First Acoustic Element offered at a dealer...

[edwardofhuncote]

Just one observation I'll add about that bridge design that I'm certain was by design as much for structural integrity as aesthetic appeal. I replace and often repair a lot of ebony guitar bridges that crack, right through either the bridge pin holes or the saddle slot.

Ebony has very small pores. It's hard as dammit, and it's brittle. It will crack longways, with the grain, which is necessarily the direction of it in a steel-string acoustic guitar. Most of the time, bridge pins are arrayed in a straight line, parallel to this grain, making it all the easier. That cute little smile of bridge pins on the Element there... makes a much stronger bridge, much less likely to split. Also, see how much wood there is in front of that saddle? Highly unlikely the front of that bridge breaks off from the saddle slot. Can it happen...? Yeah, because ... wood does stuff. Much less likely here, because someone put some thought into it.


Here's what I'm talking about;

[Football]

Outstanding!  Congratulations.

[DistillaMatto]

A bass version of the Alembic Element would be quite lovely as well . Furthermore, a classical nylon string rendition, quite novel. Perhaps ventures for the future ?

A classical nylon version would give me uncontrollable G.A.S. I don't play steel strings for the most part because they are too loud for a Japanese apartment. I did have a chance to play the new Alembic steel string when I picked up my guitar at the factory a month ago. It sounds and looks amazing. I removed the background of the photo in case there were any top secret items in the back.

[Scarlett]

I can’t believe this hasn’t sold yet.

[jazzyvee]

Maybe someone ought to let Ed Sheeran know about it.He knows a great sounding guitar. 🤨🤔

[sonofa_lembic]

Just one observation I'll add about that bridge design that I'm certain was by design as much for structural integrity as aesthetic appeal. I replace and often repair a lot of ebony guitar bridges that crack, right through either the bridge pin holes or the saddle slot.

Ebony has very small pores. It's hard as dammit, and it's brittle. It will crack longways, with the grain, which is necessarily the direction of it in a steel-string acoustic guitar. Most of the time, bridge pins are arrayed in a straight line, parallel to this grain, making it all the easier. That cute little smile of bridge pins on the Element there... makes a much stronger bridge, much less likely to split. Also, see how much wood there is in front of that saddle? Highly unlikely the front of that bridge breaks off from the saddle slot. Can it happen...? Yeah, because ... wood does stuff. Much less likely here, because someone put some thought into it.


Trevor's Reply:

Yes, exactly.  By keeping those pins from lining up, it decreases that stress on one grainline in the ebony.  Susan asked if we should decrease the mass of the bridge, but I designed it that way to support the tall saddle and allow for a less fragile bridge.  The bridge plate on the inside is also substantial and curved to dissipate stress.  I am sure you have seen a ton of cracked bridge plates too.  I did everything I could think of to make the Element trouble free and still sound great. 

[jazzyvee]

Just watched this video posted by Trevor Lindsey where he discusses the design.

Enjoy

[cozmik_cowboy]

Looking at it again, I have decided there need to be 3 things different on it:

1)  It needs strap buttons fore & aft (I no longer have a lap to set them on  )
2)  It needs the metal in the logo gold plated to match the tuners
3)  It needs to be in my music room.........

But as others have said - gorgeous looks, gorgeous sound!
And if Ed McMahon shows up at my door, I'm ordering one in myrtle with a cedar top & scroll inlays.

Peter (who would sell 2 of his three sons for a 12-string version; no grandkids, mind you, but sons?  Pick two!)

[edwardofhuncote]

It really is a well thought-out design. I was telling Trevor the other day I'm looking forward to the parlor-sized Element. That's been my draw for a long time.

[cozmik_cowboy]

Yeah, I find the parlor intriguing as well.

Peter

[jazzyvee]

What about an acoustic electric version or a soundhole pickup?

[edwardofhuncote]

One thing I've learned since taking on repair work for the local guitar store here... (little background, they sell a wide selection of middle to high-end acoustic guitars there, in addition to electrics... it's probably an 80/20 split) but one thing that has surprised me is how many folks will buy a $2000, or even a $9,000 guitar and then conduct an exhaustive search for 'the right pickup system' for it. There is a LOT more variety now than there used to be in this stuff. The big name brands now I see, K&K, LR Baggs, Fishman still has a presence too. And they all have different levels of equipment. You could literally spend hours reading through specs of each product line.

I want to stress this next part is purely my opinion... it is worthless to everyone but me. There has never, ever been a pickup put on an acoustic guitar that reproduces what that guitar sounds like accurately. It is merely an approximation. Some are better than others. Some sound pretty good actually. But they will never reproduce the sound coming out of, and off of there. The best microphones in the world have a hard time with it. So you're making a compromise in the name of convenience... just know that from the front. Me, I kinda' like the way my guitars sound. I don't want to hear them differently. Again, this applies only to me. I do not assign it to anyone else.

As someone who has to work on them, the ones that impress me least are the guitars where the electronics are integrated into the instrument from the initial build. This is madness. Electronics become obsolete in seasons anymore. So it's time to upgrade, or something fails... and now you have a guitar with a bunch of non-working guts and molded plastic parts set into recessed cutouts. At least the aftermarket pickup systems can (generally) be replaced without modifications. I've made a set of templates for plugging these battery boxes, preamps, oval-shaped jackplates, etc with wood. It never looks 'right', but at least a nice guitar doesn't have a vacant hole. Most folks are happy with this fix, because it's just their gig-box anyway.

So hypothetically, if I had the kind of gig where it was absolutely necessary to plug-in an acoustic guitar... Element or otherwise, I'd definitely put something very simple onboard. Definitely outboard eq and preamp... nothing that required any batteries or any mass added inside. The least amount of wires and mess, the better.

[jazzyvee]

Thanks for that education Greg, my knowledge of electric acoustic guitars is limited to my own cheapo one.👍🏾😁

[cozmik_cowboy]

There has never, ever been a pickup put on an acoustic guitar that reproduces what that guitar sounds like accurately. It is merely an approximation. Some are better than others. Some sound pretty good actually. But they will never reproduce the sound coming out of, and off of there. The best microphones in the world have a hard time with it. So you're making a compromise in the name of convenience... just know that from the front. Me, I kinda' like the way my guitars sound. I don't want to hear them differently. Again, this applies only to me. I do not assign it to anyone else.

100%, total, utter agreement here.
I have electric guitars for when I want to play electric.  I want my acoustics to sound like acoustics.

Need it louder?  That's why Sennheiser makes the MD-441.........
I have said it before and I will say it again:  As a soundman, I have always loved Ovations, because they have a clean sterile sound you can do anything with (except make them sound an acoustic guitar); as a player, I have always hated Ovations, because they have a clean sterile sound you can't do anything with.
Yes, just about any of today's pick-ups for "acoustic" guitar are lightyears ahead of Ovation's piezo - but they will only give you an approximation.
You want to dance around with instead of sticking to the mic stand?  And you're willing to give up any chance of top-level acoustic tone to do it?  Knock yourself out.
But don't labor under the misapprehension that what the audience is hearing is anything but a faint shadow of what you hear playing unplugged.  And the better your guitar is, the truer this is.
 
Peter

[lbpesq]

I have one acoustic guitar that actually sounds better plugged in!  My Fender Acoustasonic Player Telecaster.   (The exception that proves the rule).

Bill, tgo (who, no kidding aside, really digs this guitar!)