Oregon Myrtle for Lillian

[Stephen Kinnaird]

Lillian mentioned a possible upcoming project using Oregon Myrtle, and I hope this might encourage the idea.
Oregon Myrtle is a joy to work, and it's not too hard on the eyes, either.
Bends easily, sands easily, glues just fine and it can be obtained in quite curly pieces.

This guitar is for a friend who wanted another 12 string, who realized he always played a 12 with his capo at the 2nd fret. Why not just whack off those first two frets? Put the nut where the second fret would be, and make the scale length that much shorter? Oh yes, and tune it up to F#, instead of the usual E. Put all that on a smaller body, and you've got what he calls his 7/8-size 12 string. The short neck w/ long head makes for a different look from the rear of the instrument, but I like it. What's exciting is tuning that high octave g string to an a. Run for cover....

The specs: Top is Lutz spruce from Shane,
Back/sides: Oregon Myrtle from Bruce Creps.
Neck: Oregon Myrtle and Bocote.
Bindings, peghead, rosette: Bocote
Fretboard: ebony
Bridge: African blackwood












Thanks for looking,

Steve

[kiwigeo]

Very classy 12 banger Steve...I love it.

[Lillian]

Wow, that is a beautiful guitar. Thank you for sharing your insight. I may do one more board match mahogany before I go after the good woods, but I am seriously tempted to grab the myrtle next.

Bruce is a real stand up guy. I have some of his walnut in the stash, I may need to see what he has for myrtle one of these days. I wonder if he minds visitors? Humm

Thanks again for the thread Steve.

[DarwinStrings]

Beautiful

Jim

[Localele]

That is a cracker Steve and a great reason for smaller makers to have friends who need special guitars in more ways than one.

[Nick]

I'm fair drooling here Steve. What an absolutely beautiful piece of art, the myrtle is stunning & workmanship faultless as usual. Thanks for sharing the pics but now I have a wet keyboard!
Thanks for clearing up a problem I had too, I have a myrtle B&S set light in colour like these & I couldn't make up my mind what to use as a contrast binding with them......problem solved.

[Allen]

That short neck and long head stock just looks killer. Almost 1/2 of each from the back. I really like that look for some reason.

Oh, the woods not too hard to look at either.

With a neck that much shorter, but tuned up, does the string tension work out the same?

[Dave White]

Steve,

Very nice as usual. It's fun doing "interesting" instruments. It looks a little like the South American multi-course instruments with the short neck - cuatro etc.

You'll be making a guitar-bouzouki or cittern next

[Mark McLean]

Steve, that is beautiful in many ways. Obviously just what the customer wanted. Damn, I want it too! Your signature line says that there are good woods down-under, but that Northern myrtle looks pretty fine!

[Dennis Leahy]

Steve, this is just beautiful! I'm curious if you had ever seen Bocote binding against Myrtle, because it is such a perfect combination.

The neck - oh my god the neck! - ties it all together so well.

Have you calculated the total amount of tension on this instrument? I'm thinking I'd use ultra-light strings to keep the tension closer to 200 than 300 pounds.

How many instruments do you think you will complete this year, or in an average year? Your level of workmanship is so high, it seems impossible to see yet another, and another gorgeous guitar leaping off your bench.

Dennis

[Bob Connor]

Drop dead gorgeous Steve.

I agree with Dennis the curly neck looks sensational.

[Craig]

Too cool Steve ! Don't 12's Rock ! Fantastic craftsmanship as usual mate.

Lillian , I say go for the Myrtle . Easy to bend and a dream to work.There are some pores to fill but very little.

[ozziebluesman]

Steve you have weaved your magic again. Great innovation and fine workmanship. The wood is just gorgeous! Thanks for sharing.

Cheers

Alan

[Stephen Kinnaird]

You're a nice lot, alluya! Thanks mates. Answers:

Lillian, I never had the opportunity to visit Bruce, but wouldn't that be a trip to remember?

Allen, that's the theory. At the 2006 GAL convention we kicked that idea around w/ as many folks as we could. Ervin Somogyi was of the feeling that it would be a wash.

Dennis, this is my second guitar w/ Bocote used against Oregon Myrtle.
I was somewhat stumped by the greenish cast of the Myrtle, but Bocote matched it, and that convinced me to use it again.
Tension--no, we haven't tried to work that out. And yes, those are ultra-light gauge strings. The treble "ee's" are 9's.
Ryan and I are hoping to get something like a dozen done this year.

Craig, now you are being kind. You're the king of the 12's in my book, mate.

Again, I really appreciate your kindness.

Cheers, Steve

[Hesh1956]

Smokin Hot Steve!!!

[Kim]

AWESOME! You always seem to get your hands on THE most fabulous wood Steve and that is a good thing for everyone because you inspire the rest of us when you show what can be done when great materials finds it's way into the hands of a great craftsman.

Cheers

Kim

[Lillian]

It maybe a bit of a stretch for you Steve from Texas, but Bruce is just a ferry ride away from me. We went to San Juan Island last year for a weekend get away, but we haven't made it to Lopez Island yet. Hummm. I just need to get this first one done.

[WaddyT]

Ain't no moss growin on that boy. Beautiful, Steve. The match between the neck and back is just incredible. (If I may, Hesh)

[Dave Anderson]

As your newly hired hand and head of advertising I will say .....It's an incredible mix of fine Oregonian Myrtle
with sweet and stiff Canadian Lutz top wood and that Central American touch of Bocote for a super fine neck
with matching trim!!! And what a scale....!
Steve,That is one strange (different ) looking neck,but strange in a good way! This is a seriously beautiful guitar
as yours always are. You da best, mate!!

Lillian, Go fer it ! I haven't used Oregon Myrtle yet either but after seeing this,
we gotta try it.

[Rod True]

Outstanding, Steve.

[sebastiaan56]

Hi Steve,

Tres nice, as usual, do you ever stuff up?

[Ron Wisdom]

Yup, another fine looking instrument. I like that squatty look.

Ron

[Stephen Kinnaird]

Hesh, cool beans M8.

Kim, your comment is justification to management for the continued wood search. So...thanks!

Lillian...GO!

Waddy, PM sent.

Dave, a little work is needed on that line about the neck. Bring your revision to the marketing meeting tomorrow a.m.

Rod, Ron, thanks dudes. But hey, Sebastiaan, what's this "stuff up"?
Like, do I ever get a head cold?
Am I alergic to ragweed?
Are my sinuses impacted?
'Fraid so....

Thanks amigos, you guys are quite nice...as always.

P.S.--Dave W, I agree, it does have a South American vibe about it.

[graham mcdonald]

Steve,

'Stuff up' is Australian for making a serious mistake as in
"Crikey, youse have really stuffed up that one"
which might translate as
"Oh gosh chaps, you have made an error and it is broken"

Nice looking guitar

graham

[WaddyT]

Am I alergic to ragweed?
Are my sinuses impacted?
'Fraid so....

I recommend, NeilMed Sinus Rinse. Very therapeutic, and great at getting all that pollen out of your head so it doesn't inflame things in there. I have started using it every day, twice a day, and have had much less, in the way of sinus issues since I started. Morning and night, or every time I come in from doing any sanding in the shop, or working in the yard. It was Grumpy, in one of his posts, that made me start using it, and he was right. It changed my life. I sleep better, and have fewer sinus headaches, and such. Try it, you'll like it. Get the Squeeze bottle version. The Netti Pot is a little feminine for me. I prefer the turkey baster method.