Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

I call this guitar a Petite Jumbo, as it's smaller than an SJ. It's just 15" across the lower bout. In fact the dimensions are pretty much that of a OM, but just more of that Fat Bottom Girl look.

I just got this one completed and set up, and I'm really pleased with it. It's really responsive like the last PJ that I built. Much more so that the OOO/OM's that I've built previously. I am building lighter each time, so it could be this, or perhaps it's the body shape. I'll have to go back and build a OOO again to see if there I get an improvement in them as well.

I've got an identically built guitar with an Engelman Spruce top that is ready to buff and assemble. This will be a good comparison of the effect of different tops on tone.

The Specs.

Back and Sides - Queensland Walnut
Top - Australian Red Cedar
Neck - Laminated Queensland Walnut - Cypress
Head Stock Veneers - West Australian Sheoak
Fret Board - West Australian Sheoak
Bridge - West Australian Sheoak
Bindings - Curly Tasmanian Oak
Scale Length - 25.4"
Tuners - Gotoh 510's
Top - 199 grams
Total Weight - 1870 grams

Very Nice Allen!!

Beautiful wood combo!

Beautiful work as always Allen.

The transition in the Sheoak on the back of the headstock into the neck is a really nice touch

I'll be very keen to see what you think of the difference in sound is comparing the Red Cedar and the Engelmann.

I can see a few barbed wires being consumed to celebrate this one.

Bob

Finished one, and got another in my hand right now Bob.

I went into a music store today that I hadn't been into before. Looking for a case that would fit these PJ's without breaking the bank. Several people had a look at the last PJ with the sound port and loved it. Mixed feelings about the sound port though. They all wanted to know if I had other instruments for sale so it's possible that this guitar is going to be sold before I get the other one finished.

It would be nice to have both side by side to compare, but who am I to knock back a sale.

very nice Allen..
that fingerboard gives it that "been played for years " look about it.

Allen,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, that guitar is SUPERB !


The cedar top , rosette, binding, body shape, neck volute, fretboard and matching bridge and headplate , bridge pins , hell , the whole package !

Stunning !

Incredible work Allen.


Cheers ,Craig

Allen, this guitar is just sensational!!!! Thank you for the pictures. Dose the Australian Cedar provide a warm tone?

Cheers

Alan

Oh ! ,, And the finish !,,,,,

Allen,

Nice guitar with a lot of thought that went into the wood combinations and aesthetics and it works well. I think they are getting better because you are learning as a builder all the time - I'm not totally convinced by the "anorexic" guitars sound better argument. Only way to find out is for you to make a heavy one that sounds fabulous - try some African Blackwood for b/s or the Aussie equivalent, a heavy guitar but you'll drown in amazing sustain and overtones forever (trust me I built one and she's a "heavy" girl )

That cedar is the only species I've seen that can claim the adjective "red" proudly - she could be an Irish girl with that head of hair.

How about sounclips of the two guitars when you finish the Engelmann one(three or four bits played by each guitar and well mixed up) and we'll see how many "wood buffs" can correctly identify them. I suspect the sound will be more to do with the maker than the top, and may even be tempted into a "bare my bum on the steps of Hugheneden Valley Post Office at a time and date of your chosing" moment if anyone (apart from you) gets them all correct.

Well done again.

And we will expect photographic proof dave...

Beutiful guitar Allan. Love the wood combos.

Outstanding guitar Allen!!!!

Allen, all I can do is to keep pouring it on: just gorgeous! Great wood combinations, and the workmanship and finish look outstanding.

If I saw that in a music store, I would just HAVE to play it!

Dennis

Beautiful guitar allen, lovely wood and so well executed.
Jeff

Excellent work as always Allen, great wood combo, especially like the Aussie Cedar and the WA Sheoak and of course your finish is as good as ANY in the world.

Cheers

Kim

Allen,

That is one right smart looking guitar. Great looking woods, nice combo
It all looks good, you sure have some great wood to work with in your part of the world. I just love that body shape!

I can't wait to see your next one.

Tom

Every time I see one of your Aus red cedar topped guitars I'm blown away.

Excellent workmanship. Beautiful result.

Gotta get me some of those tops...

Thanks for all your very kind comments everyone.

They might have a nice finish Kim, but it's a nightmare to take a picture of them. There are so many reflections and glare that all the detail gets lost.

A fellow that I met yesterday who is in Cairns for a holiday, and asked me to do a little touch up on his upright electric bass came by today to pick up his instrument and try out some of mine. He plays jazz and from what I heard of his playing, can handle his own with 4 strings or 6.

He tried a OM IRW-Cypress, OOO Cypress, the Mahogany-Sequoia PJ and this Walnut-Aust. Red Cedar PJ. He gave all the guitars a good work out.

His favorite was this guitar followed by the Mahogany-Sequoia PJ. This guitar has a clean and flatter tone compared to the other ones. It could be the strings as the others all have D'Addorio while this guitar has SIT's.

It was really gratifying to me that he said all of them had a similar "signature" sound, but there were subtleties of tone to each instrument. Much different from off the shelf guitars.

I agree with everyone that this is a great looking guitar Allen
and the wood choices are superb.
I love the look of the sheoak with the red cedar top!!
Yep, I would love to play this one! Also- GREAT shape !!