Boucher Guitars - Custom OMH

[twg1996]

Hi Folks,

So the background story….I’ve been searching for a nice guitar that I can use at home as well as at my church to lead worship. After reading countless reviews on various websites, watching many videos of demos on youtube, and playing as much as I can here in Toronto, I decided to purchase a guitar from a builder in the US as I was amazed at the beautiful sound coming from his guitars… UNTIL! Last month, I was on a family vacation to Quebec City in Canada. I decided to check out what guitar stores are in town and saw that there was a store called Musique Gagné very close to my hotel. I walked over and was slightly disappointed to see only electric guitars on the first floor (as much as I like electric guitars and respect electric players, I only play acoustic ). I asked the employee at the counter and asked if they had any acoustic guitars and he pointed me to a stair case that led to the second floor. On the second floor, there were the common (in Canada) Godin family guitars (Seagull, Simon and Patrick, Norman, etc) and Yamahas. There was a 150th anniversary fg-180 on display as well to my surprise! What caught my attention however was a room on the second floor with a couple of taylors and around 10 Boucher guitars. I went in to the wood decorated, nicely humidified room and started playing with the taylor guitars which were nice. However, I was shocked when I picked around with the Boucher Adi/EIR OMH(OM Hybrid) and even more when I strummed. The lushness and fullness of tone that came from the guitar was truly amazing. I asked the employee if there were any other OMHs in the store and he showed me a flamed bubinga model and a cocobolo model which were also as much of a joy to play as well as to look at. I tried other models including their Dreads and 12th fret OMs but their OMHs were what I really liked for what I do (60/25/15 strumming/flatpicking/fingerstyle). I don’t think I knew what extent it could feel like for a guitar to ‘speak’ to me until then. From there, long story short, I cancelled my order from the States and ordered a custom OMH from Boucher with my dream specifications.

In conversing over the phone multiple times with Robin Boucher (Fantastic guy btw), He offered to send me several sets of photos of the build process. I decided to post them here for anyone who may be interested in looking at the awesome working that Robin has going on at Boucher guitars! Until my first batch of photos, I thought Id get this thread started with the specifications and the Madagascar rosewood sets Robin allowed me to choose from.

These are the specifications I decided on:

SIZE: OM HYBRID
- MASTER GRADE ADIRONDACK SPRUCE TOP
- MADAGASCAR ROSEWOOD B/S (Dalbergia Baronii)
- CUTAWAY (VENITIAN)
- NECK BINDING (KOA)
- GOTOH 510 GOLD PLATED TUNERS W/EBONY BUTTONS (21:1)
- ABALONE ROSETTE & SIDE DOTS
- BODY BINDING (KOA)
- BONE NUT/SADDLE
- NO FRETBOARD DOTS OR INLAY
- GOLD STRAP BUTTON
- PICKGUARD NOT APPLIED (PUT IN THE CASE)
- MADAGASCAR ROSEWOOD HEELCAP
- HISCOX (LA-BI-S (artist ivory/silver)
These are the sets I chose from (I chose 113!):

IMG_3735 by Juhan Song, on Flickr

MDR 118 by Juhan Song, on Flickr

Let me know which set you would have chosen and why!

Looking forward to posting the pictures, listening to your opinions and finally playing the guitar! First time doing anything like this related to a build so let me know if there’s any rule I’ve broken (hopefully not) or there’s additional information I can add! Thanks for taking the time to read!

[twg1996]

I got some photos from Robin at Boucher guitars with the progress of the guitar...

The Koa Binding and Herringbone purfling:
IMG_20170531_100946514 by Juhan Song, on Flickr

Unfinished back and sides:
IMG_20170605_092611973_TOP by Juhan Song, on Flickr

Radiusing the fretboard:
IMG_20170607_084746055 by Juhan Song, on Flickr

Finished Top and sidess (loving those sides <3 ) :
IMG_20170612_141235046 by Juhan Song, on Flickr

Finished back and sides:
IMG_20170612_141307564 by Juhan Song, on Flickr

IMG_20170612_141319513 by Juhan Song, on Flickr

Some more of those sides with the koa binding just because i love them so much haha:

IMG_3840 by Juhan Song, on Flickr

IMG_3845 by Juhan Song, on Flickr

Close-ups of the top and the shallow cutaway...I asked Robin to pick out Adirondack with even colour and tightly grained with as much silking as possible....WOW Did he find a top for me that was even better than i had ever imagined! :

IMG_3838 by Juhan Song, on Flickr

IMG_3844 by Juhan Song, on Flickr

IMG_3841 by Juhan Song, on Flickr

Can't wait to actually play the guitar when it arrives into my hands at the end of this month!

Thanks for reading....

[twg1996]

I need help choosing a pickguard for this om...i found some Tor-Tis ones and received some sample photos from Taylor at Holter Pickguards...what do you guys think fits best out of the three i can choose from? OR any other recommendations?

Tor-Tis:

Screenshot_20170615-121404 by Juhan Song, on Flickr

Screenshot_20170615-121429 by Juhan Song, on Flickr

Holter:

Screenshot_20170615-144805 by Juhan Song, on Flickr

[Nemoman]

I'd go for the 2nd striped tortis one--beautiful!

[twg1996]

Originally Posted by Nemoman

I'd go for the 2nd striped tortis one--beautiful!

Thanks! Yeah really like the second tortis but I also like the Holter... Hmmmm

[cokezero]

Love that deep Tortois.

[twg1996]

Originally Posted by cokezero

Love that deep Tortois.

Is that the first one you're talking about?

[cokezero]

Yes, the 1st one is so deep. Love that.

[Nemoman]

BTW--the guitar looks really sweet as well. Beautiful woods--that top is killer.

Congrats!

[twg1996]

Originally Posted by cokezero

Yes, the 1st one is so deep. Love that.

Yahh so hard to choose!

[twg1996]

Originally Posted by Nemoman

BTW--the guitar looks really sweet as well. Beautiful woods--that top is killer.

Congrats!

Thank you! Looking forward to it as well...

[nootis]

Beatuful guitar. I'm with you on those sides... absolutely killer!

I'm in the deep camp with the first pick guard.



I couldn't be more curious about the contraption that the guitar is set up on. Looks cool!

Originally Posted by twg1996

Radiusing the fretboard:
IMG_20170607_084746055 by Juhan Song, on Flickr

[twg1996]

Originally Posted by nootis

Beatuful guitar. I'm with you on those sides... absolutely killer!

I'm in the deep camp with the first pick guard.



I couldn't be more curious about the contraption that the guitar is set up on. Looks cool!

I'm not sure either but I'll give Robin a shout! I'm sure he would be more than willing to provide us with an answer considering how he has answered all my nitpicky questions! Haha

I'll keep you posted!

[twg1996]

Originally Posted by nootis

Beatuful guitar. I'm with you on those sides... absolutely killer!

I'm in the deep camp with the first pick guard.



I couldn't be more curious about the contraption that the guitar is set up on. Looks cool!

So, it turns out its a version of an Erlewine Neck Jig...a different version of it is on sale at stewmac:

http://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools..._Neck_Jig.html

[twg1996]

Sooooo Robin and his team took my guitar for a nice photo shoot session and they sent me the pictures these are some of my favourite!

IMG_3842 (1) by Juhan Song, on Flickr

IMG_3878 by Juhan Song, on Flickr

IMG_3797 by Juhan Song, on Flickr

IMG_3882 by Juhan Song, on Flickr

IMG_3818 by Juhan Song, on Flickr

IMG_3825 by Juhan Song, on Flickr

IMG_3903 by Juhan Song, on Flickr

IMG_3839 (1) by Juhan Song, on Flickr

I really cant wait until i get to play the guitar in a week or so. TOO EXCITEDD!!