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
