Acoustic Instruments

In addition to electric guitars I've been making some acoustic guitars and other instruments.  Here is a list.

El Gato Guitar

El Gato was my first acoustic guitar.  Since I wasn't confident at making guitar necks at the time, it has a bolt-on neck (made by all-parts).  I also didn't understand the need to keep the bridge light and instead used a metal bridge from an electric guitar.  This makes the guitar quieter than it needs to be.  The sides are also thicker (about an inch) as I wasn't sure how thin I could make them.  So the guitar is also quite heavy.

​My daughter owns this guitar.  Maybe I'll replace the bridge some day.

El Oso Clasico

This was my second acoustic guitar and was much more successful.  This is a classical nylon string guitar with a full 25 inch scale but a shorter body and still has a nice sound.  It also has double-cutaways to access the higher frets.

All mahogany with a cedar soundboard.  The neck has a titanium rod for support and it also seems to help it resonate the sound into the sound box.

I called it "El Oso" (the bear) because it kind of looks like a bear face when you look at it.  ​This is my favorite acoustic guitar and I will probably never part with it.

Apollo Lyre

This is a 19 string lyre.  It has a small sound box which helps to amplify the sound.   Made of mahogany with a spruce soundboard.

I still own it.  It sits in the corner though so I should probably sell it.

La Piña Tenor Ukulele

This is a tenor ukulele with a pineapple carved back made from a piece of mahogany with a spruce soundboard.  I played it for a summer then decided to sell it.  Hopefully the new owner is enjoying it.

I used a Merlin 2 mini-angle grinder to do the carving.  (If you get one of these, throw away the mini-chain saw.  It is too dangerous to use.)

La Rosa Guitar

This is a smaller, parlor sized guitar with a string-through bridge that reduces the tension on the soundboard.  I had fun with epoxy on this guitar and used it to make a rose vine running down the fretboard and around the sound hole.

La Rosa Grande Guitar

This is a full-sized version of La Rosa acoustic guitar, meant to provide a deeper volume to the bass strings.

Infinito Tenor Guitar

This is a four nylon string acoustic guitar with a 21 inch scale length.  It is slightly longer than a baritone ukulele and is tuned the same as the high four strings of a standard guitar.   I've built two of these, one with a cedar soundboard and the other with a spruce soundboard.

This is called "Infinito" because if you look at it you will see the infinity curve in a few locations.

Infinito Clasico

This is a (near) full size six string version of the Infinito design.   Even though this is a nylon string guitar, the tuners on the headstock are steel-string versions.  The neck is also narrower, like a steel string guitar.

El Oso 12 String

This is a 12 string version of the El Oso design.  It also has a 26.5 inch scale length and a "C" tuning.   The soundboard is cedar which is soft so it bent slightly under the pressure of the strings, but otherwise seems to be handling the stress.  It has a really nice sound.

Prima Balalaika

This is my interpretation of the Russian folk classic.  The body is made of alternating walnut and maple, with a walnut neck, spruce soundboard and maple fretboard.  The wood for the body is carved rather than bent.

Mandolele

This is an eight string ukulele with a mandolin shape.  It is baritone (19 inch) scale length and is tuned like the top eight strings of a 12 string guitar.

This version is made with nylon strings and a cedar soundboard.

La Osa Acustica

This is a modification of the El Oso guitar shape with electric guitar strings and tuners.  It is meant to have a steel string guitar sound but with lighter strings that are easier to perform bends with..  sort of like playing an electric guitar unplugged.  It also has a full 24 frets!

Infinita Acustica (in design)

This is a redesign of Infinito for steel strings.  The curves are slightly different and the bridge is redesigned to give it a more elegant look and support the strings (which are front loaded).  It also has a sapele rosette for strength.

​The bracing is a tri-fan like on La Osa, as I seem to be having the best luck obtaining pleasing tone with fan bracing.