Innovative archtop Design (Murray Kuun)

[Keira Witherkay]

below is an email i received from murray kuun about his recent jazz guitar design .... murray is a fabulous luthier and designer who lives and works in johannesburg(Jozi) south africa, i have played some of guitars and they are phenomenal , i have yet to play this one but will hopefully do so soon ...as we live in the same area

below is the email

Jozi, South Africa, May, 2013

The Spitfire is a handmade, handcarved hybrid archtop designed and built to be played in acoustic mode when really big sound is not required, then to be plugged in for the really big concerts. The instrument can be custom orderded in a wide variety of tonewoods and finishes. This original guitar has:- - a German spruce soundboard - sustainable cherry back- solid sides hewn from okoume wood- Indian rosewood fingerboard on a sapele mahogany neck. - trimmings in curly maple a- a 635mm scale- Iconix handwound "Finger Zinger" pickup.- spitfire fret markers in maple

# # #

Designed and made by Murray Kuun who's work can be seen at www.murraykuun.com The instruments can be shipped to anywhere in the world. Final pricing determined bycustom finishes and shipping.

a disclaimer...... i don't work for or in any way involved in murray kuuns bussiness ... just think he's inovative and deserves to have his designs seen and played.....

[fws6]

very nice.... bit estranged by the hole in the upper bout ?

[oldane]

very nice.... bit estranged by the hole in the upper bout ?

Well, it could pass for a carrying handle.

[Bushwackbob]

Very, very cool. I like that alot.

[Steve Z]

Very, very cool. I like that alot.

+1

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

It's always cool to see a different archtop design.

[pingu]

love that ........... imagination !

[disco~juice]

You can put a bottle of water in that hole!

[marcwhy]

You can put a bottle of water in that hole!

Water? You mean beer!

He has some other very nice guitars on his site. Cool stuff.

[339 in june]

Water? You mean beer!

He has some other very nice guitars on his site. Cool stuff.

Yes, this nylon thin-line makes me dream !

[murray kuun]

Hello, I am the designer and builder of this "Spitfire" archtop. Thanks to Keira for uploading it and thanks for the nice comments.
"Nice Guitar", the "hole" is a design element that I have included in some of my other work (murraykuun.com), it does also reduce a bit of weight from what is otherwise a solid upper bout. And, not by design, I have used it to carry the guitar:-)

I am in the process of uploading an informal home-recording onto youtube "as we speak" and will do others when I can find more jazz players.

Someone spoke about water in the hole. Not too far from the truth, I have been known to add water features in some of my furniture designs, including a clock with the clock-face behind a fish tank:-)

[Archtop 13]

It's a nice design. Nothing too over the top. Everything blends well. Though, I might put a cream bobbin pickup in it. That's just me.

[murray kuun]

Archtop 13. I'd like to see no pickup:-) but I DID want to use this particular brand (Icononix) in this case and did not have any choice of aesthetic.

[marcwhy]

Welcome to the Forum, Murray! Your guitars look fantastic.

Marc

[murray kuun]

Thank you kindly!

[kris]

Nice bridge...how about tuning?

[murray kuun]

The tuners are Gotoh

[Woody Sound]

Very cool headstock, but on a golden-hued guitar I'd rather see gold or black tuners. Just my taste.

[feet]

yeah, the glaring white exposed coil pickup and cream ring were the only things i found truly offensive. that aside, it is interesting. i might reconsider the tuner finish (or perhaps just the buttons), but that isn't a huge deal. i'd like to see more. headstock is pretty neat.

[murray kuun]

there are a number of other instruments on my website. and I do custom make

[kris]

how much is thinline nylon strings guitar?
Best
Kris

[Archtop 13]

There isn't anything wrong with the white pickup. Just a matter of personal taste. & I understand compromise. It's a great looking instrument.

[GNAPPI]

And, not by design, I have used it to carry the guitar:-)

Someone spoke about water in the hole. Not too far from the truth, I have been known to add water features in some of my furniture designs, including a clock with the clock-face behind a fish tank:-)

It's good to see a designer "in tune" with player's comments :-) ...

I like the head design, much like my Gibson Pat Martino... a straight line on the strings.

[murray kuun]

Thanks for the comments, appreciated.
Kris, it depends on the specs, perhaps email me what you'd like on a guitar.
[email protected]

[kris]

Thanks for the comments, appreciated.
Kris, it depends on the specs, perhaps email me what you'd like on a guitar.
[email protected]

Thanks...I will send you e-mail...