Official Luthiers Forum!

About 8 months ago I had a client that wanted a new guitar.   He kept looking through my zoot but nothing really grabbed him. He wanted a guitar that was unique and different. One that said "wow" Well he saw my all lefty that I built and finally he said..."thats it!!!" It is basically done. Needs action and intonation and pickups done.

The stats:
Guitar #14
OM 14 24.9
5A Koa Backs and sides and top - LMI
Paua Abalone Rosette and purflings - Andy DePaule
Tuners - Waverly Golds with Koa knobs
Ebony Fretboard and bridge
Ebony Binding
Finish - Cat Urethane - Tony F
Pickups K&K
New Logo - My wife and John W

Thanks for looking

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Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

WOW, once again, I love the bursted neck!

That is a very striking guitar. You just know, even before you pick it up that it's going to sound great!!!

Well Done

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

Whoa, Andy, that's one stunning piece of work!

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Bravo, Bravo!

Just absolutely fantastic work!

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Christopher C. Cordle
North Muskegon, MI

http://www.yardsaleunderwear.com
http://www.facebook.com/christopher.cordle

Fantastic, awesome looking guitar Andy, love the paua abalone rosette and purflings, it looks astonishing together, you're no longer a newbie my friend but becoming a MASTER!

Great looking neck too, this axe must be sounding great?!

WOW!

Brings tears

Yeah, it's that nice huh?

Thanks all
Early results...sounds pretty good. This is the 1st 3/16th saddle that I have used. Thanks HESH for the tutorial on widening the saddles etc.

I still need to intonate an lower the action

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Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

That's awesome. I'd love to hear more about how you worked with this
koa top. Did you do anything differently? What were you looking for in
the tap? Did it tap differently than a spruce top?

Cool, Andy.
That is a beautiful guitar. Gonna put your label in the soundhole?
Coe

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Give me 50 cents worth of regular.
Check my oil too, if you don`t mind,,,

Andy, that's a beaut. You're cranking them out about as fast as Hesh. I was surprised with the Koa-topped guitar that I built how nicely it sounded. Not like spruce, but still very pleasing. Would love to get your opinion of the sound compared to the spruce guitars you've built.

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Looks great Andy, all around its a great looking guitar. The only element that looks out of balance to me are the large intials at the 12th fret. I could see that being a sofer finer font, maybe even a script. That said, I am a little anal about that kinda stuff

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Thanks again for the kind words
Lance I think you are correct. I too would have preferred a softer font, but
that is what the customer wanted.
Yes Coe, I will put a label on it.   I do that at the end when it is totally done
and I am putting a fresh set of strings on it.

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Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

   Beautiful guitar Andy !. The Paua and Koa combination is striking .

Could you slow down a tad Andy ! Makes me feel like I'm going at a snail pace. I like that 3/16" saddle.

Congrats and great work

Craig Lawrence

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CRAIG LAWRENCE of AUSTRALIA
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Amazing Andy - another marvellous geetar man, what a guy - your really cranking them out - keep up the good work!
Cheers
Charliewood

Very nice guitar. I particularly like the black on the heel and the fade out to the back of the neck. That neck shading is just great!

John

Andy -- nicely done! Overall it sure as a majow WOW effect.

As Steve Kinnaird asked, how would you compare the the sound of an all Koa OM to that of a spruce topped one?

BTW: Is it my failing eyes or from picture #6 - it looks like the tuning gear placement isn't symetrical?

Koa tops seem to be a bit brighter than cedar and not quite as bright a
spruce. (my opinion only) Currently this guitar is very bright but need to
break in.

Anthony...it is just the angle of the shot....the tuners are straight.

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Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

Very beautiful guitar! That koa ia Soooooo purdy!

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Andy
WOW!!! is the first thing I would say.
Stunning looking guitar.
Nice finish and shell work also.

Tom

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http://www.moriciguitar.com

Thanks Andy. Reason I ask is that I've only played two all Koa guitars. The last one was an old Martin O and it sure sounded nice though wasn't able to compare it to another on the spot.

It's nice to know that something as stunning as your build also has great sound potential.

Thanks Andy, and...your experience is interesting.
My Koa-topped 6 string had a darker sound, much more so than anything I've built.
It would be a useful experiment to build 3 identical guitars, with the one exception being the top wood.
One spruce, one WRC and one Koa.
I know, I know, too many variables in that equation to be conclusive. But one might better draw some generalizations?
I suppose the best test would be to build a number of Koa topped guitars, say, 100. Then come up with some real conclusions that way. But we'll have to leave that for Hesh, won't we? I don't have enough time left, but he could do it.

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com