NEW MODELS

Here are a few new models I intend to develop in the near future. Any other suggestions?

Scoop cutaway models
New design now available, see Cutaway options page.

Baritone
Now available, see 'Baritone' page!

Terz Guitar
Terz (rhyming with hertz) means 'third' in German. This is a treble guitar, tuned up a minor third (G instead of E). I built one of these with a student of mine and was blown away by the sound. If you love playing normal guitars with a capo and want something a little unusual you'll love Terz guitars. Now available, see 'Terz' page.

Nylon String
I am calling this model 'Nylon String' rather than 'Classical' or 'Spanish' as it will be a crossover style of instrument to suit the non-classical repertoire including Jazz, Latin, Rock etc. as well as offering a more easily amplifiable and easier to play guitar suiting players more used to steel string guitars or classical players who want to move on to a more modern style of guitar.

I am just about to build the prototype for this guitar (late '07) and the design I have come up with features classic proportions and a twelve fret neck joint but very much my own take on shape with a little more curvy stuff going on! The first guitar will feature a Scoop cutaway, my very contemporary looking 'New Standard' styling and a somewhat narrower neck than most Spanish guitars (48mm nut). I will also offer a version of the guitar with more standard Spanish style neck dimensions and shaping for classical players looking for something different. Construction style will be similar to some modern classical builders' with a combination of fan struts and extra transverse bars for a clear and deep tone without the uneven resonances that plague traditional instruments and without the honky, overly mid-range strong lattice strutting tone.

Bass
Acoustic bass guitars would need to be absolutely huge to really give proper power in the lower notes but in these days of pickups and recording a more standard size of instrument becomes more practical. I plan to use my Jumbo size but with a standard long bass scale of 863mm or possibly a little shorter. Carbon fibre will reinforce the relatively long thin neck. Available to order now, please enquire for prices and details.

Midi-Jumbo - MJ
To go along-side my newly redesigned 'Jumbo' I will soon be offering a new slightly smaller 'Midi-Jumbo' design. Similar in total width and depth to my most popular JOM size it will feature the tighter waist of a classic Jumbo guitar for a bright attacking tone with lots of presence. This guitar will be ideal for either mixed vocal accompaniment styles or alternatively for attacking percussive styles where a real ring and cut are needed in lower tunings. It will also make a very comfortable and easily amplified stage guitar. This model will in some ways replace my 'Slope Shoulder Dreadnought' which I have now decided to discontinue. I may also offer a full size 'Super-Jumbo' at some stage if there is demand for it (probably 17" / 430mm wide). Now available; own page up very soon.

'Slant' Electro-Acoustic
Available in both steel or nylon string versions my new skewed shape 'Slant' model will be a pure electro-acoustic guitar. There is a mock-up below to show roughly how it will look. Rather than being an extra solid and tinny sounding guitar like most electro-acoustics it will be built to be nearly as lively as a normal guitar but the extra sound-holes will significantly reduce the bass air resonance of the body to help control boominess and feedback at higher volumes. The design should allow more resonant and natural pickup systems such as the iBeam, K&K Pure and internal mics to be used with more success than in a normal guitar. Alternatively it can be used as a rock solid band guitar designed to compete with bass and drums by using more highly feedback resistant pickups such as; the Baggs Ribbon, Headway, Highlander or D-tar undersaddles or the Baggs M1 magnetic pickup. Available as soon as anyone wants to order one; first prototypes soon!

Slant mock-up, above.