A great traditional Orchestra Model, October 2013

It's the best when a client designs such a classy instrument that you just can't wait to show it off. Such is the case with this Brazilian rosewood Orchestra Model with a Colorado blue spruce soundboard. Brazilian rw fingerboard, bridge, and landscape figure headplate. Flame Koa bindings really set off the rosewood. The blue spruce gives off a nice open tone and Brazilian provides it's trademark richness and complexity. I make my OM a bit deeper to bring out more bass, but otherwise it is very traditionally designed with light pre-war inspired bracing. A great fingerstyle guitar, I love this thing.
25.34" scale
1 3/4" nut, 2 3/16" bridge

Traditional OM 2013 

Stump salvaged Brazilian Rosewood, dramatic figure

A particularly nice Braz. RW peghead veneer with Hawaiian Koa bindings,
  hand-cut paua abalone logo, a Waverly tuning machines. Magnetic truss rod cover.

Simple and beautiful. An abalone ring and Brazilian rosewood bridge
 with bone bridge pins for clarity and sustain.

2013 A model Mandolin

I really enjoyed making this new A model mandolin. The top is carved out of moon-harvested Swiss spruce, a wood that produces a lively and responsive tone with a round bass. Since carved top instruments are inherently punchy, I used an X-brace to warm up the sound even more. The back & sides of this mando are birdseye-figure African Blackwood, a rare and desirable tonewood widely considered to be the best substitute for Brazilian rosewood. Blackwood imparts a reverberant, haunting tone quality that works beautifully in conjunction with the carved top. Lush chords and lyrical melodies are the strengths of this instrument, perfect for the O'Carolan music that this client enjoys. This is the third time I have used this crazy peghead wood, which is book-matched endgrain from a block of rare black & white ebony. A lot of work for a peghead veneer but it's totally worth it.

 Striking stuff, that black & white ebony. Waverly tuners, hand-cut logo

Birdseye African Blackwood w/sapwood. One-piece black walnut neck harvested by Mez' Dad.

X-braced for a warmer tone.

The new A model mandolin, carved European spruce (moonwood)  and African Blackwood back & sides.

Summer 2013

The green mountains have come alive for the summer! Flowers are blooming everywhere, wildlife is on the move, and I am finishing up two beautiful Brazilian Rosewood flat top guitars for some great customers.
     The first, a cutaway Della Volpe model (16" jumbo), is a gift of brotherly love from Greg to Steve. Steve builds shaker furniture, and designed a simple and elegant guitar with a timeless look.  I am inspired by my customers' enthusiasm and am looking forward to delivering this fine instrument, which has a moon-harvested Swiss spruce (picea abies) soundboard. For centuries foresters have harvested high-altitude spruce and maple trees during certain moon cycles in winter. This wood is less susceptible to change in humidity and has incredibly tight grain. The back & sides are of exquisite quartersawn old-stock Brazilian rosewood (dalbergia nigra) and has a clear and powerful tap tone.
    The second instrument is a fantastic Orchestra Model for a fellow who raced for Lotus in the 1960s. Rob's an easygoing guy who appreciates quality workmanship, and he has designed a classy guitar of Colorado blue spruce and salvaged Brazilian Rosewood. Blue Spruce (picea pungens) makes a great soundboard - responsive and balanced with a quick break-in time and powerful bass.  The back & sides of this OM are special, salvaged from a giant stump in the Amazon rainforest. Shades of blue, green, and violet in a converging grain pattern make for a dramatic backplate. A bit of abalone and flamed Koa bindings add striking contrast and beauty to this piece.
    I am also pleased to report that Advance Music in Burlington, Vermont will be showcasing one of my guitars this summer. This is a great store, so get on down to beautiful Burlington and go check them out! http://www.advancemusicvt.com  Many thanks to Mat, Mike, and Jeff from Advance for supporting Vermont-made musical instruments.
    Stowe is an amazing place to be in the summertime, so come on up for a visit!

inside a Della Volpe top