M1 10-23 Mahogany and German Spruce
Available now at Music City Vintage Guitars
This M1 is made up of some very special tone woods. The top is old growth German spruced sourced from the original Kalamazoo plant and moved to Nashville over 45 years ago, who know how long ago it was cut. It’s extremely low density high stiffness material that makes for a loud and punchy tone with amazing clarity.
The back and sides are made from an extremely unique board of mahogany I milled up myself. I found this mahogany amongst a pallet of otherwise normal seeming straight grain 8/4 boards. However two of those boards had this remarkable blend of quilting and what seems like some early stages of spallting. I was not planning on buying that much when I had arrived at the saw mill, but once I saw that these boards were perfectly quarter sawn I knew they would make some excellent instruments. The neck is also constructed from this same board, giving the entire instrument a consistent and stunning appearance.
The double helix inlay is meant to mimic the movement of a guitar string, with intersections corresponding to the typical interval markings on most guitar necks. This was also one of my first multi piece segmented rosettes which I now enjoy very much.
This M1 really lives up to the “one of a kind” appeal I’m striving for with every single one of my instruments. If you have the chance to play it before it’s sold, it love to hear what you think of it.
M1 12-23 Wenge and Redwood
Available now at Music City Vintage Guitars
I’m a huge fan of redwood, but I’m spoiled. The redwood I’ve been building with all comes from one 10’ board that a friend of mine found 40 years ago out is CA. He held on to it recognizing how light and stiff it is, he has since given me some and we are both building with it.
This guitar was also my first Wenge back and sides. Wenge can be a bit different to work with but I’ve really grown to love it for its mechanical properties and its appearance.
Combining these two woods creates a timbre I can only describe as rich and warm with subtle roll off on very high frequencies. It’s very responsive, but not overly so, I think I’ll build a personal guitar from this red wood someday. If you get a chance to play it, I’d love to hear how you’d describe it.
M1 07-23 Bocote and Eruo Spruce
Available now at Tone Central Station
This M1 is the oldest amongst the ones available (completed about a year ago), It has truly broken in beautifully and offers a very rich and powerfull tone.
The Bocote Back has been decorated with a contemporary geometric inlay of leopard wood and Katalox. Side bar, Isn’t Katalox the coolest name for a wood species ever?
The Leopard wood binding and Katalox fingerboard give this guitar a totally one of a kind style. The Laminated neck also features a unique maple wedge heal and popping flame maple center stripe.
With such a unique appearance and articulate voice this build will always be one that I’ll remeber.
