Taran Guitars Build - Tirga Mhor - Adirondack | African Blackwood

Scallywag · #1 02-19-2021, 05:31 PM

Hi everyone,

My Tirga Mhor Model is now on Rory's workbench so it's time to start a build thead and share the fun! This one is going to be very similar in stylings to the Tirga Mhor that Rory recently built for Martin Simpson, with a few differences that will reveal themselves as we go. The main woods are the same - Adirondack over some nice straight grained African Blackwood.

I became obsessed with this model when I first heard and saw one last year, so I quickly decided to pull the trigger on an available build slot through TNAG (thanks Ben!) Mine is being tuned specifically for fingerstyle, which is how I play exclusively.

Just wanted to get the thread going and post a few early photos. I'll share more details soon!

Thanks!
Matt

P.S. Rory, I know you're lurking about here someplace, feel free to chime in!

Nemoman · #2 02-19-2021, 06:29 PM

Yum--African Blackwood!

Love seeing Rory's builds--thanks for sharing your build!

Enjoy the ride!

Dustinfurlow · #3 02-19-2021, 10:21 PM

I have to chime in here because I played one recently that was essentially a MS clone as well and it really blew me away. No doubt one of the most special guitars I have played to date. I was really thankful to record a tune of mine on it as a memento. Not likely I'll see another for a long while. Rory is the man! Congratulations on your incoming guitar.

MThomson · #4 02-20-2021, 01:44 AM

Congratulations! I'm due up on the Taran build list in a couple of months and got to play the Martin Simpson guitar as we work out the specs for my build. It was phenomenal! The sound out of it was utterly massive.

Thanks for sharing the build, it'll help keep me amused till mine comes up. Hope you enjoy every minute.

cigarfan · #5 02-20-2021, 05:38 AM

Your African Black looks schweeet! Thanks for sharing your build. Look forward to it.

TomB'sox · #6 02-20-2021, 08:50 AM

Congrats, you are in for quite a treat once this reaches you. I believe my Taran was built just before Mr. Simpson's was started. I feel Rory used mine to get ready to build Martin's lol. You will love it.

steveh · #7 02-20-2021, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dustinfurlow

I have to chime in here because I played one recently that was essentially a MS clone as well and it really blew me away. No doubt one of the most special guitars I have played to date.

I just recently came across that video and was impressed by your comments, given the many and varied guitars you've played.

I have said elsewhere on this forum that I was "forced" onto Rory's list against my will by a guitar he brought along to an acoustic get-together in Summer 2019. I was absolutely not in the market for another steel-string, but Rory's instrument was so far ahead of anything else I'd heard from him previously that I just had to order one.

I only play fingerstyle and while some of Rory's guitars are clearly voiced towards a loud, frantic, sweaty, picking session in some remote Scottish pub, he has absolutely zero issues voicing his newer designs to suit a lighter touch. Indeed, it was exactly that which impressed me so much recently.

Cheers,
Steve

Dustinfurlow · #8 02-20-2021, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveh

I only play fingerstyle and while some of Rory's guitars are clearly voiced towards a loud, frantic, sweaty, picking session in some remote Scottish pub, he has absolutely zero issues voicing his newer designs to suit a lighter touch. Indeed, it was exactly that which impressed me so much recently.

Cheers,
Steve

I really felt like the Tirga Mhor I played could've handled some aggressive playing equally as well as the light touch and that's the mark of a great guitar, in my book.

MThomson · #9 02-20-2021, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dustinfurlow

I really felt like the Tirga Mhor I played could've handled some aggressive playing equally as well as the light touch and that's the mark of a great guitar, in my book.

That's been my experience with them too. The best way I've thought of to describe it is that I can't find the edges of the instrument (admittedly some of this is my capability). Played soft they ring and sustain, and then you can strum hard and they just keep getting louder without the sound breaking up.

Scallywag · #10 02-20-2021, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dustinfurlow

I have to chime in here because I played one recently that was essentially a MS clone as well and it really blew me away. No doubt one of the most special guitars I have played to date. I was really thankful to record a tune of mine on it as a memento. Not likely I'll see another for a long while. Rory is the man! Congratulations on your incoming guitar.

That’s the exact guitar that started this whole thing, the DS8. I tried to buy it but just missed out. Instead, I bought the next available build slot.

Dustin, I actually referenced your playing when discussing my own playing style with Rory, so it’s great to hear that the guitar worked well for you.

Hanter · #11 02-20-2021, 05:50 PM

Congratulations Matt. Every Tirga Mhor in this wood combination blows my mind, actually its every Taran for that matter! Definitely a luthier at the top of his game right now. Excited to follow along!

RodB · #12 02-21-2021, 02:14 AM

That’s some lovely Blackwood backwood!

It must be interesting yet tantalising to follow your own build. (I took a calculated gamble when Rory offered his ‘100th Instrument’ for sale, back in 2017 and am so pleased I did. )

The compression bracing added to what Rory could already achieve is intriguing...

Thanks for sharing this build - enjoy!

ianLP59 · #13 02-21-2021, 03:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveh

I have said elsewhere on this forum that I was "forced" onto Rory's list against my will by a guitar he brought along to an acoustic get-together in Summer 2019. I was absolutely not in the market for another steel-string, but Rory's instrument was so far ahead of anything else I'd heard from him previously that I just had to order one.

Cheers,
Steve

I have that guitar, DS6 a Tirga Mohr Malaysian Blackwood / master grade Adirondack. Great guitar.

That African Blackwood looks spectacular !

Cheers,

Ian

Scallywag · #14 02-24-2021, 01:34 PM

I've received a few more pics to share, of the rosette specifically. Rory has been asking clients what their favorite color is. I recalled in the Martin Simpson guitar thread that Mr. Simpson replied with, "kingfisher Blue." I liked that response and decided to follow suit with the bird theme. I have a few guitars with more common colors in the detailing already, so I went with something different.

Behold, the Violet Backed Starling.

Plenty to work with in those feathers. The result so far?

.

It's a combo of dyed blue wood and Purpleheart. One more purple strip will be added to then inner portion of the rosette. It'll then be bound in African Blackwood. Should give a nice effect! It’s not for everyone, but it makes me happy.

Matt

steveh · #15 02-26-2021, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scallywag

Rory has been asking clients what their favorite color is.

I did warn him that my favourite - and by far - is Seafoam Green, a notoriously difficult couour to get right and also to photograph. Well, he did ask!

Matt, you are very lucky to have yours on the bench. I was on Rory's website today, vicariously, and see that orders are now apparently being taken for early 2025. That's a 4-year wait by my reckoning.

As ever, it's always best to get updates re waits "from the horse's mouth" but you are very fortunate to have yours started. I know that it is going to be a great instrument.

Cheers,
Steve