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Pleased as punch to share my excitement with you.
Well fellas I was so busy moving and buying and all the other stuff I went thru since February when Mom died that I sorta got quiet about this one. I was talking with Ms. Lora way back last Summer about building me a really crazy concept guitar - a Byrdland sized body but with no electronics, but styled after a Campellone Manhattan Skyline that is still for sale on Reverb. Mine mimics some of his guitar, but I don't like the Joe Pass placement of the pickup on that one and wanted a 17 inch wide body and thinner ala the Byrdland. And wanted a floating pickup eventually, I have some things Chris Amato sent me and there's the DeArmond 1100 or a Kent Armstrong version of the 1100 (which I have on the Super Patrick) or a fat hum bucker sound. Jury is still out on that one.
I got some shots of the wood they were using a few months ago and found the ones of the cut top and back plates.
So I got those photos and later Lora's emails verifying little details like did I want the D'Aquisto style F Holes still and did I like the shape of the body and especially the neck carve and all the other stuff that Lora always chases down to be damn sure a grouchy guy like me is happy. I am !!
So without further adieu here are the progress shots. Looks like it's gonna be buffed out and then Mrs. Wu gets to do her magic at the end... And she has some really nice touches to add to the back of the headstock, tailpiece and so on. I asked for a Byrdland shaped pick guard with no cut outs. Enjoy !!
Last edited by BigMikeinNJ; 08-31-2016 at 11:07 AM.
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08-31-2016 09:33 AM
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Pretty...and unusual. Should be a very nice guitar. Gosh, Mr. Wu does interesting and good work.
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I L-O-V-E the color.
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Think of it like an L-5CT but with a floating pickup. The remaining cosmetic touches Mrs. Wu has to do will really doll it up. This will likely be my porch guitar, I like the thinner body of the Byrdland now that I have one in my stable again. I KNEW in my heart ordering this one last year it would end up being one of my go to guitars.
Big
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Really nice IMHO. I like the modern f-holes.
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Well I swore of NGD threads but since this has been ongoing since around the beginning of the year I wanted to toot Mr. Wu's horn here. I got the shipping warning from Lora, and she sent photos taken inside. They are a little disappointing only in the fact that they're dark. But I horsed around just a little with the photo software that PREVIEW on my iMac offers and was able to lighten them up a bit. I think in about a week I will be sharing really lousy shots from the Casa... Here's one I tweaked...
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Here's a couple three more I did a really quick and dirty job on, just to bring out some of the detail. They NAILED IT !!!!! The pick guard is a classic Gibson L-5 style ebony guard, 5 ply ebony and flame maple binding. It's likely wrapped when she shot these. I think I'm putting on a Kent Armstrong replica of a DeArmond 1100...
Big
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Mr.Wu certainly has talent. Nice Mike !
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BigMike ,
Very nice body shape and I really like the overall look. Quiet elegant !
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Dang it Mike! Now I have to order another one from Mr. Wu.
Very, very nice. Enjoy it!
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Nice, Mike.
If I can inquire, how much does Mister Wu charge for a beauty like this?
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I have a lengthy history with Mr Wu, so Ms Lora always tries to waive her percentage for handling the order which I bluntly refuse... I would say around $1500.00 to $1800.00 depending on how fancy the wood is you ask for. After a really thorough work over of the frets and a setup here in the States you have QUITE the guitar. You know me I love them all !!
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Looks killer Mike! I'm really curious to see how accurate Wu was with the shape of the '5 guard. Can't wait to see it. Mr Wu complained about making pickguards during my order even after I offered to pay more. I understand making pick guards and tailpieces are a time waster for him but his products deserve to be fully finished just as a western luthier would do. At any rate I'm anxious to see this guitar on this side of the pond. Congrats BM!
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Oh Boy, I got a tracking number !!!!
Big
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Mike,
The appointments you get with the that guitar, for the price you pay is almost illegal!
Forget the fact that American builders don't have east access to some of the materials used in your build, but the craftsmanship used in the build would cost 4 times as much.
I like the color, the inlays, the bindings and the cupid bow. But I love the whole guitar!
Nice going. Thank you for sharing.
J D
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Well the guitar arrived Saturday, I was sick all week with a nasty cold. Cleaning lady was here sanitizing and cleaning up when the box got delivered. I think my cold broke sometime last night and I feel a lot better now. Amazing actually.
It was 40 when the box got here and the box was pretty cold so considering how crummy I felt I let the box rest all night in the guest room. After my first cup I opened a bunch of small parcels to clear off the bed and then Ms Lora's box... Doggone boys she sure is purty. Mr. Wu really and I mean REALLY nailed the color I wanted. This guy is really something else. I did a quick photo shoot in the office bathroom and it's supposed to get to 60 today here so later I'll shoot some crummy porch shots. Here's a few photos from the office bathroom.
It's remarkably light - like a bag of popcorn light. I only have it tuned up about half way. I learned to take these things slowly, especially when they came half way around the world... Couldn't find the pick guard in the box or case so wrote Lora about that... No big whoop.
You know since I ordered this guitar I bought a bunch of heavy hitting instruments. So knowing the company I have been keeping let me say sorta what 2B said: for the money you pay you get a remarkable instrument. Seems Mr. Wu and Mrs. Wu have been growing hugely - each time they do a job it seems a tiny bit better than the last one. Nothing to shake a stick at... I'm pleased to introduce you to Rosie... yeah because of the color and the roses...
Big
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And a few more, then time for some breakfast and more coffee !!!
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Wow!, Big, just wow! And maybe a couple more wow!s for good measure. That sure is some eye-candy! I'll bet it sounds as sweet as it looks. Congratulations, and play it in good health!
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Mike....what a beauty ! May the good Lord give you many more years to enjoy all your beauties.
One of these days you need to do a group shot like Patrick used to do. Enjoy !!!
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Took a 2nd look around as I want to run this box and a bunch of other boxes to the recycling dumpster. FOUND THE PICKGUARD safely wrapped up in the case pocket under a slab of styrofoam... Yeah !!! He NAILED THIS TOO !!!!
2B, what say ye ??Last edited by BigMikeinNJ; 10-23-2016 at 12:23 PM.
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Originally Posted by 2bornot2bop
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Tuned her up to pitch, and strummed a bit. Took her into the "shop" (office bathroom with very bright lights) and lowered the pitch and raised the action a taste. Then tuned back up to pitch - new guitar, new strings that takes a minute to do. Opinion: she is loud like I hoped she would be. Just over 2 inches deep, it's comfy in my lap. It's too doggone nice out to be in the house posting so you all have a great day !!
Big
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BM, a double thumbs up with the final result!
I love the Rose inlay at both the headstock and integrated into the tailpiece. SUPERB job on that abalone by Mrs. Wu? That's some very nice work!
I dig the shading. And the L5 style guard in Ebony bound w/ the 5 ply Maple/Ebony where the binding connects to the fretboard binding drives home the point that the Wu team really excels in wood binding!
I love the end result. You must be ecstatic, and hey, another NGD! I mean come on, it must have been misery having to go a few weeks without another guitar arriving
Nothing like a NGD to make a cold feel better. I've been away for most of the week, but peeked in and wondered where you were. Get better! Hot and Sour soup will chase that bug brother!
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