This guitar “Tommy” was built in memory of a mate of mine who died of Cancer this time last year. I visited him in Cairns last year after hearing the news about his illness and we talked about times past, we had a lot to talk about as we have been mates for about 48-50 years. During this talk Tom pulled out a piece of African Walnut saying that he had bought it in Alice Springs over 30 years ago but it looked like he was not going to get the chance to use it. He said it would make a nice guitar and offered it to me. When I got it home I cut it up and ended up with three sets of backs and sides.
Anyway, after Tom passed I asked his wife if I could build a guitar using the Walnut I had been given by Tom, and that she could have it if she wanted, she agreed.
The style is “000’ and I used Cedar for the top that I bought in Alice Springs at the same time from the same place. I said I would inlay the guitar with little icons that depicted Toms interests throughout his life.
The inlays seen show he was a very keen cyclist, he loved a cup of tea and would not go far without stopping have one. The galleon is there to remind us of when he first came to Australia he spent months at the kitchen table of his bedsitter flat building a fantastic [to scale] galleon, making the ribs, planks and rigging all by hand.
The butt inlay chisel depicts his skills as a carpenter, and a perfectionist to boot.
The binding is NG Rosewood as is the neck.
The fingerboard is some Aussie hardwood, species unknown.
Peghead veneer is English walnut as is the small scratch plate.
Peghead back veneer is African walnut as is the heal cap and back.
Bracing is Sitka spruce
Bridge is Indian Rosewood
Rosette is an acrylic type material I make up out four or so pieces
I am very happy with the tone, volume and playability of this guitar. I think the bass and treble are very well balanced, and the volume, well to give an idea, I played it to one of my regular customers and with the first two strums of the strings his eyes darted across to my amp and said he thought it was plugged in. I gotta be happy with that.
Well that’s it, thanks for staying with me.
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