advice on material selection for my first build...

[Daniel_M]

Hi All,

As some of you know I am in the process of my first acoustic build. I have got the vast majority of my wood coming from Tim and Xray (who have both been a pleasure to deal with). I thought that I would ‘design’ my build before I commenced – here is what I have so far…

OM style guitar (for fingerstyle)
25.4 inch scale length 1.75” nut.
Bunya top and bracing.
Darwin mahogany back and sides
Pacific blackwood (Queen ebony) bridge and fretboard. (I am going to do a pinless bridge)
Black TUSQ nut and bridge
Tassie balckwood neck and block
Tassie myrtle headstock veneer
Gold frets – from LMII
Brass or Paua inlay of a gecko at the 12th fret – see website below.
Brass or Paua position markers on the top of the neck.
Tassie Blackwood binding with fine multiline (black and white) purfling - http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/thirdproduc ... ble+Length
figured Tassie Blackwood rosette.


I was hoping that you could provide advice on my choice of woods as well as machine heads. I really like the look of banjos machine heads (how you cant see the buttons) so I was thinking about using these…

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/Guit ... uners.html

or perhaps these:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/Banj ... _Pegs.html

I would have to put ebony buttons on them.

I would really appreciate advice on the choice of woods as well as the machine heads. THANKS

Oh I also found this website for those that are interested…

http://www.mopsupplies.com/

[Allen]

I'm not a fan of blackwood for a neck on anything other than a small instrument such as a mandolin or uke. Though I can't think of any reason not to use it other than how hard and heavy it can be.

My choice would be with mahogany and using a figured piece of blackwood for the head stock veneer instead of myrtle. Trying not to get too large of a color pallet with all the woods you have picked out.

Using that sort of tuning machine head, you are really going to stray from the "accepted" look for an OM. Really not my cup of tea, but it's for you to ultimately decide.

[penndan]

"The Martin Book" shows a 1930 OM - maybe the first model- with banjo tuners. But after a couple of years, the changed to the side knob tuner style.

[Daniel_M]

Thanks for all the advice guys - particularly with regard to too many woods