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 ...

hnuuhiwa

racman wrote Peter, I see all of the sets are marked "Moonglow" - what does that mean?

Hey Roy,

This same question was asked by tbondo, and here's how justonwo answered...

It's just really just super dark sinker redwood with a natural "burst" effect. The boards were harvested from a log in Northern California that had been sunken for over 100 years.

Check out the Ryan Ghost, which used a Moonglow top... http://www.ryanguitars.com/NewsandEvents/GuitarsForSale/TheGhost.htm

Aloha,

Hen

racman

That top on the Ryan looks great!!

A few more Sinker pics to come then we make our final selection ?

racman

Ok let's try again:

Here are all the Sinker Redwood top choices to select from:

Sinker1:

Sinker2:

Sinker3:

Sinker4:

racman

Sinker5:

Sinker6:

Sinker7:

Sinker11:

Ray

sinker 7

MikeM

6 for me. That is stunning!!

Sean

#5 for me ?

AlanRatcliffe

Looking at these sets is all well and good, but it's how they sound that matters. I think I would ask peter to select a set for me based on tap tones.

racman

Alan Ratcliffe wrote Looking at these sets is all well and good, but it's how they sound that matters. I think I would ask peter to select a set for me based on tap tones.

Aaaah, Yoda you truly be! ? ?

That's exactly what I've done already but I thought it would be fun to let everyone in on the choice. The pieces are also all shot in different light conditions so the only one who can really tell what they look like in person is Peter himself, but it's fun like this as well.

racman

Peter informed me that he selected about 20 sets from a choice of approx 100 sets a few years ago so all his sets have already been selected by tap tone.

All things being equal, I am still drawn to 3 & 11 but am very interested to see what he suggests.

AlanRatcliffe

In that case, I like the grain of #2, but #3 would also be interesting and #11 probably the most traditional looking.

hnuuhiwa

Hey Roy,

Are you looking for light colored, even colored, dark striping on the outside, striping on the inside (down the middle), dark colored? The examples that Peter has provided covers all those bases, so assuming the tap tone on all of them are great it really comes down to what visual aesthetics you prefer.

Personally, I like my sinker dark and with striping...but that's just me ?

Aloha,

Hen

racman

hnuuhiwa wrote
Are you looking for light colored, even colored, dark striping on the outside, striping on the inside (down the middle), dark colored? The examples that Peter has provided covers all those bases, so assuming the tap tone on all of them are great it really comes down to what visual aesthetics you prefer.

Personally, I like my sinker dark and with striping...but that's just me ?

I am probably leaning more towards a more traditional darker but reddish colour in the center with the "natural sunburst" effect on the edges. I think this would probably look better with the lighter Sapele. I am not too sure what a dark top would look like with the lighter sapele back and sides though - I can't seem to find any pics of this type of combo on the web to show this either ☹

racman

Ok, while I wait until I decide on the right sinker set, I need a few suggestions and advice as well.

1) Fretboard inlays/markers?
I am looking at possibly just a 12th fret inlay but was also thinking of no inlays or markers at all. What do you think and if just a 12th fret inlay what would you do if it was your build?

2)Rosette?
On this guitar we are doing (actually I am not doing anything - Peter is doing all the work ?) a Blue Paua abalone rosette and thinnish top purfling. One of the considerations is possibly a wood and Paua Abalone rosette? what do you think and suggest. My preference is just the Paua abalone rosette but I am intersted in what others suggest.

4) Tuners
The Gotoh 510's come in gold or black chrome (both with Black knobs). I was thinking the black chrome - what do you think or suggest?

5) Soundhole binding?
I was also thinking of Soundhole binding in the same ebony as the body binding - would this be too much or should I leave it natural?

6) Cutaway?
Ok here is where it gets interesting - Cutaway or no cutaway and if I should go for a cutaway - Florentine or Venetian?

Any other suggestions that I need to consider?

Ray

1. dots but not on the sides
2. is good
6. do you play up there?

racman

Ray wrote 1. dots but not on the sides
2. is good
6. do you play up there?

1) See I was thinking just small dots on the sides (for me to see what I'm doing ... ? ?)
6) Not really but now and again I venture into that 12th fret and beyond area. Without too much success I must say but I guess I'm more concerned about leaving it out and then later maybe regretting it seeing though this is a once in a lifetime build for me .................................I think ..................for now ? ?

hnuuhiwa

racman wrote Ok, while I wait until I decide on the right sinker set, I need a few suggestions and advice as well.

1) Fretboard inlays/markers?
I am looking at possibly just a 12th fret inlay but was also thinking of no inlays or markers at all. What do you think and if just a 12th fret inlay what would you do if it was your build?

I guess it depends on what you prefer...for me, I like fretboards that have color (cocobolo, ziricote, mac eb, etc) so I would have no problems going without inlays. If you like the clean traditional look (i.e. solid black ebony fretboards), then a 12th fret inlay might help to add just a touch of contrast. An inlay in wood matching the bindings, or in paua abalone to match the rosette might work. Side markers - yes, fretboard markers - not necessary, but up to you! ?

2)Rosette?
On this guitar we are doing (actually I am not doing anything - Peter is doing all the work ?) a Blue Paua abalone rosette and thinnish top purfling. One of the considerations is possibly a wood and Paua Abalone rosette? what do you think and suggest. My preference is just the Paua abalone rosette but I am intersted in what others suggest.

That might look nice....my preference would be for a thin abalone rosette if I were to do that. If you were to do a wood and abalone rosette combo, you could continue the theme by using the same abalone/wood combo for the purfling around the top - it'll cost you though ?

4) Tuners
The Gotoh 510's come in gold or black chrome (both with Black knobs). I was thinking the black chrome - what do you think or suggest?

I'm partial to gold if the guitar is not "dark" (i.e. ebony, mac eb, ziricote and a dark sinker top). If it was "dark" then I would prefer the black chrome, but either will look great!

5) Soundhole binding?
I was also thinking of Soundhole binding in the same ebony as the body binding - would this be too much or should I leave it natural?

Bind the sound hole, its a nice clean look. I didn't bind the one on my Zion, primarily because Peter likes to have the sound hole unbound when he does a double top (so both tops - inner and outer - are visible).

6) Cutaway?
Ok here is where it gets interesting - Cutaway or no cutaway and if I should go for a cutaway - Florentine or Venetian?

Not needed if you don't play up the fretboard, having said that I usually get a cutaway because I like the look...plus, like you said..you may need it later ? My vote is for a Florentine.... BTW, you'll see a lot of the Ryan influence in Peter's builds (similar body cutaway style, neck heel, the use of Kevin's A4 for kerfing and I believe he also uses Kevin's Zipflex abalone purfling). It's probably a by product of their friendship...in fact, I not only have the first All-Koa Zion, but I probably have the only Zion with Ryan Gotoh Delta 21:1 tuners ?

Any other suggestions that I need to consider?

There will be more I'm sure....heh heh....

MikeM

I think you hit the nail on the head wrt inlays. On the side and 12th fret only.

racman

MikeM wrote I think you hit the nail on the head wrt inlays. On the side and 12th fret only.

Any suggestion for the 12th fret inlay?

I was thinking something like this in Blue Paua Abalone:

Come on where are the creative people here?

MikeM

Well it should be symbolic to you man. Ever wanted to get a tattoo? ?

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