Model S
The brief I set myself was a tricky one - "How can I make a more affordable instrument without compromising the sound, the playability or the quality of the materials?" What I came up with was the Model S.
In the past, the cheapest acoustic guitars have been all Mahogany – these instruments can be built without binding – the most time consuming job of guitar making. But with the Model S, I have kept the materials the same as my standard instruments - European Spruce and Indian Rosewood.
The delicate Spruce edge is protected by simple binding, dyed black wood. The soundboard decorated with a simple single ring rosette and top purfling of black, white and red veneers. NO back binding or back purfling.
The veneer from the back of the head is omitted as is the ebony heel cap, whilst the head face veneer is black fiber board – this adds a rather smart, stark look to the guitar. The head is a new design that fits the narrow stock of my Cuban Mahogany – normally the heads are winged either side and then supported by the head veneers front and back.
Stripping away the decoration allows me to lighten the interior linings which makes for a light and responsive instrument, the bracing has been modified a little but basically this is the racing version of my standard work…my only fear is that some may no longer order my more expensive models!
日本語で質問したい方はこちらまで: britishguitar1@yahoo.com
Materials
Top — European Spruce
Back & Sides — Indian Rosewood or Figured Maple as STD. Upgrade possible -
Camatillo Rosewood, Cocobolo, Panamanian Rosewood or Old growth Brazilian upgrade
Neck — 1908 Cuban Mahogany as STD. Indian or Sonokelling Rosewood upgrade
Fingerboard and Bridge — Ebony
Tuners — Gold Gotoh as STD. Blake Robson to Forster design upgrade, or upgrade with Gotoh 510's
Purfling — White, red and black veneers on top
Any colours or decorative slant check upgrade
Binding — Black dyed wood on top only
Nut and Saddle — Bone
Pickup — Optional
Case — Calton or Hiscox
Dimensions
Max body width — 390mm
Body Length — 490mm
Depth — 110mm
Nut — 45mm
Bridge spacing — 57mm
Scale — 648mm