Official Luthiers Forum!

My thanks to Ed Minch (Ruby50), who passed recently, for his input and help.
Early L-0 shape, 13.5" lower bout. X braced, 12 fret, 24.75" scale length.
Euro (moon) Spruce over Black Limba, Maple neck, Ebano bindings.
Schertler tuners, Ebony FB and bridge, Spalted beech rosette.
Finish - Enduro Var Gloss over BSI Finish-Cure epoxy.
Should meet the owner tomorrow, this was commissioned over the phone due to Covid
I hope he likes it......
My first attempt at inlaying MOP headstock and 12th fret. (please forgive the grubby marks)

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

I mean this in a completely positive way. But that is a very sweet and cute little instrument!

The neck looks especially nice. How's the sound?

It’s lovely, Colin…. And that neck!


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Pretty sweet and balanced, punchy, but still tight of course, should open up really well I hope.
Black Limba sounds just like Mahogany I've been told.
The only person who has played it so far (my neighbor) said anything could be played on it, it had a "versatile" sound.
Not at all like the L-0's I've seen on you tube - closest I heard played there was a Collins 01.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Thanks Brad.
Hit it lucky with that neck - last high flame one he had (actually, it's Acer pseudoplatanus to be precise, European Sycamore, but the client wanted Maple)

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Looks really good and like the others, gotta say that neck is an awesome stick of wood!


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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Beauty guitar Colin.
Sad to hear Ed has passed, tho.

Lovely guitar Colin,
The black limba is quite beautiful as is the guitar overall.

So sorry to hear of Ed's passing. He was a truly fine person. I met with him on a couple of occasions and got to talk old tools , guitar making and boat building. He gave my brother and I a tour of the Sultana - a replica of the smallest schooner ever commissioned in the British Royal Navy, and a vessel he helped crew. It was another of his many varied interests and passions. The last time I met with him he had acquired some special wood that he was quite excited to build with. Sadly, I don't think he got the opportunity to use it. I hope his daughter, Mamie, will accept this legacy and continue the tradition of fine instruments her father began.
Please forgive my departure from the main topic of the thread, Ed Minch was someone you only had to meet once to know what a fine person he was.
I made a tracing of one of the L-O guitars Ed built and will build to that design soon. I hope it turns out as nice as what you have done.

I didn’t catch that first time around. That’s sad news about Ed. What a lovely guy. I read in the obit that the ship was named Ruby. Sail on.


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Hi Brad,
Ruby was the name of the sailboat that he and his brother built - a man of many talents!

I think I've only seen necks like that on some violins. Very cool. I like the shape of it. I have no idea what all the letters and zeros mean! The one in the background is wider and flatter. That much I know. The rounder body, and tighter waist of this outline is very nice. And the bridge seems like it is in a better place. That is the result of a 12 fret neck instead of a 14? It looks better.

I was just thinking about Ed a couple days ago. I saw on my profile that I had no friends online. I have friends? Cool. I don't know forum protocol, like thanking and that sort of thing. I thought of who could I add as a friend, and Ed was one of the handful that I've talked with. He seemed like he was like me in that he questioned a lot of things. I didn't add anyone. It would have been awkward.

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Why be normal?

Man I am so saddened to hear that Ed passed away. I missed reading that earlier as I think I was enamored with the pictures.

We should run a little memory thread or something for him

I corresponded briefly with Ed last year when he sold me his copy of Hans Brentrup’s book. He seemed like a great guy, so sorry to hear about this.

I learnt about Ed's passing in the Off Topic section. http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10112&t=54281
I felt something should be posted n the main forum, and this particular build was greatly helped by a PM exchange with Ruby50.
He had built 3 x L-0's, and was guided by another builder experienced with them.
He freely passed on advice he had received, and supplied details of his own builds, links to bracing pics, etc.
I should also mention that the build was also somewhat influenced by Bruce Sexauer's recent posts about his smaller builds. Wish he posted more.
This build would not have been so successful without all the above guidance, and thanks to this forum, now seems to be making the owner a very happy man.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

A brief article about Ed:
https://chestertownspy.org/2021/07/29/r ... -ed-minch/

Colin,
Good to hear the new owner likes the guitar. It makes parting with the guitar a little easier when the new owner is happy with the work.

Clay, thanks for the link.
We're not the only ones who will miss him.

Yes, makes parting with the guitar easier when it's appreciated and knowing it will be played well.
I liked it very much myself and will be building more, 13 and 14 fret ones too.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Hello Colin, the guitar is lovely!!! Black Limba with that curly neck!!! And I love that old Gibson shape!!! Cheers old man I hope your doing well… I’ve started a guitar… I’ve been missing an old guitar that I built and circulated around among players many years ago…it had a certain liveliness…I posted clips of it here somewhere years ago and I finally gave that guitar away to a player who is much more player than I’ll ever be in exchange for hearing it played by said player…video evidence somewhere…
Good to see you still about Colin!!!

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

Wow. Sad to hear that Ed passed. I bought some chisels and planes from him last year and he was very helpful and a pleasure to deal with.
He will be missed.

In my surprise about Ed's passing, I forgot to even mention how great your guitar looks.