Dream Acoustic Guitar Build#1: Cornerstone Zion

racman · 2010-04-15T08:12:53+00:00

A year or three ago I started formulating plans to have a custom Electric as well as a custom Acoustic guitar built for me. Although I researched both for some time (and posted threads on the potential electric build), I also researched Acoustic Guitar Luthiers and eventually built up a list of those that I was interested in. Over the last few months after making my major decision to focus on Acoustic, I narrowed the field down to a shortlist and final selection that has resulted in a now booked build slot that opened up due to a late cancellation in August 2010. The build will take between 6-12 months and will then hopefully result in a three acoustic guitar scenario with the Takamine "workhorse" and the custom build. (although this is subject to change at short norice so I'm not totally committed to the idea! ?) I thought that it may be of interest to some to start a thread from concept discussions excerpts to wood selections and discussions to the final completed build pics with sound samples etc. The commisioned luthier has committed to send regular build progress pics during the build process which I will post. We are currently in the process of wood selection and I have been sent some pics of available tonewoods for back and sides for selection purposes. Others will be sent soon for final consideration. I will post my initial requirement overview sent to a shortlist of 10 luthiers and include their websites details, my selection process as well as the reasons for my selection to start with. Will add next post later in the day ...

chris77

This deserves a still drooling bump....

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racman wrote

Well done PeterM!!

TomCat

Seeing these pictures makes me weak at the knees........ ? ?

Super cool looking there Roy......Can't wait to see it in the flesh. I know my BIL (Brother -in-Law) would do his nut.......

racman

@Chris77 - not quite. remember in Reply#123 I changed from the piece of Quilted Sapele in your post to a "special" piece of "Moonscape" Quilted Sapele that Peter had in his reserve stock! ? (But thx for the bump anyway ?)

@Tom - maybe we will eventually have that coffee after it arrives to show you "in the flesh" ?

TomCat

I'm Looking forward to it......waaaay overdue.

BTW I'm now on my own so time is a lot more flexible now..... ?

racman

Cool Tom, can you pm me your contact details again please. The guitar is due on the 24th (evening) - can't wait!!

singemonkey

Racman, to use a nineties-ism, that thing is frikkin' off the hook. ???

chris77

racman wrote @Chris77 - not quite. remember in Reply#123 I changed from the piece of Quilted Sapele in your post to a "special" piece of "Moonscape" Quilted Sapele that Peter had in his reserve stock! ? (But thx for the bump anyway ?)

My bad, but can you blame me? :-[ The awesomess is too much, I tell ya!!

PeterM really knows how to build them pretty hey, and if she sounds just half as good as she looks.... Nevermind the maloik emoticon, where the hell is the Green with Envy little smiley???

racman

I really need to start thinking about some sort of "reveal" in the next few months as I would love to let people who have shared the journey with me play and see the guitar. I am sure there may well be differing opinions which I am quite comfortable with as well.

Any ideas would be welcome.

singemonkey

racman wrote I really need to start thinking about some sort of "reveal" in the next few months as I would love to let people who have shared the journey with me play and see the guitar. I am sure there may well be differing opinions which I am quite comfortable with as well.

Any ideas would be welcome.

A national tour ?

racman

LOL ... correction: A SPONSORED national tour! ?

racman

Just realised ... 3 weeks to go!!!!

Should be more pics soon as well ?

racman

The neck in process. All I can say is ...WOW!!!

And look at that body wood - although they looked spectacular, I thought the pics from the "finishing" shop did not reflect the true color. I am in awe of Peter's work!!!: ? ? 8) 8)

Gearhead

??? no matching headstock?

racman

No, it doesn't appear so but I think it adds a unique touch to the guitar. But to each his own.

Many Luthiers don't match the headstocks to the body wood, but rather match it to the Binding (Ebony in this case), Heelcap and Bevel (Macassar Ebony on this Zion). ?

The Headstock (front) is Ebony, as is the binding, while the Ryan Bevel is Macassar Ebony as is the Headstck (back) and Heelcap.

guitarboy2828

racman wrote I really need to start thinking about some sort of "reveal" in the next few months as I would love to let people who have shared the journey with me play and see the guitar. I am sure there may well be differing opinions which I am quite comfortable with as well.

Any ideas would be welcome.

All I can say is don't go bringing that guitar too close to me, because I will take it and RUN as far away as I can.. Sigh, it's tooo beautiful!

In all seriousness though, I'd be SUPER keen to play it and try it out. Maybe you can just ship me the guitar to try out? :? haha, just kidding!

racman

guitarboy2828 wrote
racman wrote I really need to start thinking about some sort of "reveal" in the next few months as I would love to let people who have shared the journey with me play and see the guitar. I am sure there may well be differing opinions which I am quite comfortable with as well.

Any ideas would be welcome.
All I can say is don't go bringing that guitar too close to me, because I will take it and RUN as far away as I can.. Sigh, it's tooo beautiful!

In all seriousness though, I'd be SUPER keen to play it and try it out. Maybe you can just ship me the guitar to try out? :? haha, just kidding!

I can ship it anywhere for a test, no problem ... for a sizeable deposit of course.

Jokes aside, I may be bringing it to PMB and Durban in the next few months when I visit familly ?

guitarboy2828

racman wrote
Jokes aside, I may be bringing it to PMB and Durban in the next few months when I visit familly ?

That'd be awesome man, really would be the most highend guitar I've ever played, so would be a privilege for me to be able to play it. PLEASE PM me when you are coming into town and I'll meet you for sure!

racman

Will do, For some reason everytime I plan to visit or meet with a GFSA member, something happens and it all fall through. Hopefully this time, I'll get it right! ?

Norman86

She's gorgeous!!
What wood is the neck made from? (not the headstock part)

racman

The neck is made from Mahogany (slight figure to it) and is a 7-piece neck (with a thin strip of Cocobolo in the middle).

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