, fretboard, bridge, and headplates; walnut neck and bindings; eucalyptus burl, ebony, and maple accents. Evo gold frets.

This guitar sounds awesome, too. Here's Paul Asbell playing it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOLD67QXj-U

This second vid of Paul playing the heck out of "Key to the Highway", though of cruder recording quality, brings out the bold tone of this guitar quite nicely, I think.

https://www.facebook.com/todd.rose.7...488073/?type=2

And here's Michael Chapdelaine playing it (starting about half way through, after he finishes playing "Dock of the Bay" on the Allegheny guitar):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pfl9NC-mN0g

On to the pics. The Allegheny:





















In that last pic, I'm playing this guitar with my band at the 2104 Ithaca Porchfest. Fun!

Now, the Headwaters:

[Todd Rose]

The last few pics of the Headwaters. Thanks for looking and listening! I hope these have brought you a smile.

Todd

[runamuck]

Beautiful work and magnificent designs, Todd.

[Todd Rose]

Thanks, runamuck!

[j. Kinnaird]

Clever design! Beautifully executed as well

[Todd Rose]

Thanks, John!

(It is John, right?)

[Tim McKnight]

Looking good Todd. What are you using for finish? It looks pretty nice in the pics.

[Todd Rose]

Thanks, Tim! These were both finished with polyester by Joe White. More recently, though, I'm doing the finishes myself, using various varnishes and oils.