Style
I aim to give my guitars a tone that is very much their own, rather than emulating other makers. There is a perfect sound deep in my subconscious, fully formed but just at the edge of my awareness. I think perhaps we have all experienced this. With each instrument I strive to do justice to this elusive sound.
My approach has elements of both the intuitive traditionalist and the modern "progressive" luthier. For the soundboard, I use my own variation on an asymmetric fan bracing and I take great care with the tuning of components: aiming for strong coupling between the soundboard, back, and air resonances. This contributes to an even response across the full range. I also take great care over intonation and playability. Further detail on my construction techniques can be found in the workshop section of this site.
I work alone, by hand, one guitar at a time. I find this allows me to devote my full attention to the developing character of each instrument. I use a thought out combination of modern machinery and traditional hand tools. Repetitive tasks, thicknessing the sides or squaring the neck blank, are achieved using machinery. This gives me more time to spend on critical areas, such as contouring the soundboard thickness or tuning the front and back. All my guitars are French Polished, by hand, in the traditional way. However modern your outlook, and however difficult it may be, this is the only option for a responsive instrument.
The resultant instrument has a sound that has been described as forward and powerful. It has a deep, direct bass when compared to the traditional Spanish sound, which is perhaps more rounded and seems to arrive from all directions. The treble is clear and singing, the mid range even and incisive. The playability and intonation are clean and exact. The aesthetic is distinctive and subtle.
My methods constantly evolve but my goal remains clear: to chase That Sound.