Elferink Excalibur Photo Diary

**silverfoxx** · 02-06-2018, 04:40 PM

Rob,
absolutely exquisite, a true masterpiece of lutherie., I would be beside
myself with anticipation waiting for this guitar if it was mine .
Congratulations , and we all look forward to hearing it soon
in your very capable hands, I trust that your eye is improving daily

**2bornot2bop** · 02-06-2018, 04:43 PM

Big 18" archtop fan here. I love the fact that it's a an absolutely old school Sunburst! The tailpiece design sets it off too! Congrats Rob...a long 2 week wait.

**gcb** · 02-06-2018, 05:53 PM

I like everything on that guitar. The specs, the build, the looks, everything seems so perfect. A classic and good taste design, executed by a master and that goes to the hands of an educated player. Happy to see this happen, congratulations!

**Rob MacKillop** · 02-06-2018, 06:05 PM

Cheers, gcb. I like everything on it too.

**BigMikeinNJ** · 02-06-2018, 06:10 PM

Crazy gorgeous Rob, maybe you shoulda said NSFW in your title... Truly stunning. I bet you are wetting your pants.
Kudos...

**Rob MacKillop** · 02-06-2018, 06:11 PM

Nsfw?

**Rob MacKillop** · 02-06-2018, 06:40 PM

Cheers, Big. Appreciated.

**xuoham** · 02-06-2018, 06:44 PM

Exquisitely stunning and stunningly exquisite as well !

Congratulations, and looking forward to watching/hearing the new batch of

videos from your dark castle, Rob.

**Rob MacKillop** · 02-06-2018, 06:45 PM

Ha. It's true, we don't get a lot of light through these windows. I'll do my best.

**sgosnell** · 02-06-2018, 07:25 PM

Absolutely beautiful instrument. Look and feel have a lot to do with what the fingers create. I hope it sounds as good as it looks, and I'm looking forward to hearing you play it.

**Bluedawg** · 02-06-2018, 07:26 PM

Ooooooohhhh!!!

Looking forward to seeing this in your paws

**neatomic** · 02-06-2018, 08:50 PM

so far so good...so very very good

cheers

**jads57** · 02-06-2018, 11:57 PM

I'm just amazed how affordable Elferink Archtops still are. He could charge a lot more, but I think he just really loves building them!

**Frank67** · 02-07-2018, 01:27 AM

Aaahh, ooh, the looks of this guitar is second to none and it seems to be beautifully build from the pictures. I am sure that this will also sound beautifully. A strong endorsement for Elferink. I hope that you have it soon and that irbid everything you wanted!

**feet** · 02-07-2018, 02:57 AM

rob, I'll be honest with you, buddy. I've seen worse.

can't wait

**Rob MacKillop** · 02-07-2018, 03:30 AM

Haha. Good comments, all. Of course, looks are only one part of the equation. We shall see...

**TKO** · 02-07-2018, 03:43 AM

I tried to come up with some clever ways to compliment that guitar, but I didn't come up with any. So I'll just say that it's looking very, very nice indeed.

**QAman** · 02-07-2018, 04:42 AM

Rob,
The guitar looks fantastic !

Living through a build is very exciting and also full of anticipation and thoughts of how it will feel and sound . Ive been through many, many custom builds over the past 35 years and I certainly hope it meets all your expectations - it sure is a beauty.

Just remember it’s a new guitar and may involve a bit of bonding - and the sound will develop over time as the finish hardens and develops the micro crazing ( microscopic) which liberates the top. Breaking in a new acoustic Archtop guitar is a process which requires some heavy strumming at least a few minutes each day - and use a thicker pick . The quicker you loosen up the top , the sooner the sensitivity will develop. I have a 1991 video of Jim D’Aquisto explaining this process to me and it all makes sense. This is one of the reasons why old heavily played / worn Archtops sound so good as opposed to closet queens.

Just offering my experience with having custom builds from D’Aquisto, Monteleone, Benedetto, Lacey , Triggs, Campellone, Buscarino, Grimes , Heritage , Trenier, etc. etc.

Looking forward to your NGD.

**Rob MacKillop** · 02-07-2018, 05:09 AM

TKO - that was clever enough, for sure!

QAman - I hear you. Heavy strumming and chromatic scales on each string. The neighbours will enjoy that

And, wow, what a lot of custom builds you've had, and from GREAT luthiers.

The temptation is to record a video straight away, but the guitar will never sound as bad as when you first get it. Not that it will sound bad, but will need time to reach its maturity. But we all understand that, I hope. I'll definitely be making a few videos over the coming year at least.

**Matt Cushman** · 02-07-2018, 09:52 AM

She is a real beauty Rob! No doubt she will have a voice to match her beauty.
I for one am not a subscriber to the "opening up" theory of what is behind a great sounding guitar. It is my belief that 100% of the sound is there right off the bench. Old instruments are often tweaked on the inside as well as on the outside (strings, bridge, TP etc.) having a very direct effect on sound. That is my theory of what is behind the great sound of many fine older instruments . There is no way to know for sure.

**Rob MacKillop** · 02-07-2018, 10:15 AM

Good comment, Matt, and you know your business. Yes, strings, plectrum, room size, furnishings, etc, can all contribute to the resultant sound. It's hard to determine what any particular guitar's sound is...