When I started down this path my goal was to produce a guitar that is both resonant and responsive with an even voice both across the strings and along the full length of the fretboard. While nearly all the components of the guitar are customizable, the construction dimensions are key to the resulting sound profile and the most critical component is the flexibility of the top and back plates. Through trial and error, I’ve developed a system to measure both the flexibility (deflection) of the plates as well as their primary resonance throughout the build process, with specific targets for each at every stage of construction. The final thickness of each plate is hand-tapered and the braces are hand shaped to achieve this target flexibility and primary resonance.

Body Design

I have found the best results with a body size commonly referred to as a Grand Concert (GC) or Orchestral Model (OM):

-15” lower bout

-11.5” upper bout-

19” body length

-4” depth

-25.34” scale length

Top bracing pattern is a hand carved scalloped X-brace pattern with an inlet African Blackwood bridge plate.

Back bracing is a hand carved radial pattern that is instrumental to achieving the even voicing across the entire fingerboard I described above.

Every guitar includes a Florentine (pointy) cutaway and solid wood binding, end graft, and rosette.

Neck Design

My necks are carved from a single piece of solid Mahogany with a volute and choice of heel shape and neck profile. Each neck has a dual-action truss rod flanked by epoxied carbon fiber rods for exceptional stability.

The neck attaches to the body with a fully bolt-on joint, providing the following benefits:

- increased temperature and humidity stability

-eliminates the dreaded 14th fret hump

-ease of future maintenance without risking damage to the wood or the finish

Finish

A good finish needs to both durable and thin - a finish that's too thick will negatively impact tone. After experimenting with a half dozen finishes, including both hand rubbed and spray on varieties, my default finish for both the body and neck is a hand-rubbed modified linseed oil finish.*

*The only exception is for Sunburst guitars which will have a spray on lacquer finish .

Both finish types are buffed to a high gloss unless otherwise specified.

Set Up

Finally, each guitar will receive an action set up specific to the customer’s preferences and include a solid bone nut and saddle as well as solid bone bridge ins.