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 ...

Bob-Dubery

Gee, I'm going to stop feeling so sorry for that guy whose Smoothtalker was a piffling 5 months late. ?

[deleted]

X-rated Bob wrote Gee, I'm going to stop feeling so sorry for that guy whose Smoothtalker was a piffling 5 months late. ?

2X the expected date ! Ay

Ah but let me hand it to him, the wait is worth it. The weather has been ridiculously wet. He is busy. plenty to catch up etc...

Its not that bad...

But to be honest, you do lose a bit of the excitement as time goes on.

Only to be reignited when the message comes through "Ready for collection" ??? :-[ ? ? 8)

Peterm

Not the same woods but close in figure and color....
Just an idea I say....

racman

Thx Peter, that Baritone build is looking stunning!

Bob-Dubery

What I found interesting was that the bindings are bold and, it seems, a little more substantial than usual. But with the top and sides being so similar in colour the bold bindings produce a good effect.

racman

X-rated Bob wrote Gee, I'm going to stop feeling so sorry for that guy whose Smoothtalker was a piffling 5 months late. ?

Confirmed this weekend that build is still scheduled to start in August. Only 2 months to go before we start seeing pictures of my Zion!!

I also need ideas for simple but different sound port designs so if you have any please post here.

Bob-Dubery

Mr Racman Sir,

When are you going to start telling us about this Bashkin that's mentioned in your sig?

Yours nosily,

X-Rated Bob

racman

X-rated Bob wrote Mr Racman Sir,

When are you going to start telling us about this Bashkin that's mentioned in your sig?

Yours nosily,

X-Rated Bob

? ? ? I was wondering who would notice ? (Although I must say that I changed the thread title to "Dream Acoustic Guitar Builds" a few weeks back without detection!

Yip, then I'm done after that but it is such a long wait I will only start discussing muuuuuuuuch later.

[deleted]

I see it's a fan fret too ? NICE!

If... or rather when I decide to have my dream acoustic build done, it's going to be a fan fret... What I am not sure is who (There are SO many great luthiers)
Was thinking I should ask Marc Maingard if he could do one for me...

Larrivees' serve all my acoustic needs better than most.
So the Dream build will have to be something really special and different...

Racman I am green.... very green..... ?

Squonk

Brentcgp wrote Larrivees' serve all my acoustic needs better than most.
So the Dream build will have to be something really special and different...

Racman I am green.... very green..... ?

Say no more, I hope these will be on display at TJ's or some other function ?

Brent how far is your Mervyn Davis????

Bob-Dubery

Squonk wrote Say no more, I hope these will be on display at TJ's or some other function ?

Here's a better idea. Racman will organise "Racstock" and then we can all go along there and ~~give those guitars a good thrashing~~ help him with the "playing in" process. ?

Brent how far is your Mervyn Davis????

Now you've gone and spoiled his day.

racman

Brentcgp wrote

Larrivees' serve all my acoustic needs better than most.

Hey, my Tak serves my NEEDS better than most as well. But then again this doesn't have anything to do with NEEDS or ability.

Whether it is just for my ears only (except for the reveal at X-stock of course ?) or not is not the issue. I must admit that I don't for one minute regret the impulsive purchase of the Morgan as I get such pleasure out of making some form of music from it and appreciating it's craftsmanship and tone. And this is after all what music is all about to me - the enjoyment of owning a fine instrument. I am so looking forward to the Cornerstone and Bashkin ... then I'm done ..........

...I think ?

[deleted]

X-rated Bob wrote
Squonk wrote Brent how far is your Mervyn Davis????
Now you've gone and spoiled his day.

+1

Only Mervyn knows :'(

[deleted]

Brent, how far is your Ratocaster?

[deleted]

Stratisfear wrote Brent, how far is your Ratocaster?

Only Alan and I know ?

[deleted]

racman wrote
Brentcgp wrote Larrivees' serve all my acoustic needs better than most.
Hey, my Tak serves my NEEDS better than most as well. But then again this doesn't have anything to do with NEEDS or ability.

Whether it is just for my ears only (except for the reveal at X-stock of course ?) or not is not the issue. I must admit that I don't for one minute regret the impulsive purchase of the Morgan as I get such pleasure out of making some form of music from it and appreciating it's craftsmanship and tone. And this is after all what music is all about to me - the enjoyment of owning a fine instrument. I am so looking forward to the Cornerstone and Bashkin ... then I'm done ..........

...I think ?

Oh I have to agree with you, What I was saying is that for me personally my custom built must be a fan fret... "normal" guitars, (Larrivees') I am so fond of that not even a Ryan could keep my hands off a them.. So I would want something totally different to satisfy

Needs and ability do not apply here either ?

But one day when I'm big... one day

racman

About a month to go before this thread starts "hotting up" with build pics and I can't wait!!

Just to add a little interest I thought I would post the pic of the Cocobolo set that we've selected for the Bashkin Placencia OM Fan Fret due to start in Aug 2011. Michael (Bashkin) let me know this morning that it has arrived and that it looks great "in the flesh". This will probably be paired with a Adirondack top.

The piece is big enough for a Dreadnought as you can see, but the guitar will be his Placencia OM model with probably a florentine cutaway but that is undecided at present - still got plenty of time for those decisions ?. The center sap wood will be trimmed to be only about 2cm wide at most, but it forms a natural center stripe.

http://www.bashkinguitars.com/

zohn

? Wow Racman that is pretty!! Cocobolo is my favourite Rosewood. It should be a great combo with the Adi top.
What material for the finger board and bridge? - and the rosette?

racman

zohn wrote ? Wow Racman that is pretty!! Cocobolo is my favourite Rosewood. It should be a great combo with the Adi top.
What material for the finger board and bridge? - and the rosette?

We will still figure those aspects out but the rosette will definitley be Michael's trade mark: "Torched and segmented curly Mango rosette with water buffalo horn dividers. The water buffalo horn is semi-transparent and you can see the grain of the top underneath. "

racman

Ok, back to Dream build #1 - Cornerstone Zion!!!

So not long to go now and then the long wait while it's being built but I know Peter will keep me up to date with ongoing build pics.

We decided on this rosette that Peter has recently completed. The Paua Abalone purfling on the top will be the same width which should make for a great look. Still deciding on whether to do soundhole binding or not but plenty of time to decide still.

I think it's going to look stunning, but then I may be a tad biased ? ?

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