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I haven’t posted an instrument anywhere for a long time, but here’s one of two I’ve just recently completed. It’s inspired by pictures of a Weissenborn Model “D” Spanish style guitar that John Bernunzio had in his inventory a few years ago. It’s roughly the size of a Martin 12-fret O.
- Back, sides, neck, backstrap…curly Mahogany from Andrew Gribble at Hibdon. Thanks Andrew!
- Fingerboard, bridge… Madagascar Rosewood
- 24.9” scale
- Shop-made rope binding from Mahogany and Poplar. Kinda funky looking but it perfectly fit the vibe I was going for.
- Ladder-braced top (the original Weiss was probably X-braced) because I’m a blues player and wanted that sound and wanted to experiment some. My “original” top brace pattern turned out looking a lot like what Dave White had done!
- Another experiment was the 5-ply laminated spruce “flying buttress” brace, connecting the neck block to the waist. I like the idea of CF rods for this purpose, but seemed a bit too inorganic for this style.
- Nitro finish
- Initially I wasn’t overwhelmed with the sound. It opened up a lot over time. In fact I think it changed a lot during the course of a late night GAL jam! I did have to do a little re-voicing at the ends of the brace below the bridge plate after the guitar settled in for a couple weeks. But now it’s got nice volume and balance with particularly sweet trebles and a nice throaty midrange that I was hoping for. Great for Mance Lipscomb tunes in the key of “A”!

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WOW! What a sweet looking guitar. It looks so personal, intimate. You just want to curl up with it in your lap and play all night long.

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Aoibeann

Fun and impressive! Nice work, Loren.

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Carlton Macksam
Muskegon, Michigan

A cool original. Congrats!

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Loren,

Lovely little guitar - I like it a lot, I love small 12 fretters. The mahogany is sweet and I love the rope binding. Mahogany tops in my experience will take a little time to open out - you just need to play them lots - but you hear where they are going to go from first playing. No wonder you braced the top that way - it's a great bracing pattern The Aussie members will appreciate the use of a Boomerang in the upper bout

I think ladder bracing has got a bum rap and and am glad to see more modern builders taking it up with the benifit of modern ideas and techniques. It's very versatile. John How opened my eyes up to this and I'm very grateful to him for setting me along this particular branch of building.

Any chance of a soundclip or two at some stage?

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

What a beautiful instrument!

Thank you all for the kind words!

Dave...you're right about ladder bracing. It's way more versatile than I would have expected, and still just perfect for country blues. I can easily record something but will have to figure out how to host an MP3 somewhere.

Loren

Cool little guitar.
Love that top!

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Yes! Very cool guitar!!
nice job!!

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

I'm going to attempt to link to an MP3 sound sample. I, for one, will be amazed if it works!

http://www.garageband.com/mp3player?|pe1|S8LTM0LdsaSjaVC_Y2g

Loren:

Very cool. Love the figure in the mahogany, the binding, everything visual. I just repaired a Gibson LGO with ladder bracing and love the tone. Someone said "intimate" about your design and I think that describes the tone of the LGO if not yours. Of course the LGO mahogany is no where near as prime as yours.

Danny R. Little

Loren,

I got the sound clip to work using Firefox. Fabulous playing and that guitar sounds really good - just right for the blues playing. It has a nice growl and mid-range honk and I love the ringing clarity to the trebles. All that and there's only another 25 years until it really opens up

Post some more sound clips please - I love it!!

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

Thanks again for the nice comments!

Danny..I agree...a good old ladder-braced Gibson can be magic. I think it's the combination of sweet yet unsophisticated that works so well.

Dave...thank you for exercising the clip link and for your comments. Much appreciated!

Loren

Great looking guitar Loren!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Very, very nice Loren! I love everything about it from the sound port to the fantastic looking bindings. Hats off to you!

Andrew

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Hibdon Hardwood, Inc.
http://www.hibdonhardwood.com
1410 N. Broadway
Saint Louis, Missouri 63102
314.621.7711

What a gorgous insturment. But, the photos don't do it justice. I actually saw/heard you playing it at GAL. You were sitting across from the main exhibition hall on Saturday afternoon when I past by. Sparkling mids and the flame on that mahogany!! Inspired me to start a ladder braced small body of my own.