Brentcgp wrote:
I went for a standard steel string, going to match the neck to my Larrivee and use this guitar exclusively in open tunings, Open D and G for fingerstyle.. That's the idea.
OK. I did something similar. My Morgan OM is very similar to a Larrivee, and I asked Mervyn to make me a neck the same width at the nut as the Morgan.
His standard neck has a slightly shorter scale length than the Morgan, is 1/8 inch narrower at the nut and has a completely different profile.
We ended up with the extra width at the nut and his standard scale length. My Smoothtalker retains the D profile that Mervyn uses but it's skinnier than his standard. Very comfortable. I was a little taken aback by the profile at first, but in fact I find it works well.
Brentcgp wrote:
I was so impressed to 'page' through pieces of Spruce and select what wood to use for my back and sides, for MY OWN guitar, as simple as it sounds, was one of the most amazing moments for me. When you love something as much as I do (and I hope many on this forum do to). I never thought something that simple could create so much silent gratification.
A really can't wait... It is going to be special...
I found it quite a puzzling experience. What do I know about wood? OK... Mervyn assured me that they were all good pieces and said there were unlikely to be major tonal differences between the various tops. I went for one that reminded me of the Morgan's top - it had lots of little rays crossing the grain. What I couldn't see, and what Mervyn didn't see until he applied the finish, was the subtle figure in the wood.
You're right, it is a nice touch. It gives you some input into your own guitar, a little bit of you in the instrument.
I've never seen a Jaywalker, but they sound like a variation on the Smoothtalker theme. The Smoothtalker is very well suited to fingerstyle playing with good separation between the strings and loads of sustain on the bottom end. They are also LOUD. I think this is because the top is so lightly braced and thus very responsive, and in fact you can overplay the Smoothtalker. It pays to just be a little softer with your right hand. You don't need to be an animal with in anyway because they have lots of volume and projection.
