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  #1  
Old 12-13-2020, 10:25 PM
virob virob is offline
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Default A Green Michaud OM-R

Hi, this all started back in 2016 when my brother-in-law, Dan, asked if I had heard of Joel Michaud out of Calgary. Dan was staying at a friend’s cabin on Haida Gwaii next to Kevin Henning of Symphontree guitars, when Kevin can over one evening raving about a MichaudMade guitar he had with him.

Nope.


Months later, I was checking out a YouTube video by Michael Chapdelaine playing a new Michaud guitar. Hmmm,...my curiosity was piqued. It just so happened there was a Michaud guitar for sale on AGF, which led me to another Michaud that I ended up buying.

It had a really thick neck that was giving me problems, so I contacted Joel about getting the neck shaved down. He assured me it was a relatively simple procedure. We continued to chat back and forth, I was impressed with both the guitar and the builder and before too long I had reserved a build slot.



We tentatively decided on an OM-R, Sitka spruce/ Panama rosewood, cutaway and Manzer wedge. Over the next 2 years or so, I had many opportunities to rethink these specs and occasionally pester Joel with questions.
I also started visiting the custom guitar forum to learn more about custom guitars and get some ideas for the upcoming build. This forum has been a wealth of information, intro to a whole world of incredibly talented people building guitars that I had no idea existed. I have reached out to some of you with questions and everyone has been so helpful and kind. Consider this a bit of a payback for all that help and kindness. So, with that, stay tuned!

Last edited by virob; 01-01-2021 at 09:01 AM.
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Old 12-13-2020, 11:30 PM
pandaroo pandaroo is offline
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Looking forward to this build thread. I have no doubt you'd be in for a real treat. My slot is still a long way ahead (2022), I will have to drool over yours first.
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Old 12-14-2020, 12:41 PM
Dustinfurlow Dustinfurlow is offline
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Congrats on your build...every Michaud I've played has been a lush, luxurious, velvety smooth experience. Nice guy, too.
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Old 12-14-2020, 05:17 PM
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CoolerKing CoolerKing is offline
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You won't be disappointed. I played a beautiful guitar of his in Memphis about five years ago, Tree/spruce. It was pretty stellar.
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Old 12-14-2020, 09:10 PM
virob virob is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pandaroo View Post
Looking forward to this build thread. I have no doubt you'd be in for a real treat. My slot is still a long way ahead (2022), I will have to drool over yours first.
I can relate. It can be a long wait

Quote:
Congrats on your build...every Michaud I've played has been a lush, luxurious, velvety smooth experience. Nice guy, too.
Thanks. Nice to get feedback from others with more experience with different builders. Love your playing by the way.

Quote:
You won't be disappointed. I played a beautiful guitar of his in Memphis about five years ago, Tree/spruce. It was pretty stellar.
Yes, pretty excited. I did get a chance to play a couple Michaud guitars including one out of pernambuco.
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Old 12-14-2020, 09:22 PM
virob virob is offline
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I knew I wanted a Spruce top, but back and sides were another story, rosewoods, mahoganies, walnuts, maples, ebonies… yikes! With too much time to wait and think,I ended up going down the dreaded tone-wood rabbit hole. Don’t what to do that again.

In early 2019, I visited Joel’s shop, and Joel laid out a smorgasbord of 15-20 different woods for viewing, some, exotics like the “Tree” and Pernambuco, what a treat! We narrowed it down to 3. The first was a lovely set of PRW, a hard-to-go-wrong choice and one of Joel’s favorites. The second was an interesting set of Myrtle. I liked that it was somewhat close to maple tonally. I was still hanging onto to the idea of maple, but have a maple guitar, so this didn’t make a lot of sense. The third was an unusual set of Honduran rosewood. It strangely captured my imagination, much to my surprise, and I think Joel’s as well. I decided to sleep on it for a couple days and get back to him. I kept getting drawn back the HRW.



IMG_2350.jpg



In the end I decided to go with the HRW.



IMG_1608002264.684685.jpgIMG_1608002293.238924.jpg
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Old 12-15-2020, 05:25 AM
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Quite the unusual set of Rosewood. Congrats on your build. Met Joel at Woodstock. Certainly a nice guy. Played one of his parlor sized that was destined for an AGFer. What a special guitar. Was able to get that little room in the back left corner for 15 minutes. It was impressive.
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Old 12-15-2020, 06:52 AM
funky2x funky2x is offline
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Congrats on your new build. You are in for a real treat. My Michaud is stunning both visually and sonically. And Joel is a great guy and an absolute pleasure to work with. Enjoy the journey.
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Old 12-15-2020, 06:33 PM
virob virob is offline
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Cigarfan: unusual rosewood yes, but I have seen several other builds that look like they are using sister sets to this one.


Funky2x: Joel is a pleasure to work with and generous with his time.



I forgot to mention, this build is partially underway. I could dump a bunch of photos all at once, but instead I will try to organize and put a few thoughts together and post something regularly until caught up.



One of the first decisions, keep the sapwood or not?





IMG_1608078101.289273.jpg

Both options look great to me, but for the overall design goals we had in mind, the decision is to remove the sapwood and go with a less-is-more approach.



IMG_1608078171.474348.jpg

Next decision, back strip or no back strip?



IMG_1608078222.514578.jpg



I tend to like back strips but in this case it isn't adding anything. So, again, going with, less-is-more.

IMG_1608078426.766244.jpg
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Old 12-16-2020, 09:39 PM
virob virob is offline
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For the top, the choice was Sitka. Living in the PNW I have access to some spectacular old growth Sitka forests. It is a privilege to stand amongst these ancient trees.



Joel is well known for his innovative use of materials and inlay designs; they are simple stunning. While I really wanted to go that route, we decided on a different path and keep the design elements including the rosette, minimal.

IMG_1608176316.104400.jpgIMG_1608176338.144020.jpgIMG_1608176356.387468.jpg
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  #11  
Old 12-16-2020, 10:09 PM
virob virob is offline
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I wish I understood more about bracing. These are pretty cool with carbon fiber in the bracing and bridge plate.
IMG_1608178087.902563.jpgIMG_1608178105.667461.jpgIMG_1608178156.893743.jpgIMG_1608178181.720639.jpg
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  #12  
Old 12-17-2020, 01:53 AM
pandaroo pandaroo is offline
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Thanks for sharing, what an interesting bracing strategy.
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Benavides D - Torrefied Adi/Madi RW
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Gone But Not Forgotten
Tom Sands Model S (Crystal) - Italian/Fiddleback Hog
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  #13  
Old 12-17-2020, 06:41 AM
Archaic Guitars Archaic Guitars is offline
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Yeah, very interesting bracing, especially the traverse bar with the bend for the cutaway on the treble side. Cool stuff
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  #14  
Old 12-17-2020, 09:50 AM
virob virob is offline
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In the last year or so Joel has started using structured sides.

Sides with the top being fitted.

IMG_1608220192.549200.jpg
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  #15  
Old 12-17-2020, 03:14 PM
virob virob is offline
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Joel builds with both structured and double sides. In this build, because we are going with an elevated, floating neck, the structured sides help.
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