The Steel String Flattop Series
Flattop Guitars
Delta Blues Buddy:
I am building small bodied steel string guitars based on my Blues Buddy body shape. You could think of them as the Delta Blues Buddy, or not. These guitars are approximately a 000 size body. They are available with the 24.9″ 000 scale length or a 25.7″ scale length. Standard woods are Indian Rosewood back and sides, Sitka or Engelmann spruce top, and mahogany or Cuban cedar neck. Other woods and scale lengths are available by arrangement.
WOODS: Standard backs and sides are made from Indian rosewood. Necks are mahogany or Cuban cedar. Bridge, fingerboard, and head stock face overlay are all rosewood. Tops are available in Sitka, Engelmann, and Blue spruce.
STRUCTURAL DETAILS: An adjustable two way steel truss rod and carbon fiber reinforcement is standard. Standard scale lengths are 24.9″ or 25.7â€. The standard top bracing pattern is an x-brace with finger braces, but other bracing schemes are available as an option.
| Flattop Guitar Base Prices | |
|---|---|
| Delta Blues Buddy Acoustic Flattop Guitar | $3500 |
| Hybrid Blues Buddy Acoustic Flattop Guitar | $4300 |
| Upgrades to Delta Blues Buddy | |
|---|---|
| Alternate wood back and sides | $200 – $2000 |
| Pickup system | $TBD |
| Alternate tuning keys | $TBD |
| Tinted neck | $150 |
| Sunburst finish (top and neck) | $300 |
| Bound headstock | $50 |
| MOP dot position markers | $75 |
| MOP block position markers | $150 |
| Other inlay work | $ TBD |
FINISHING: Standard tuning machines are chrome Gotoh with metal knobs. Standard binding is single layer ivoroid or single layer wood. The standard finish is clear nitrocellulose lacquer. Side marker dots are the only standard position markers. Abalone or MOP (mother of pearl) fingerboard inlays are available as an option.
⇒ Ordering and warranty info
Hybrid Blues Buddy:
I am also building a hybrid version of the Delta Blues Buddy using a flat top and a carved back. These guitars offer yet another tonal color and response characteristic to the guitarist.
WOODS: The standard woods for these guitars consists of maple back, sides and neck with a Sitka spruce top. Bridge, fingerboard and headplate are all ebony, with rosewood optionally available.
STRUCTURAL DETAILS:An adjustable two way steel truss rod and carbon fiber reinforcement is standard. Standard scale lengths are 24.9″ or 25.7â€. The standard bracing is x-bracing with fingers, the same as the Delta Blues Buddy. Optionally available is a ladder braced version with a floating bridge. This is conceptually similar to the Selmer style guitars.
| Upgrades to Hybrid Blues Buddy | |
|---|---|
| Highly figured maple back and sides | $200 – $1000 |
| Pickup system | $TBD |
| Alternate tuning keys | $TBD |
| Tinted finish | $150 |
| Sunburst finish | $300 |
| Multilayer binding | $200 |
| MOP dot position markers | $75 |
| MOP block position markers | $150 |
| Other inlay work | $ TBD |
| Ebony tailpiece on Selmer style | $300 |
FINISHING: Standard tuning machines are chrome Gotoh with metal knobs. Standard binding is single layer ivoroid or single layer wood. The standard finish is clear nitrocellulose lacquer. Side marker dots are the only standard position markers. Abalone or MOP (mother of pearl) fingerboard inlays are available as an option.
⇒ Ordering and warranty info
All prices and specifications subject to change without notice. 6-31-07
