Tuners arrived today just in time to string up this new Classic Concert Model and still be able to take some photos before I head up to Vienna tomorrow. I won't be showing this guitar at the festival this weekend as it is going on its own trip all the way to Colorado. Very happy with how it turned out! European spruce top, Indian rosewood back and sides, Spanish cedar neck, ebony fingerboard, slightly narrower custom string spacing, handmade Alessi tuners with roller bearings and ebony buttons.
Some Kind of an Experiment
Strung up this new guitar last night and I'm very excited about how it turned out. It was a bit of an experiment. I was feeling particularly reckless when I started it and I decided to pick out a relatively plain-looking top (though quite good in terms of stiffness and runout) and pair it with a weird-looking maple/rosewood/walnut back. The idea was to make something a bit more unconventional in aesthetic, but very traditional in tonal character. The bracing is close to a Torres, which gives it a loose and open sound, but with a bit more lateral stiffness that brings it closer to a Granada style guitar in my opinion; the high-end is just a bit crisper, but not stiff at all. The first string is nice and even up the fretboard and has a gradual clear decay. There is kind of a hollow breath to the sound.
I'll be showing this guitar at the Vinyl and Music Festival in Vienna this coming weekend. Here a link for more information: http://www.vinyl-music.at/
All Cleaned Up and Ready For French Polish
Cleaned this new Classic Concert model up today and started putting on the first coats of shellac.
Bracing Tops, Making Linings and Closing the Box
Here are a few photos and another little time-lapse video during the process of bracing soundboards, gluing in linings and fitting everything in preparation to close the box.
Vinyl & Music Festival Vienna!
I'm excited to be one of the few musical instrument makers participating in the Vinyl & Music Festival this year in Vienna. The event also happens to host the Vienna International Gig Poster Show. It looks like it'll be a lot of fun and the organizers are super nice, so come say hello and check out some cool stuff!
Website: http://www.vinyl-music.at/
Vinyl & Music Fest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/138969916834278/
Vienna International Gig Poster Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1826197334090756/
Bending Sides Time Lapse, Planing backs and New Rosettes
Here's a quick video of me bending a rosewood side. Below, are also a few photos from the last weeks of planing backs, sides and tops, and the newest rosettes for the coming guitars. One is a pretty straightforward Torres/Hauser inspired rosette and the other is kind of a cool simple rosette inspired by some of the older Viennese style guitars by Hauser Sr.
New Kevin Callahan Pieces
Just heard from Seattle guitarist and composer Kevin Callahan that he just set up a new publishing company. I encourage you to check it out. You can purchase some of his most recent compositions from the website in both PDF and print formats. Link below:
Making a Rosette
Getting back into the flow of things. Here are some photos through the process of making a rosette. Inspired by the Antonio de Torres FE09 owned by Miguel Llobet. It's become a classic design often used by Hauser and Velasquez. I've always been a fan of this motif, so I've done a number of different variations of my own often incorporating a little bit more color. This one includes Spanish cedar, walnut, padouk, ebony, rosewood, maple, cherry and dyed poplar.
First Guitar of the Year
Strung up the first guitar of the year yesterday and I'm very pleased with how it turned out. Big lively sound, an even response and nice loose singing trebles. All handmade rosette, purflings and bindings.
- Western red cedar top
- Indian rosewood back and sides
- Spanish cedar neck
- Ebony fingerboard
- 650mm scale length
- 52mm nut width
- Elevated fingerboard
- Alessi tuners with ebony buttons
New Review
Pretty happy about this review and photos from guitarist and designer Teppei Teranishi of the instrument that I made for him. Thanks!
"My dude @cadizguitars absolutely crushed it. I gave him a couple really loose ideas of what I wanted out of a classical guitar and let him take it from there. Spruce and walnut, perfectly understated with the tastiest details. Ridiculously beautiful craftsmanship. Magical sound. Every note sounds like a thousand unicorns singing in unison. Thank you Michael!!✨🦄🙌🙌🙌"