Dream Acoustic Guitar Build#3: Baranik Meridian

racman · 2012-08-31T09:25:28+00:00

Well, it's that time again and we are about to begin my third in a three guitar rollercoaster ride of "Dream" Acoustic builds! This “Dream” started some 15-20 years ago but started to gather momentum about five years ago when my “research” started. I embarked on the first journey a few years ago and commissioned all five builds within a year with estimated completion schedules until 2015. The first two have been completed with the build thread links in my signature. Both have been a resounding success in my opnion and are just fantastic guitars with superb tone and build quality. As should have been expected once I received the first two completed guitars I took a more critical look at what I had planned for the remaining three and after much deliberation, cancelled a few and started the search again for the remaining builds. I had felt that the builds needed to be complimentary and none should by design render any of the others redundant (Much like having a LP, Strat, Gretsch, Tele and 335 or 175 I suppose). All of the remaining builds I had commissioned would have resulted in great guitars but I thought that my needs and desires had changed somewhat as to what I wanted out of the “collection”. I must say that I have never been one of the “which is better” people and rather see each Luthier bringing a unique signature tone and style that may deviate to a certain degree from his own internal reference point. Over the two builds that have been completed I have learned so much about many aspects of the acoustic guitar, tone woods etc. but probably the most significant aspect I have learned is to provide as much communication on what I like and dislike and then trust the Luther’s opinion on the important aspects. One of the Luthiers whose name kept on rising to the surface in all discussions and research I conducted was that of Mike Baranik. I contacted Mike and after much discussion, the build was scheduled for September 2012. An article/informative with Mike can be found here: http://acousticmagazine.com/news/interviews/618-mike-baranik More to come… ?

racman

Of course I was going to say that it was a high frequency soundport that only passed through signal from the 12th, 13th & 14th frets... ? ? ?

Norman86

lol.. of course ?

racman

For some reason, the soundport images are not showing (must be a Photobucket issue again). Anyway, here they are again - basically Mike plugs the hole with Spalted Maple which he will rout out to form the soundport binding later on:

More pics on the way ...

racman

Colorado Blue Spruce top with rosette:

racman

Mike makes his own Kerfling strips:

Installing:

racman

Fine tuning the back bracing:

Nicholas-L

Oh wow Roy. It's looking amazing. :goodtimes:

chris77

Man Roy, these pics are real teasers. ?

I can't wait to see how she looks when she's finished and all the little motifs come together!

racman

The making of the Soundboard braces and the start of the bracing pattern:

racman

More work on the soundboard bracing:

Hope someone is enjoying seeing this come together and a glimpse of what goes into building this...besides me :-[

rikus

RoyC wrote Hope someone is enjoying seeing this come together and a glimpse of what goes into building this...besides me :-[

Absolutely! I've said it before, you really know how to pick your luthiers.

Reinhard

Keep the pics coming! ?

StefStoep

Reinhard wrote Keep the pics coming! ?

+1

i love the building threads.

DDR4LYF

Reinhard wrote Keep the pics coming! ?

+1

I'm lovin' it!

racman

Top Bracing done:

Assembling the box:

Florentine Cutaway cut:

flatfourfan

Oh man this is gorgeous............seriously high grade of work being done here.

racman

Really coming together now. The Blue Spruce top looks like fantastic ?

rikus

Man, that is gorgeous. What is the ETA on this beauty?

racman

ETA is end June. Can't wait! 8)

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