|
|
Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 970
Location: Atlanta,Ga. | For those of you who have e-mailed me and asked about the progress of the all wood adamas slothead guitar.Its almost done,last week .Neck and body join together this weekend.Bridge will be installed,then tuners, strings and first test run.Here are some pics of the body after it was buffed out.You can go to my gallery and see all the pics from day one.Its under samova and then project..
carved heel close up
back and sides,flame koa binding
top and sides
headstock without trus cover
 |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Sam, except for all those 90 degree angles, that is a thing of beauty!!! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2003
Posts: 146
Location: Ct./ USA | I think you have the wrong body, that not a round back. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | god, I hope that sounds as good as it looks. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Wow. What a beautiful guitar. :cool: |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | Awesome inspiration, persperation and execution!
That is a milestone .
What are the strings of choice going to be? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 970
Location: Atlanta,Ga. | Mike, im thinking about using the new martin SP fingerstyle strings but am open to suggestions.I will probably go thru 5-10 different strings brands the first month until i find the ones that sound the best on this guitar. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | For something that big and georgeous I'd start with some Phosphor Bronze bright. The ones that only last a few days.
Then the EXPs for longevity. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 640
Location: boulder | i'll admit, i am jealous. it had me at the wood binding...mike |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 2793
Location: Atlanta, GA. | A beautiful instrument indeed!
Acoustic only? or, do you have some electronics stashed away for it? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 5332
Location: Bluffton, SC | Wow - stunning job, Sam. Can't wait to hear just how incredible it sounds ('cause you just know it's gonna be incredible). |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 970
Location: Atlanta,Ga. | I cant wait to hear it as well.This had better be good after one and a half years.It is acoustic only....for now! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 1017
Location: Budd Lake, NJ | Absolutely breathtaking. Is there any way you could give us a closeup of the epaulets? Angled the way the shot is, I don't think I'm fully appreciating the craftsmanship involved. (I have a mental image of a maitre d' in a tux and white gloves presenting it on a velvet-lined silver trolley every time someone is going to play it...it's got that much class.)
Congratulations,
Karen |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Amazing project. To say I'm jealous would be an understatement. Glad Sam is putting some of my money to good use. Dave |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2002
Posts: 1900
| Are the back and sides Walnut or Rosewood? Whatever the wood it's got quite a deep finish, like multiple coats of lacquer... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 970
Location: Atlanta,Ga. | The sides and back are solid indian rosewood hand selected by me.I picked what looked the best while he tapped the woods for sound or whatever it is these luthiers do that is so magical by tapping wood?The top on this guitar is an actuall spruce top from ovation factory.It was about 15 years old when i got it and it was at my home another 5 years along with about 15-20 other tops.The luthier selected the best top from the bunch by checking how streight the grain was cut and by doing his magical little tap test.I just knodded my head and pretended to hear what he heard.. I will have better pics from every angle when i pick it up next week.. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2003
Posts: 146
Location: Ct./ USA | I would rather hear a shallow bowl LX with a carbon TOP than any wooden flat back guitar. Sorry, but to me wood is not what The Adamas sound is all about. But I must say.......hey want a real tip, use a black heal cap, and more walnut, I seem to detect some mahogany with walnut veeneer and the head stock scroll really looks like the real thing, nice job. However the heal scroll is close to the real thing, not as much detail. I study this stuff all day. The eppaletts are really cool, exllent job, will you be applying for a job at Ovation? Please post a sound sample WITH YOU SINGING.....detailz man |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | ...so... that was kinda funny. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 970
Location: Atlanta,Ga. | The adamas sound is not what i was after.If i was i would have bought an "ADAMAS".If this guitar has the "Adamas Sound" then this project is a failure.Dont get me wrong i love my adamas guitars especially my slothead # 57 but this was an experiment to find out how a traditional wood body guitar with the adamas multi soundhole eppalettes will sound.I have always been curious about this and invested the time and money to have one built..Next week i will find out the sound results.Although this guitar has many features close to the slothead adamas,it is very different in many ways and we changed many things on the guitar that makes it clearly not an adamas.The bracing is the most evident.And no i do not plan to apply for a job at Ovation.I could not afford the paycut.. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 970
Location: Atlanta,Ga. | Here is a pic early on during construction showing the bracing.Very different from the quanted bracing on elites and adamas
And here is a pic of the floating brace on the upper bouts.It gives stability to the top and allows more vibration.Its unusuall but my luthier swears it works.
 |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2004
Posts: 2487
| Interesting project Sam. I can say I have always been curious to know what that great Ovation Adamas image would sound and "look like" if surrounded by a more traditional body style.
I have to say I am blown away buy the fact that you would take this kind of time and effort to finally solve this question for yourself. I applaud your effort! Amazing work. And you have taken the time to do it right with a fully carved slothead and wonderful body binding and wood selections.
Nicely done.
Acoustic guitar construction is something I have yet to try.
I wish you all the best with the sound quality. I'd love to play this one myself someday.
Randy |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | I think this worth an Acoustic Guitar magazine feature...
Have you thought about it?
(I guess you'd run the risk of folks saying, "with a sound this good it's a wonder why Ovation hasn't been making guitars like this all along") |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 970
Location: Atlanta,Ga. | Jeff,we are thinking alike. i actually have already sent an e-mail to acoustic guitar magazine this weekend.I will send them some pics as soon as i get the guitar in my hands and can take some quality pics. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 3411
Location: GA USA | Will he take a job at the factory? I doubt he could take the pay cut, plus they don't have a baseball team! I guess Coach Sam could start one... :)
Maybe if the wooden roundback ever gets here I can see this beauty when I bring it over. And try to have the doubleneck Deacon. I missed it the other time I was there.
Great work, Sam! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 382
Location: USA | absolutely beautiful...
When do they start production ;)Sign me up...
http://www.myspace.com/styllheartandsoul |
|
| |
Adamas project progress
