Build Thread - Kraut OM

[Trevor M]

"Not going to happen this time Trevor, guaranteed... I'll get the coffees in, you play the guitar, deal?"

Deal but I think you should play the guitar and I will get the coffees, my guitar playing is underwhelming.

[JonBarclay]

Originally Posted by Billy Boy

Congratulations, Jon! You've selected a marvelous luthier for your build. I'll need to make a few trips down to Eugene to see this one in progress.

Cheers Billy! You'll have to play it before Ray sends it over here too

Originally Posted by The Acoustic Music Co (TAMCO) UK

Deal but I think you should play the guitar and I will get the coffees, my guitar playing is underwhelming.

So's mine! I can purchase a mean latte though...

[Tone Gopher]

Humor: Two Brits talkin' coffee...

[JonBarclay]

Originally Posted by Tone Gopher

Humor: Two Brits talkin' coffee...

Well, one might've been discussing the relative merits of Earl Grey, had one's butler not become acutely confused on his last excursion to Fortnum & Mason and blundered into the wrong department! Henceforth, that scoundrel will be cooling his heels in the Tower.

God Save The Queen!

[JonBarclay]

I've had a few more pictures from Ray, who's busily been constructing the double sides... ziricote with a peruvian walnut inner laminate. I really like how this is looking

Ray hasn't cleaned them up yet post-gluing, so any visible smudges etc. will soon be a thing of the past!

[CoolerKing]

I'm considering ziricote for my next commission. What prompted you to choose it? Looking forward to following along.

[billgennaro]

I can already see the similarities between Ray's builds and his mentor's (the double sides and the massive tongue of the head block). That huge tongue is very effective in my estimation. I have a 30 year old Somogyi with the same design and the neck angle is still fine. Your build is starting to resemble a guitar. Good stuff!

[OddManOut]

Those are beautiful sets of wood. Congrats on the new build...enjoy the process!

[Fsgeek]

Looking good Jon...

[steveh]

...yes. Typically very crisp woodworking on show there.

It would be great if you could drag this along to one of the UK meets Jon. It would be great fun to put some Somogyis and his disciples up against one another.

Cheers,
Steve

[JonBarclay]

Originally Posted by matthewpartrick

I'm considering ziricote for my next commission. What prompted you to choose it? Looking forward to following along.

Well (huge generalisation warning!) I've mainly preferred the "rosewood" sound to the mahogany (with the memorable exception of a Collings OM1H I still regret selling), and ziricote was recommended to me in the first instance by Trevor at TAMCO. I discussed this choice at length with Ray (along with alternatives like Indian, Guatemalan & Panamanian Rosewoods, and Wenge), and from his description of the tone, decided to go ahead with it. The description - paraphrased - was of a wood with a lower tap tone, yielding strong deep mids and a low, lively bass response. Clear (not steely) trebles, slightly nylon-like in quality. Not overly sustain-heavy, more present immediately then dissipating like a jazz guitar.

That, and the amazing looks, decided me!

Jon

[CoolerKing]

Thanks. As I said I'm considering between Ziricote, Koa, and Macassar Ebony. Quite different I know, but there you go. I'm looking forward to following along with your build, good luck!
Matthew

[JonBarclay]

Originally Posted by billgennaro

I can already see the similarities between Ray's builds and his mentor's (the double sides and the massive tongue of the head block). That huge tongue is very effective in my estimation. I have a 30 year old Somogyi with the same design and the neck angle is still fine. Your build is starting to resemble a guitar. Good stuff!

I know that most Somogyi / apprentice guitars are famously responsive, and that that goal is achieved in part by the removal of more material from the soundboard than other luthiers might... but there does seem to be a lot of stability & strength built in as well: the double sides, large extension of the headblock, carbon fibre reinforcement in the neck... even the lattice bracing Ray will use would (at least in my mind!) provide some added longitudinal strength to the back. (OK, might be imagining that last bit )

I'm not surprised that - if they're properly looked after - they stand the test of time... Can't wait to start playing this one!

Jon

[JonBarclay]

Originally Posted by steveh

...yes. Typically very crisp woodworking on show there.

It would be great if you could drag this along to one of the UK meets Jon. It would be great fun to put some Somogyis and his disciples up against one another.

Cheers,
Steve

I'd love to! Might have to put it in the hands of a better player for a fair comparison though... I get crippling stage fright, probably a leftover from years of unwilling solo violin performances at school - Michael Flatley's legs have got nothing on mine under a spotlight!

Jon

[JonBarclay]

Originally Posted by OddManOut

Those are beautiful sets of wood. Congrats on the new build...enjoy the process!

Originally Posted by Fsgeek

Looking good Jon...

Thanks very much guys! I love it so far, but also can't wait to see what Ray has in mind for the rosette & endgraft...

Originally Posted by matthewpartrick

Thanks. As I said I'm considering between Ziricote, Koa, and Macassar Ebony. Quite different I know, but there you go. I'm looking forward to following along with your build, good luck!
Matthew

Wow, they ARE different! Similar in that they're all striking lookers though

Jon