News
Carpathian Spruce/Cocobolo
Year: 2010Builder: Greg Gwaltney
Model: 000-13
Top: Carpathian Spruce
Body: Cocobolo
Body Binding: Macassar Ebony, with Maple purfling
Rosette: Ziricote with Cocobolo inner ring
Bridge: African Blackwood
Saddle: Bone
String Spacing at Saddle: 2.25"
Fretboard: Ebony
Fretboard Binding: Macassar Ebony
Frets: 20
Scale Length: 25.4"
Fretboard Inlay: none
Side Fret Markers: Maple vertical lines
Neck: Mahogany/Macassar Ebony/Maple
Heelcap: Ziricote
Nut: Bone
Nut Width: 1.75"
Headstock Overlay: Ziricote
Tuners: Gold Gotoh 510s (18:1 ratio) w/ black buttons
Pickup: none
Case: Ameritage hardshell
Click on thumbnails to view larger images:
I was in the recording studio during the Guitar Pieces sessions when I received an email from luthier Greg Gwaltney. I had seen Gwaltney guitars mentioned on the Acoustic Guitar Forum a few times, but I was not at all familiar with Greg's guitars.
I found out that Greg lives and builds in Dahlonega, Georgia... which is within a half-hour's drive up GA-400 from my home in Cumming. I was surprised to know that a luthier lived so close to me, yet I hadn't seen--much less played--any of his guitars.
Greg had likewise discovered that we were practically neighbors, and contacted me because he was hoping that I'd be willing to play a couple of his guitars and give him some feedback. Being a guitar lover, naturally I said yes. I always like to try out new guitars, and here was an opportunity to "discover" a luthier in my own backyard.
We set up a time to meet, and Greg and his wife came to my house with one completed guitar and one guitar in progress. I was immediately drawn to the second guitar; for one thing, the finished guitar was in a case, so I wasn't able to see it right away, and secondly, I just don't get to see that many guitars that are actually being built. I'm more accustomed to seeing the finished product, so it's always neat to inspect a guitar while it's being constructed.
The first thing I noticed about the guitar was Greg's use of carbon fiber rods as braces to make the sides of the guitar even more rigid than usual. Greg explained that the carbon fiber made the guitar body extremely stable, and it allowed him to use a more lightly-raced top that would be much more responsive than that of a traditional guitar. We talked a bit about Greg's construction methods and theories, and I was impressed by the amount of detail Greg put into his designs and the passion for lutherie that was clearly evident.
After the "lutherie lesson," it was time to check out the other guitar. It was a 000-13 model (a 13-fret small-bodied guitar) with a sinker redwood top and cocobolo back and sides. The first thing I like to new when trying out a new guitar is to look it over closely, soaking in the aesthetics of the design, the woods used, and the detailed appointments that help define a builder's style. The guitar looked as nicely built as any I'd ever seen, so I was a bit surprised to find out that it was one of the first dozen or so guitars that Greg had built. The fit and finish were impeccable, and the guitar had the kind of understated elegance that I like in a fine instrument. I'm definitely impressed at this point, but I still wasn't prepared for what was to come.
After the visual inspection, of course, it's time to play the guitar and see how it sounds--and almost as importantly, to see how it feels. A great-sounding guitar can be squandered if it's difficult or uncomfortable to play, and the easist and most comfortable guitar to play isn't worth much if it doesn't sound great.
Within moments of picking up the 000-13, I knew that neither the sound or the feel would be an issue with this guitar. The neck had a distinctly different feel to it; it was a little shallower than I'm used to, but not uncomfortably so; in fact, the neck's profile actually created the impression that the nut's width was wider than it's actual 1 3/4". I typically prefer wider necks because the string spacing allows for better left-hand articulation, and I can honestly say that this guitar had the most comfortable string spacing of any guitar I've ever played with a 1 3/4" nut; it felt like it had the room of a 1 7/8" nut but was easier to play.
The best part, of course, was the sound. Anyone who's ever heard me play knows that I have an extremely light touch; I play quieter than just about any other guiarist I've ever heard. There's something I love about the tone of a guitar when it's not being pushed to produce its maximum volume. Because of this preference and playing style, the guitars I like best tend to have very responsive tops that "sing" when played with a light touch.
Folks, I've never played a guitar that gave me so much tone (and volume) with so little effort. I usually have to "dig in" a little to get the sound I want, but with the Gwaltney guitar, I can play totally relaxed and still get good volume and great tone. The combination of the redwood top and cocobolo back and sides give the guitar a smooth, warm richness with enough overtones to add harmonic complexity... which is exactly the kind of sound that works best with my style.
I liked the test-drive guitar so much that I decided to have Greg build a guitar for me using the same tonewood combination. Other than some minor changes in the aesthetic appointments (using bloodwood and maple for the bindings, rosette, etc.), the only significant difference will be the addition of a wedge-shaped body where the bass side will be noticeably slimmer than the treble side. This is an ergonomic design that makes the guitar more comfortable to play, since there's less girth for the player's arm to wrap around.
I will post pictures of the guitar being built as I receive updates from Greg... so check back often to follow its progress!
