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BRW/Torrified Adi OM. My First Commissioned Build

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2016 8:40 pm
by Diane Kauffmds
Things have taken a turn toward the truly strange and weird.

On a whim, I decided to sell the first guitar that I made, the Peruvian Walnut/Carpathian Spruce OM: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=7067&hilit=peruvian+walnut
I put it on Ebay and it sold in 2 1/2 hours to a doctor in GA. He contacted me a few days later and asked if I would build him a custom guitar.

After talking it over for a while, we decided that I would build an homage to a 1931 Martin OM-45 DeLuxe, which will include a special pickguard, inlaid by inlay artist Dr. David Nichols. The sides/bottom will be old Brazilian Rosewood (with appropriate CITES paperwork) with the best torrified adirondack top that we could find. I'll be using the plans from a 1931 Martin OM.

My customer also writes for a boutique magazine. He's going to write an article, detailing the building of this guitar. The circulation is 50,000.

All I can think of is, "Please Lord, don't let me screw up!"

Re: BRW/Torrified Adi OM. My First Commissioned Build

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2016 9:18 pm
by MaineGeezer
Keep us posted on your progress!

You'll do fine.

Re: BRW/Torrified Adi OM. My First Commissioned Build

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2016 10:36 pm
by Danl8
I had the opportunity to play an OM-45 Deluxe (2015 version) at the factory. Also done in BRW as yours will be, it was a wonderful work of art and probably worth the $100k it costs. I'm going to enjoy this build (vicariously, of course).

Re: BRW/Torrified Adi OM. My First Commissioned Build

Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2016 6:46 am
by tippie53
we will watch this all the way
jh

Re: BRW/Torrified Adi OM. My First Commissioned Build

Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2016 8:56 am
by johnnparchem
Diane,

Congratulations, sounds like a very fun project.

Re: BRW/Torrified Adi OM. My First Commissioned Build

Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2016 10:46 am
by MaineGeezer
Nothing like starting at the top and working your way down! <grin>

Re: BRW/Torrified Adi OM. My First Commissioned Build

Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2016 1:17 pm
by Kevin Sjostrand
Wow Diane, what an awesome opportunity! Sounds like you have it under control, I hope you are charging a fair price for all the time you will be putting in on this one.
Congrats!

Re: BRW/Torrified Adi OM. My First Commissioned Build

Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2016 6:35 pm
by Diane Kauffmds
MaineGeezer wrote:Nothing like starting at the top and working your way down! <grin>
Hahaha! Ain't THAT the truth!

Re: BRW/Torrified Adi OM. My First Commissioned Build

Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2016 6:54 pm
by Diane Kauffmds
Danl8 wrote:I had the opportunity to play an OM-45 Deluxe (2015 version) at the factory. Also done in BRW as yours will be, it was a wonderful work of art and probably worth the $100k it costs. I'm going to enjoy this build (vicariously, of course).
He originally contacted me and talked about building a dread. We got to talking and he started thinking of an OM/000. While looking on the interne, he saw a 1930 OM-45 De Luxe Authentic guitar, that he's fallen in love with. The build has morphed into building it to these specs, as close as possible.

It is very possible that it's the same guitar that you played. However, finding the MOP banjo tuners that are on the Authentic isn't going to happen, so I'll be installing Waverly black mother of pearl tuners.

Re: BRW/Torrified Adi OM. My First Commissioned Build

Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2016 7:09 pm
by Diane Kauffmds
Believe it or not, I've already spent quite a few hours on this, locating special supplies and suppliers.

I need to say a special Thank You, to John Hall, who has once again come through for me, steering me in the right direction to get this put together.

The build should start next week.

First, I needed a workshop. Up until this point, I've been working were ever I could find space, like the dining table, front porch, etc. However, working out of 4 gym bags loaded with tools, plus assorted other tool cases, just doesn't work. I'm an organized person and I hate having to look for my tools.

My husband has a work area in 1/4 of the basement. He's walling off this area, so that I'll have an enclosed, clean room. We'll share the room. The room is ~ 8' x 14'; so my "wall" area is 7' x 8' x 7'. I found a workbench that's 4' long x 2' deep, with drawers and a shelf under the bench. The back of the bench is a pegboard which runs the length and is ~ 2' high. It has a 22" fluorescent light at the top.

So, we're in the process of building the workroom, which should be completed in the next couple of days.