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Denis Merrill started a project upon purchasing about 100 sets of
unusually interesting and master grade Sitka Spruce all from a 6
foot section of the same tree. His idea is simple….test and explore
the concept that different guitarmakers would express this wood
in many different guitars, but would they have similar or different
tonal characteristics that could be measured and/or observed? It
has long been a given that the top wood of the guitar is responsible
for the big majority of its voice, and it is also widely recognized
that the many different species of spruce and other conifers have
their own characteristics, and that the age and conditioning also
play a part. But, what if they were all from the same tree, cut
and aged all the same?? And, how would you measure them and track
them over time? Quite a concept, and quite ambitious, to say the
least! |
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I became
aware of the project through Denis's article in the summer 2009
issue of American Lutherie , and was instantly hooked…he has been
kind enough to include me. As of this writing, 86 guitars have
been started, and our first large gathering will be the Newport
Guitar Festival in Miami this April. The top Denis sent is very
stiff, has a rosy hue, and has dramatic bearclaw features throughout,
many in the shape of sine waves.
My
goal for this endeavor is to build my latest expression of the
ultimate (to me) fingerstyle guitar. This is a sit-in your-lap
instrument, moderate action, not meant to be heavily strummed,
and not overly decorated. All materials must be of master grade,
and the guitar must have a balance of warmth and brilliance.
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With
that all in mind, I've selected a mini jumbo cutaway shape, with
a lower bout of 15.5 inches, a scale length of 25.0 inches, and
I've used my best set of Madagascar Rosewood. The bridge and fingerboard
are Ebony, and the binding is Rosewood with Maple purfling. Inlays
are gold mother-of-pearl. I am incorporating my latest bolt-on
neck design featuring graphite reinforcement with a double-action
truss rod.
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SONIC
SITKA SPECS
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Builder
Lee Herron
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Herron
Guitars ....hhherronguitars.com
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Model
MJSS
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serial
31
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Year:
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April,
2010 |
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Top:
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Sitka
Spruce, From Denis Merrill |
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Back
and Sides:
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Madagascar
Rosewood |
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Neck:
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Light
Mahagony, with dual action trussrod and Graphite |
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Purfling:
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Maple
with Indian Rosewood binding |
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Fingerboard:
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Ebony,
16 inch radius |
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Bridge:
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Ebony,
hand carvedd |
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Nut
Width:
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1.75
inches |
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String
Spacing:
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2.25
at the bridge |
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Scale:
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25
inches |
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Length: |
19.75
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Lower
Bout:
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15.5
inches |
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Upper
Bout:
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11.25 |
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General
Description:
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A
Mini-Jumbo shape, cutaway, with bound soundport. Set up as
a fingerstyle , with no pickguard. Gold MOP inlays, Schaller
Tuners, medium weight strings. Hiscox customized fit case.
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