What Would Your Signature Model Be?

[Jack Orion]

Just for a bit of fun, say you were to make it to the point where you were well known enough to be offered a signature model by the brand of your choice - what would it be?

I'm not talking about a 'dream guitar' - more a guitar that defines your style and playing...

I also guess there's two types of signature model - the 'replica' type where an artist's guitar is recreated with any mods they may have made (ala the Pierre Bensusan 'Old Lady' Lowden) or the 'artist specs' model, where the artist takes a guitar they're well known for but adapts it to their choosing (ala the Pierre Bensusan current Signature Lowden).

So, for me, it'd be:

'Replica Style': a Martin OM28v with jumbo frets, a gloss headstock, and a vintage toner top

'Artist Specs': Still essentially a Martin OM28v (same bracing, same wood combo) but I'd add:

Jumbo Frets
1 7/8" nut width, Modified V neck, 2 3/8th bridge spacing, long saddle
Gloss Headstock
'Hand rubbed' gloss neck - so a satin neck, that is then polished by hand to gloss - for some reason necks that are gloss from the factory feel different to me than satin necks that have been glossed up by play.
Oversized side dots
No toner
The same herringbone/ivoroid/rosette that they use on the Authentic Series

Even though I love my Collings OM, I think a signature would have to be a Martin - my Martin is the guitar that I would save if the house was burning down.

Anyone else want to play?

[tippy5]

Fun wish list:

2.56" Scale length
snake head style cocobolo headstock- for straight string through.
Some nice Alessi guitar tuners.
1/4" wide compensated bone nut, 1 3/4" span.
Compound radius 12-15". Rolled fretboard edges.
10447 gold evo rounded fret ends.
Figured mahogany neck with ebony slab board
Larger than normal white pearl side dots
low profile heel. Cutaway OM or MOD-D body. Manzer.
Thin strong Euro moon spruce over Honduran rosewood
Cocobolo Arm bevel.
Some appointments to be considered after amassing $15K.

[noledog]

I would have my Signature Guitar made at Takamine's Japan shop, their work is impeccable and they are my fav along side Lowden!

* I would keep their asymmetrical neck profile with unbound fret board with their dovetail joint that has the newer reinforced extensions and uses HHG... but add a 1 3/4 nut instead of 1 11/16.

** I would keep the NEX body shape and in satin finish use cedar over Honduran Mahogany with mahogany headstock cap instead of rosewood. I would also keep their standard x-brace that is scalloped but not fs.

*** Maintain the Gotoh tuners they already use, but in pewter with MOP buttons like my KC70 has.

**** I would maintain the pinless bridge (I do not like pinned bridges!) with bone split saddle... but use Rio Braz for the bridge like Lowden used to do.

***** Inlays on headstock would incorporate an abalone palm tree above the abalone Takamine logo similar to my KC70, but different in size and style. Fretboard markers none, except a blue-green paua ocean wave inlay underneath the 12-13th fret. Nickel medium frets @.48 crown height (not a fan of EVO gold or SS). Rosette would incorporate matching blue-green paua rings with mahogany and rosewood. Binding and back center strip would be grained-aged looking ivoroid also trimmed with blue-green paua.

****** Electronics would still be Takamine's Palathetic pickup with the CT4BII preamp, tho maybe the CT4DX which I also like.

That's a wrap, cheers!

[Glennwillow]

I have no idea!

I tend to adapt to so many different guitar designs, I'm not sure I could pick something that is emblematic of my playing style.

Maybe the Olson SJ design, cedar top with EIR back and sides, 5-piece laminated neck, 1 3/4" nut width, but with a thicker neck -- not super thick, but thicker than that electric-guitar-like neck on the Olson SJ. The neck on my Santa Cruz OM/PW is just right. Or the neck on my old, 1967 Martin D-35 -- that feels just right to me.

And I would like the trebles to have just a little more high end sparkle than a typical Olson has, but the same kind of velvety, bass and midrange.

That would be a cool guitar. Probably expensive..

- Glenn

[martingitdave]

I would like a Martin Outlaw 2017 model with a low profile neck shape and Guatemalan Rosewood back and sides. Maybe a lighter weight finish too.

[Michael Watts]

It's exactly this. No More, no less.

[BoneDigger]

Martin D18 with GE bracing and a mahogany sunburst top. 1.75" nut, bone nut and saddle and ebony bridge pins. Ebony fingerboard, cream binding on the body and neck (similar to the D35). Flame mahogany back with genuine mahogany back and sides. D41 style headstock inlay pattern. Same fret markers as on my CEO 8.2e. Soundhole rosette similar to the Keb Mo signature and it would need to match the head stock in color.

[Neil K Walk]

It would probably be a lot like the Martin 000-28EC except:

- black walnut back and sides
- Adirondack spruce top
- 1/4" forward shifted X bracing
- curly maple body, fretboard binding, end wedge and heel cap
- cherry neck, short scale with diamond volute and modified V neck profile
- stained walnut fretboard
- zig zag back strip
- open back nickle Waverly tuners

[Mr. Paul]

This would come out of Martin's shop

0000-18
ambertone
adirondack spruce top
figured mahogany back and sides
abalone rosette
figured koa binding
ebony headstock overlay
abalone Martin logo

[sakar12]

Oh sure, Michael. Rub it in

Originally Posted by Michael Watts

It's exactly this. No More, no less.

[MHC]

Originally Posted by Michael Watts

It's exactly this. No More, no less.

Hahaha... Some of us dream and some just get it done.

Congratulations Michael - that's a phenomenal guitar, a good match for your skill and musicianship.

[Akousticplyr]

A GS Mini with a Sinker Redwood top, beveled arm rest, Fishman prefix blender, and a satin neck. Wouldn’t that be something!

[rstaight]

Interesting. I to am a fan of Takamine. Probably start with a GD93CE. Change out the black tuning buttons for pearl or abalone. Have a pearl or abalone inlay of Mount Takamine at the 12th fret like the GJ72.

The Takamine in the headstock, again pearl or abalone.

Not sure if I would stay with the spruce top or change to cedar. Of course natural finish.

[llew]

Probably something plastic that's readily available at Wal*Mart!

[Song]