#16
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RE the cocobolo, I would think that for a guitar of this calibre you can still find fully quartered cocobolo back and sides.
I would accept some slab rings on the outer edges of the lower bouts if I fall in love with a spec guitar that is readily available -- but on a new custom build? Probably not. It's still a very nice set but I would keep looking. RE the cutaway, I find Michael's guitars to all look better without a cutaway. |
#17
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This is a former build of his, not the specific coco I’ll get. I found that photo on The North American Guitar. However, I find it amusing that you are skeptical to the wood, as I’ve heard Michael has one of the best collections in the world. Marketing? I’m not very experienced on wood, besides look, so I appreciate your info. |
#18
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RE having "one of the best collections in the world", whether that is true or not is a bit irrelevant. Most successful and established luthiers have plenty enough tone woods to build your dream guitar. Besides, I'm not "skeptical to the wood" (interesting choice of words), I only pointed out that if I were to treat myself with a Greenfield guitar, I would want nothing but the most primo tone woods all around. When it comes to rosewood, the most sought after pieces are fully quarter-sawn. There are some exceptions to this rule. Some flat-sawn woods show exceptional figure. Other woods are so rare or expensive that you have to compromise. There's nothing worse than a piece of plain looking rosewood that is not quarter-sawn. You don't get the looks, you don't get the stability, you don't get the prestige -- nothing. Besides, cocobolo isn't so rare and expensive that you'd have to compromise. My recommendation would be to ask for a fully quarter-sawn set of cocobolo for your guitar. I estimate 99% of the AGF crowd would agree with me on this. RE the top, I trust that Michael only uses the best sounding tops he can find. That said, if you think the top of this guitar looks great, you have nothing to worry about: https://eddiesguitars.com/acoustic-g...amm-instrument If you don't like that top, let me know. |
#19
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Michael Greenfield Build
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Thank you for a very informative answer :-) I actually talked to TNAG about this when I ordered, and I think I will request a highly figured set with perhaps sap. I too think the wood set in the photo(and other plain) often looks a little boring. Well, I don’t like the duo tone of the top, to be honest. Last edited by Znerken; 05-14-2018 at 01:07 AM. |
#20
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Congratulations! That looks like a great set and I'm going to enjoy watching this build progress.
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www.michaelwattsguitar.com Album Recording Diary Skype Lessons Luthier Stories YouTube iTunes Guitars by Jason Kostal, Strings by Elixir, Gefell Mics and a nail buffer. |
#21
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But if you like the highly figured slab-sawn variety, that's fine too. Some are really spectacular. The drawback is that slaw-sawn is potentially less stable. I feel the same. |
#22
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Not ONE luthier said it would affect the finished guitar in a negative way. I'm still waiting to hear from luthiers who think it is a negative acoustically.
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-Gordon 1978 Larrivee L-26 cutaway 1988 Larrivee L-28 cutaway 2006 Larrivee L03-R 2009 Larrivee LV03-R 2016 Irvin SJ cutaway 2020 Irvin SJ cutaway (build thread) K+K, Dazzo, Schatten/ToneDexter Notable Journey website Facebook page Where the spirit does not work with the hand, there is no art. - Leonardo Da Vinci |
#23
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Collings OM2H Adi / Braz Doerr Legacy Swiss / Braz Franklin OM German / Braz Franklin OM Carpathian / Braz Goodall GC Italian / Honduran Goodall GC Italian / Braz Goodall CJC Italian / Braz Goodall CJC Italian / Afr. Blackwood McPherson 5.0 Full Koa McPherson 5.0XP Adi / Braz Martin D-28GE Adi / Braz |
#24
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I have also commissioned a Greenfield (directly through Michael for early 2020), and I had my consultation with him just yesterday to establish the build specifications. I too was considering a cutaway, so I specifically asked Michael his opinion on the sonic differences between cutaway and non-cutaway. Without any hesitation, Michael emphatically stated that "...non-cutaways always sound better than cutaways".
He did further elaborate on that by saying that many may not have the ear to discern the difference; and further, that most wouldn't ever realize it, because they'd likely never have an opportunity to A/B two exact Greenfield guitars except for the cutaway option anyway. Additionally, he went on to say that even though some of those choosing the cutaway option do so for functional reasons (frequently play beyond the 14th fret), many others choose it simply because they prefer the aesthetics of a cutaway. FWIW, I put a high premium on tone, and I very rarely play beyond the 14th fret; so, following our discussion, I opted to go with a non-cutaway...
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Martin 000-28EC '71 Harmony Buck Owens American Epiphone Inspired by Gibson J-45 Gold Tone PBR-D Paul Beard Signature Model resonator "Lean your body forward slightly to support the guitar against your chest, for the poetry of the music should resound in your heart." -Andrés Segovia |
#25
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Cincy
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2018 Buscarino Italia |
#26
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Additionally, he has the "palm away", which serves a similar purpose; however, I opted for none of them. Access beyond the 14th fret just isn't a concern for me, and on the rare occasion I go up there to actually fret notes, I'm able to. But, I fully recognize that there are others who play up there frequently, and for them, I can see one of these options being very beneficial.
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Martin 000-28EC '71 Harmony Buck Owens American Epiphone Inspired by Gibson J-45 Gold Tone PBR-D Paul Beard Signature Model resonator "Lean your body forward slightly to support the guitar against your chest, for the poetry of the music should resound in your heart." -Andrés Segovia |
#27
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Congrats! Greenfields are incredible!!
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