Tech Talk - Paul Daniel McGill MKS Custom

This wonderous beast was custom built by Paul McGill using scrumptious Cocobolo Rosewood and some 40 year old German Spruce that Paul found years ago. The Headplate, heelcap, backstrip and rosette feature rare burled Box Elder with superb figure and colors. The headstock and top are bordered with Abalone. The voice is all McGill, big, bold projection thanks to Paul's unique bracing that incorporates internal struts add strength and allow for lighter top bracing. The trebles just leap out of this guitar and the bass is resounding. This is a real room filler and it's rich and beauitiful across the spectrum. This is a very special custom McGill Guitar.

Measurements
Body Size: Medium
Scale: 25.25 in. (641 mm)
Nut Width: 1 3/4 in. (44.45 mm)
String Spacing: 2 1/4 in. (57.15 mm)
Body Length: 19 3/8 in.
Upper Bout: 11 3/8 in.
Lower Bout: 15 1/8 in.
Serial #: 7
Body Depth @Neck Heel: 3 5/8 in.
Body Depth @Tail Block: 4 in.
Frets to body: 12
Woods & Trim
Back/Sides: Cocobolo Rosewood
Top Wood: Bearclaw German Spruce, 40 years old
Fingerboard: Ebony
Neck Wood: Mahogany
Bridge: Ebony with Dual Saddles
Rosette: Burled Box Elder and Abalone
Binding: Koa
Fingerboard Bindings: Ebony
Headplate: Burled Box Elder
Headstock Bindings: Koa
Headstock Inlay: Builder Logo
Top Trim: Abalone
Back Strip: Burled Box Elder
Fret Markers: None
Tuners: Nickel open-backed Gotohs
Tuner Finish: Nickel


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Tech Talk - LaPlante Classical - Concert, Classical, Nylon String Classical Guitar

David LaPlante is a well respected Luthier who is approaching his 100th instrument, a testament to his experience and love of the craft. LaPlante guitars are played by Muriel Anderson and other prominent concert artists. This particular LaPlante is a powerful guitar that will fill any hall. This is a great example of what aged and mature Spruce sounds like. Every note is articulate and bold with great expression and limitless power. The body is crafted from dark, rich Brazilian Rosewood for lush warmth as well.
Measurements
Body Size: Medium
Scale: 660 mm (26 in.)
Nut Width: 2 3/64 mm (2.05 in)
String Spacing: 2 13/32 mm (2.4 in)
Body Length: 19 3/8 in.
Upper Bout: 11 3/8 in.
Lower Bout: 14 3/8 in.
Serial #: 35
Body Depth @Neck Heel: 3 3/4 in.
Body Depth @Tail Block: 3 3/4 in.
Frets to body: 12
Woods & Trim
Back/Sides: Brazilian Rosewood
Top Wood: Spruce
Fingerboard: Ebony
Neck Wood: Mahogany, 1 Piece
Bridge: Brazilian Rosewood, String Through
Rosette: Mosaic
Binding: Rosewood
Fingerboard Bindings: None
Headplate: Brazilian Rosewood
Headstock Bindings: None
Headstock Inlay: None
Top Trim: Violin Lines
Back Strip: Lines
Fret Markers: None
Tuners: Sloane
Tuner Finish: Gold With Ebony Buttons


"I have developed my guitars after decades of building, utilizing time honored and traditional aesthetics joined with my own perception of optimal design and construction. My plantilla is based on an amalgam of Torres, Hauser and Romanillos as well as my own earlier designs. The #90 guitar is illustrative of this plantilla.

I use a domed construction technique which was developed by Torres and further refined through the work of and taught to me by Jose Romanillos. This allows for a solid natural spruce top, very thin, light, flexible and extremely responsive. Bracing is all aged German spruce in a pattern based on traditional Torres design with the modern addition of a treble bar. The addition of a single angled cut off bar, my own innovation, enhances a bright loud treble response and eliminates the problem of boomy unfocused bass.

Presently I’m using genuine German spruce for the top. This is a very special aged (30-40 years) material of which I have a limited supply. Backs and sides are Indian rosewood or Spanish cypress. Brazilian rosewood is also used on a limited basis. Necks are Spanish cedar with “V” joint headstock construction, a feature seen on only the finest guitars. The traditional bridge features the new 18 hole design. The highest quality tuning machines are fitted to all instruments and depending on price and aesthetic may vary. My typical favorites include Rodgers, Reischl and Sloane.

All guitars feature hand made rosettes of my own traditionally inspired design and execution as well as marquetry purflings to match on the more elaborate examples. Each guitar is individually concepted and built to be an extremely responsive and unique musical companion for the discriminating player. "
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How Guitars - Ladder Braced Grand Concert 00/Parlor

John How builds superb vintage style instrument inspired by the old Oscar Schmidt guitars. This one is a ladder braced Grand Concert that is the size of an L-00 Gibson. It has the wonderful woody sound that ladder bracing provides and it excels at blues, rags and bottleneck slide. For this one John How chose premium Curly Koa for the body and Lutz Spruce for the top. It sports a mustache bridge and Curly Maple bindings on the body, neck, and slotted headstock.

Model: Ladder Braced Grand Concert (00)
Back/Sides Wood: Curly Koa
Top Wood: Lutz Spruce
14 3/4" wide
25.4" scale
12 fret dovtail neck
1 13/16" nut
2 5/16" saddle
If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! - ”LIKE”

Tech Talk - ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons Rig Rundown

If anyone likes guitar gear more than me...it's Billy Gibbons. Here's a rare chance to look at a bunch of Billy's current gear. Elwood Francis who gives us a look at ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons' array of guitars, including the famous fur guitar, and lets us in on how Billy has everything set up for their tour.
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