Artisan Master  # 148

"The Sonoran"

Inlaid Top: 1-pc. Koa
Body: Black Limba ~ semi-hollow
Neck: Black Limba
Fretboard: Ebony
Inlaid Headcap: Ebony
Bridge: Thorn 1-pc. Tremolo w/ LR Baggs CTRL-X Piezo System
Pickups: Harmonic Design V+Classics
Inlays: Sonora-Suns in Sterling Silver, Coral, Turquoise and Onyx
Headstock Inlay: Kokopeli in Sterling Silver, Coral, Turquoise and Mother of Pearl
Purfling: Turquoise
Side Dots: Turquise (12th fret side dots in Coral...thanks for that idea Noodle!)
Bits: Koa tuner buttons, knobs, trem tip and switch tip. Ebony pickup rings and Straplok sleeves.
Color: Light Caramel Burst (Satin Neck)

Weight: 6.95 pounds!!!

A long time coming and Jimmybcool was as cool as cool can b. Some of you might recognize the 1-pc. Koa top, it's the consecutive cut to Jamie's # 147 and a couple others in the works...6 in total!!!
This guitar is absolutely beautiful if I do say so myself. This inlay technique is something I've wanted to do for years...basically Native American jewelry inlaid into a fretboard - what a great look.

Onto tone...Since Jim was kind enough to let me spec the pickups it allowed me to spend a lot of time dialing it in.
The guitar is so light, loud, alive and "acoustic" sounding that I wanted to retain as much of that as possible. I started with a set of TX/BBQ Rios and then a pair of WCR Crossroads. I felt they both "colored" the sound too much, it changed it's natural tone and had too much affect/effect. After pondering on it for awhile I thought, what is the cleanest pickup I've heard...not clearest, but cleanest - least coloring....Harmonic Designs.
The Harmonic Designs V+Classics are very transparent sounding with an incredibly wide dynamic range - perfect for this guitar. They are medium output so they can still push an amp into some sweet sustain, no fear there.
They basically take the great open/airy acoustic tone of #148 and amplify it. I hope you like them Jim!

As always, thank you for being such a gentleman during the build. Not a single email or call asking for updates...first class all the way, the scotch is on me next time!!!

Ron