New Urlacher "Small Concert" (00-ish) build!

[Larry Pattis]

Here's the truth; I absolutely do not need another guitar.

Another truth is that Rebecca Urlacher's recent Parlor guitar (shown at Tom Bowersox's B.I.G. event) was a huge "hit" with me, and as far as I can tell, anyone who played (or even saw) the guitar.

Now, when Rebecca delivered the original Concert guitar she custom built for me last year, I decided to hold off on adding any *more* guitars to my already too-large stable. However, after a few months with the Concert, I knew I wanted to ask Rebecca to build one more...maybe I would sell a few of the totally-great guitars that I have here that are just not getting enough attention/playing time (for no reason other than "too many"!). So we planned for Rebecca to build yet another Concert for me.

Rebecca and I have been friends for nearly 20 years, and this was about wanting another great guitar (GAS on my part, I admit it) *and* in wanting to support Rebecca's top-shelf work.

Then I got a chance to test-drive a bunch of her guitars headed to B.I.G. This was a nice revelation, as not only did I fall in love with the aforementioned Parlor, but I got to play Karlijn Langendijk's Concert model, in Camatillo. I loved her guitar as well, and totally dug the sonic differences between my EIR Concert, and the Camatillo...so this comparison allowed me to select the back & sides wood for the new guitar!

Amidst the "too many" guitars here, I have OM-ish sized guitars from Rebecca, Joel Michaud, Simon Fay, Tom Rein, and Bozo Podunavac (x2)...too many, indeed! One of my other in-house favorites, BTW, is a 00-R from Joel Michaud...14 frets, and really quite perfect in every way.

And in having *loved* Rebecca's Pink Ivory Parlor, I began to contemplate a 12-fret Parlor with cutaway (Rebecca confirmed it as 12-frets, only...no way to do 14 frets to the body on her Parlor model), rather than adding yet-another OM to my mix.

I slept on this notion overnight, and then decided against any kind of 12-fretter, even with cutaway...and in discussing this with Rebecca, she reminded me of her re-named "Small Concert" model, which has been built-out as both a tenor guitar (24" scale...or less, possibly), and earlier as a 6-string with a 24" scale.

The Small Concert is 14.25" across the lower bout (so 00-ish in size), a 14-fret model, and so-very similar in shape to Rebecca's Concert model, with Rebecca's design...kind of a great fit for me. It's also shorter than her Parlor model overall (only a bit over 18"), so a great couch/travel guitar, as well...it will fit in most any classical-sized case, such as the Visesnut., another *plus* for my aging "infrastructure" (body!).

So the build-specs look like this; Camatillo for the back & sides, German Spruce top, with variations on Rebecca's now-well-recognized (& well loved) “stacked wood” rosette and headstock overlay designs...cutaway, of course, and a hard-to-see micro-bevel on the bass side binding. Standard 25" scale. Custom neck geometry and profile/thickness.

So yet another great-guitar-build-adventure has begun...I'll start with a few of the beginning photos...

[TomB'sox]

Congrats Larry, Rebecca's guitars were indeed a hit at B.I.G. I have one ordered as well! Yours looks great so far, that inlay work on the headstock is amazing as is the back wood! Beautiful sapwood! Rebecca is a joy.

[iim7V7IM7]

Need? Congrats & watching along Larry…

[Guitars44me]

How many guitars does one person need? Answer above!

Glad to see you are still at it Larry!

Go Rebecca, Go…

Cheers

Paul

[cigarfan]

Beautiful guitar in the making Larry! Congrats!

Just one more is what I always say.

[j. Kinnaird]

Very nice! I love the simplicity and style of the rosette and the way it’s reflected in the peghead

[StringMeUp]

That is going to be spectacular! Congratulations, Larry!!

[Dustinfurlow]

This is awesome, man! Very excited for you. I was blown away by the sound of the German/Camatillo combo on Karlijn's guitar. If I was blindfolded I would've thought it was Brazilian or any other fine rosewood. Baffling she is the only builder I've seen use it. Hope to see more of it used by other luthiers in the future. I really look forward to hearing this.

[Jwills57]

Hi, Larry--Looks to be a beautiful build, for sure. I love your first line, "Here's the truth; I absolutely do not need another guitar." I feel your pain! I absolutely don't need another guitar, either, which I why I have a dozen wonderful instruments in my guitar room right now! Such is life.

[islandguitar]

Congrats, Larry!
Loved the story of how you "got there" with deciding on this new build. It is indeed gorgeous! Have followed her guitars since Dustin commissioned.......she is a very talented individual.
Will enjoy following this through to your (hoped for) recordings!

[Larry Pattis]

Thanks to all for the enthusiasms, and for the kind words!

Dustin, I know that Simon Fay has absolutely used Mexican Kingwood/Camatillo in the past, so it's not unheard of with some top-shelf builders.

Here are a few more photos:

Here are two guitars, the second is Pale Moon Ebony, and a Modern Dreadnaught model (so you can see the size difference). The Pale Moon Ebony guitar is Rebecca's official 50th build (!!), and this guitar is a commission with some other special details.





The customer wanted Rebecca to incorporate her old headstock shape & inlay (bird) into this special 50th build!

[Larry Pattis]

Life is strange.

I went looking for some other files, and I "found" three videos I had recorded for Rebecca of an earlier (2015!) Petite model with a 24" scale...I don't remember the guitar, nor doing the recording!

So this is a hint of what to anticipate, although the 25" scale on my guitar should provide for a sound that is a bit more robust...not that this little-beast is lacking in any way!

[inc0herent]

Wow! Sounds great (both the guitar and your playing). I'm sure yours will be incredible, Camatillo is a great choice and that set looks beautiful. Very unique design, her first 25" scale Petite. Can't wait to hear it. Congrats!

[Larry Pattis]

A few more pics to share...

Love the sapwood on the sides:


Well, this might be my favorite headstock overlay of all time:


Kind of says (and shows) it all:

[TomB'sox]

Looks like Rebecca is pulling out all the stops for you on this one. Looks great.