Jonathan's Custom Guitar

[mica]

Here's that bear claw inlay mock up:  
 
 
 
The idea here is mother of pearl with silver for the claw section only. Size is approximate.  
 
Hope you like!  
 
(Message edited by mica on April 08, 2004)

[jalevinemd]

Mica,
 
I absolutley love the bear claw. Just like my daughter, it's adorable and delicate. Susan outdid herself!! And what a surprise...I wasn't expecting any mock up until next week.
 
The journey has officially begun. I can't wait to see the rest of the guitar as it evolves.
 
Thanks,
 
Jonathan

[mica]

Mike and Susan worked out the following design for the body shape:
 

 
Hope you can tell how cool this looks.

[hollis]

Beautiful!

[valvil]

Here's this piece of Coco Bolo I found today, freshly sanded down; I think the lower part would look great. Let me know how you like it.

[jalevinemd]

Mica,
 
As I told Val, I thought building a guitar with you all would be like buying fake Rolex watches from the peddlers on Fifth Avenue - you'd show me something, I'd make and offer, you'd show me something else, I'd counter-offer...and so on, until we had something we could both agree on. But, between the inlay and the body designs, you guys are dead-on with the first try.  
 
Quite frankly, your incredible collective gift is taking the fun out of this whole process...and I couldn't be happier!!!  
 
Keep working your magic.
 
Sincerely,
 
Jonathan

[valvil]

Here's a picture of the mockup that Mike made today; we all really like it and Susan has approved it. Hope you like it too.
 

[valvil]

While working on the design for your guitar, Mike had to figure out the layout of the hardware and electronics; when he brought the mockup by the office he had this with him, so I took a picture of it for you. Here's a sketch of the guitar with pickups, bridge and tailpiece.

[palembic]

Really nice ...that extended-upper-horn-balance-point- omega-cut-out-3/4-body (oof) really works for guitar too and the knobby peghead really match!!!
 
 
Paul TBO

[jalevinemd]

Val,
 
Looks great! I'm really glad we went with the knob peghead. I think the crown would have interrupted the overall flow of the guitar that seems to follow a natural taper from base to headstock. It's much 'sexier' this way, for lack of a better word.
 
Thanks for the pics,
 
Jonathan

[hollis]

Jonathan,
 
This is a really striking guitar.  What are the electronics going to be?

[valvil]

The electronics are going to be just like yours Hollis, standard Skylark configuration.
 
Valentino

[hollis]

That's going to sound sooooo sweeeeet! With the thru-neck w/purple heart lams it'll sustain all the way into tomorrow!

[jalevinemd]

Hollis,
 
Thanks for the encouraging words...nice to have another brother-of-the-six-string amidst this kingdom of bass players (though not a finer group around!) I think the Skylark configuration will be perfect for me. I tossed around the idea of Further and Series electronics for a bit. But, when all is said and done, I've always been a basic dual humbucking kind of guy...and not very circuit savy. I think the vast capabilities of the other electronics would be completely wasted on me. So I decided to channel the money towards the overall aesthetics instead.
 
Take care,
 
Jonathan

[hollis]

Jonathan,
 
I LOVE my Skylark!  Every time I play it, I am amazed at how many subtle little adjustments are available to me.  The highs can shriek or cut through just enough and all points in between. The lows......well.... it's an Alembic!  Amazing lows.
 
I first came to this fantastic club with a desire for a Further.... A Further is still somewhere on the distant horizon....maybe one day.  When I decided to settle for a Skylark, (I laugh at my own ignorance at even thinking that I was settling
for something, as if this were some kind of lesser instrument) I had no idea what an eye opening I was in for.
 
I'm sure that the Further is every bit and more the guitar I imagine it to be, that being said, it will be years before I have mastered my Skylark.  Every day is a new learning expierence with this beautifully understated instrument.  My only regret is that I didn't get one sooner.
 
I'm a better guitarist for the knowing.  
 
I'm sure that your Orion has already taught you this lesson....These are just damn fine guitars!
 
You new custom is beautiful... It's a privilege to get to watch it being built.
 
Enjoy, and don't forget to breathe!
 
Hollis