Caldwell Mid 30's OM-28

[Jimmy Caldwell]

I have this one just about done and all that's left is final setup and the usual tweeking that goes along with a new guitar. I've used a combination of specs from the early to mid 30's along with the pre-1915 neck joint.

Basic specs are:

BRW back and sides
Lutz Spruce top, Adirondack Spruce bracing
Ebony FB and Pyramid bridge
Bar Frets
Bird's Beak headstock joint
28 Style trim throughout
25.4" scale length
Dovetail neck

My apologies in advance for the pictures (mainly iPhone). I'm continually amazed by some of the photographic skills displayed by a lot of the builders on this forum. I wish some of you guys lived closer to me so I could steal your secrets.

Here are a few pics:















Thanks for looking.

[RRuskin]

Gorgeous work, Jimmy!

[porterr68]

Stunning! Well done.

[ewh2]

Looks nice Jimmy.

What's the back and sides? BRW?

Are there any advantages of bar frets aside from them being true to vintage specifications?

What's a pre 1915 neck joint too?

Sorry for all the questions!

[Jimmy Caldwell]

Originally Posted by ewh2

Looks nice Jimmy.

What's the back and sides? BRW?

Are there any advantages of bar frets aside from them being true to vintage specifications?

What's a pre 1915 neck joint too?

Sorry for all the questions!

The back and sides are Brazilian. Here's a pic.



As for the bar frets, no particular advantage other than being true to pre-1935 specs. There are some who don't like them and some who do, it's more of a personal preference thing. This particular guitar was built for a client who visited my shop and played my personal 1893 Martin that has bar frets and he really liked them and since they are from period we based the guitar on, he opted to include them. Personally, I love the feel and I think most people adjust to them pretty quickly, given the opportunity.

The neck joint is a modified bridle joint that Martin used on all of it's necks up until 1915. It's actually 2 pieces that are joined at the intersection of the headstock and the neck shaft. If you look carefully at the third picture in my original post, you can see the tenon of the neck fitted into the mortise on the headstock. The "Bird's Beak" is shaped on the backside of the headstock as you can see in the top photo. Just a bit of "Old World" joinery that I enjoy doing.

[clinchriver]

Very very nice!

[geordie]

that'll do the trick Jim, fine work.

[ewh2]

Thanks for the reply Jimmy and for the info about bar frets and the neck joint.

Beautiful BRW too. In the UK, BRW seems to be more elusive than other places...

[justonwo]

Wow, that looks really nice. Makes me wish I could play it. I bet it sounds great!

[ChuckS]

Great looking guitar. I really like the look of Lutz spruce (have it on one my guitars). Is there any particular reason Lutz was chosen for this guitar?

[Jimmy Caldwell]

Originally Posted by ChuckS

Great looking guitar. I really like the look of Lutz spruce (have it on one my guitars). Is there any particular reason Lutz was chosen for this guitar?

Chuck,

Thanks for the kind words. As for the selection of Lutz, a couple of things came into play. This client already has one of my guitars and it has a Lutz top and he likes it very much. Another is the tonal properties of Lutz match what we were shooting for on this guitar. The classic vintage combination of Brazilian Rosewood and Adirondack Spruce produced a tone that vintage Martin lovers just can't get enough of, myself included. One of the properties of Adirondack is that initially it sometimes sounds a little stiff. You hear about guitars opening up after a break-in period that sometimes lasts years. To my ear, Lutz has the "broken in" vintage tone almost from day one.

It has a richness and complexity that I find very appealing and I enjoy working with it very much. Another property that appeals to me is it's consistency. It comes from a relatively small geographic area and I can't help but think that the climate conditions of a small area are more likely to produce trees with a high degree of consistency than one that grows in multiple regions.

[mcduffnw]

Hi Jimmy...

Another really beautiful guitar!!! I really LOVE your new headstock logo...that is just soooooo elegant! That pickguard looks familiar too...wink,wink...

Yeah...there is just something about Lutz for sure. It just has this mature tonality right from the first string up.

You are really hitting your stride now Jimmy...just one great looking guitar after another coming out of your shop!

Can't wait to see you again at Healdsburg 2016!!!

Best Regards
duff

[kirkham13]

The lutz looks a little like Sitka with some bearclaw. The guitar is astonishing, down to the bar frets... You must have been building in this style for a long time.