When the 2024 SIMSCal guitar making class got underway I got a little busy and forgot to post this build.
This was a christmas present for my college roommate who spent a goodly part of his younger days as a golf superintendent. When I found a back and side set of curly persimmon wood on Ebay I knew what it was intended for immediately. For those of you who dont do golf, before the widespread adoption of metal drivers the best club heads were made from persimmon which is a member of the ebony family.
Being unfamiliar with the wood and not wanting to risk cracking a side I decided to gas the back and sides with industrial ammonia to soften the wood before bending and to pop the grain by darkening any tannins that might be present. The experiment was extremely successful as the sides bent like al dente pasta.
Guitar was built with hot hide glue and french polished.
Specs as follows :
Adirondack Spruce Top with Adirondack Spruce braces
Herringbone Trim
Curly Persimmon Back Sides and Backstrap
Honduran Mahogany back braces and kerfing
Zipper Backstrip
Macassar Ebony Fretboard Bridge and Head plate
Bone Nut, Black Bison Horn Bridge Pins w MOP dots
MOP Position Markers and Headstock Inlay
3 pc laminated Birdseye Maple Neck (Maple / Walnut / Maple)
Jescar Fretwire
Grover 18:1 Open Back Tuners