DRUMMER CAFE - Community Forum

Don't worry- I'm not leaving the drums behind at all.  In fact I may be enhancing my abilities by getting more "in touch" with other instruments.  Many years ago I played guitar for about 3 years then switched to drums in 8th grade.  I met a guy in church who builds custom guitars under the name "Ashby"- not on the web- just word of mouth advertising- and I went to check out his wood shop.  I was very impressed with what I saw and the enthusiasm he had for building them.  He had about 3 or 4 on hand that I got to play (with what little chords I could remember C,G and D with a few others I remember how to form but don't recall what they are :-[).  I fell in love with a particular comination of wood in a guitar that I'd always wished I'd had the opportunity to own and now that time has come. 

I went by yesterday to look at my baby in the fetal stage of development and though it resembles a guitar, I got to really see what all goes into the process.  I've requested a Walnut back, sides, neck and head.  He gave me the choice of Spruce or Western Red Cedar for the top and after hearing about a story handed down by at least 2 other people probably I choose the spruce.  Seems he bought tops material from a supplier who got it from someone who built custom electric guitars.  If my memory serves me correctly the guy wanted the same wood used in some of Gibsons guiatars but received these materials used for tops in Martin guitars.  He didn't need them and they sat in his shed for 30-40 years.  Now why would that make me decide Spruce over Cedar?  Can't really say but that it sounded like a bit of interesting history that I'll have to tell others.  The contrast in dark sides and back with light colored top is visually pleasing as well.  After that decision Bill said he tended to favor the sound of a spruce top anyway. 

Now another cool thing is that I asked him if I could design the shape of the head.  He asked me to submit a basic drawing and he'd see if he thought it would work and he's agreed to my design with the addition of taking the angled corners I drew and putting a slight curve in them.  His reasoning is that the head of any guitar seems to receive the majority of dings, etc. and the laquer he uses wears better and chips less on rounded corners.  Basically the top row of tuners will be offset from the bottom ones (think in drum terms here of the offset lugs).  I know a photo would do this better justice but this is all I can afford at the moment. 

Now the edging on the bridge will match the shape of the tip of the head and also be done in walnut.  He's put in a simple rosette consisting of 2 black circles separated by a white one with blacl plastic edging and pick guard.  The fret board will be made of a wood I've never heard of before that builders are using in place of ebony.  Ebony is more of a solid near black color and this one has really dark grey as well as lighter grains too- once again- nice contrast- its called Ziricote.

Martin specs dreadnought style body with taylor specs bolt on neck.

I'm really looking forward to its completion and getting over again another time or two to see the building process in various stages.  I'm also looking forward to getting back to learning to play the instrument again.  I never owned a nice guitar- the couple I'd had to play were not well constructed- very difficult to make clean chords- a lot of fret buzz, etc.  These guitars he build are great and so smooth is the action that I'm really gonna love playing this.  It will be nice for anyone else in the household who might want to learn to have a quality instrument to learn on too.

well thanks for interest if you made it to reading this far.  Just had to give my enthusiasm an outlet

traitor. >:(

 ;D


congratulations, man. someday i'd like to get hold of an old guild starfire.

Here ya go Smoggy-

1960 Guild® Johnny Smith Artist Award™ Sunburst, Excellent, Hard, $12500.00 ...
www.gbase.com/Stores/Gear/GearList.aspx?GS=Y&

Its a callin' your name- just go get into your petty cash stash and its all yours ;D

Those are beautiful guitars

I don't know your present age, but it sounds like your planning a major change in your life or a very expensive hobby. What are your thoughts on this change, truely? Have you decided drums no longer cut it? I may have missed your point, if so I'm sorry.

No major change here really.  I was just posting about an upcoming purchase of a guitar from a friend of mine (he's the luthier).  Now I know that many can go on various sites to get custom built guitars like Ellis for one and pay thousands of dollars.  He's been building guitars for years and years but from a hobbyist position.  He's retired from a different more lucrative job and is doing this NOT from a money making perspective.  He simply loves to build guitars and pass that joy on to others by charging basically cost plus a little for labor.  Now if someone wants exotic woods, elaborate inlays and all that (not me) the costs can rise pretty rapidly then add costs for fishman electronics, if desired, but once again-not me.

My thoughts on the change are that I spend a significant amount of time at home.  Its always been a thought in the back of my mind to get back to playing guitar (for personal joy not performance quality).  I've used cheap guitars in the past with much beginners frustration and when I came across this older gentleman at church who I was told builds guitars it just sparked a bit of curiosity within me.  I got to meet with him years ago, we are both in the worship team now and with time we've become friends.  Now I'm not his golfing buddy or anything but there's a respect there for each others abilities, etc. and since having played on a few of his guitats the first time I went to check out his shop I was amazed at how easy it was to make all those chords I used to have success but trouble making long ago.  Now one of those guitars had a "sweet" sound to my ear and it happened to be a walnut guitar (hence my request for the same now).  Drums will always be part of my life but I live in a household with other people who don't always want drums being played and this would give me an added dimension to my musicality to re-take-up guitar thats much quieter, etc.  Its also very soothing and I do get in a relaxed mood playing drums sometimes as well- both can be very therapeutic and when I want to just go outside in the back yard for a bit and sit and think/play, etc.  I won't offend the neighbors or break a sweat moving the drums out to play.  My present age BTW is 42- I've been playing drums for over 25 years now and hope the next 25 will be as rewarding or better- I'm notquitting them REALLY but thanks for the concern.