Spalted Tamarind Custom Jumbo Acoustic with a Cutaway

Spalted Tamarind Custom Guitar Back

Interior guitar bracingHere is one of the latest guitars I’m working on. The back and sides of the guitar are spalted tamarind.

Spalted Tamarind Custom Guitar Back

The back and sides will be Tamarind, an unusual highly figured wood.

Here is a side that has been bent and placed in the form.

Here is a side that has been bent and placed in the form.


After I have sanded all the wood to the proper thickness, it's time to bend the sides. I use a heated bending form along with moisture to bend the sides to shape.

After I have sanded all the wood to the proper thickness, it’s time to bend the sides. I use a heated bending form along with moisture to bend the sides to shape.


After bending the two sides I bend the cutaway portion by hand using a hot pipe and water. All the pieces are in the form ready to glue together.

After bending the two sides I bend the cutaway portion by hand using a hot pipe and water. All the pieces are in the form ready to glue together.

The linings are glued in around the top and back to provide more gluing area. I use clothespins as clamps while the glue dries.

The linings are glued in around the top and back to provide more gluing area. I use clothespins as clamps while the glue dries.

The rim assembly. My cat looks over the quality of the workmanship and gives it his approval.

The rim assembly. My cat looks over the quality of the workmanship and gives it his approval.

The previous back wood warped up due to the crazy grain so RC Tonewoods was kind enough to send me this back set which has stayed flat. http://rctonewoods.com/RCT_Store/

The previous back wood warped up due to the crazy grain so RC Tonewoods was kind enough to send me this back set which has stayed flat.
http://rctonewoods.com/RCT_Store/

Here I am cutting a piece of amboyna burl wood to make the rosette. I use a circle cutter to cut out a ring of wood.

Here I am cutting a piece of amboyna burl wood to make the rosette. I use a circle cutter to cut out a ring of wood.

The ring of amboyna is inlaid into a channel in the top and sanded flush.

The ring of amboyna is inlaid into a channel in the top and sanded flush.

I start with a slab of sitka spruce and cut it into thin pieces, then shape the pieces to make the bracing wood for the top. These will be glued to the underside of the top to reinforce it.

I start with a slab of sitka spruce and cut it into thin pieces, then shape the pieces to make the bracing wood for the top. These will be glued to the underside of the top to reinforce it.

All of the internal bracing has been glued in and the top has been glued to the rim. Now the back can be glued on to complete the box.

All of the internal bracing has been glued in and the top has been glued to the rim. Now the back can be glued on to complete the box.

I am using the table saw to cut the scarf joint where the peghead joins the neck.

I am using the table saw to cut the scarf joint where the peghead joins the neck.

Custom Mandocello

I received a custom order for a mandocello with a guitar body.

The sides have been bent and are placed in the mold to give the body its shape.

The sides have been bent and are placed in the mold to give the body its shape.

The linings are glued to the sides for reinforcement. Clothespins are used as clamps until the glue dries.

The linings are glued to the sides for reinforcement. Clothespins are used as clamps until the glue dries.

The completed rim. Very strong and rigid. The top, back and neck will attached to the rim.

The completed rim. Very strong and rigid. The top, back and neck will attached to the rim.

After I make the rosette I inlay it into the top then scrape it flush.

After I make the rosette I inlay it into the top then scrape it flush.

I make the braces out of Sitka spruce. I glue them on using a dished form so that the top has a slight arch which makes it much stronger.

I make the braces out of Sitka spruce. I glue them on using a dished form so that the top has a slight arch which makes it much stronger.

The top and back have been braced and are ready to glue to the rim to create the body of the mandocello.

The top and back have been braced and are ready to glue to the rim to create the body of the mandocello.

Mahogany neck blank has the truss rod slot and is ready to be cut to shape.

Mahogany neck blank has the truss rod slot and is ready to be cut to shape.

The neck has been cut to size and the fingerboard is made.

The neck has been cut to size and the fingerboard is made.

The peghead is cut to shape and is ready for the    binding which has already been bent to shape.

The peghead is cut to shape and is ready for the binding which has already been bent to shape.

The neck and fingerboard ready for inlay.

The neck and fingerboard ready for inlay.

The inside bracing of the top and back.

The inside bracing of the top and back.

Cutting the inlay, a custom V8 symbol to represent the 8 string mandocello.

Cutting the inlay, a custom V8 symbol to represent the 8 string mandocello.

Gluing the fingerboard to the neck.

Gluing the fingerboard to the neck.

Sanding the body with my trust Dynabrade pneumatic sander.

Sanding the body with my trust Dynabrade pneumatic sander.

The mandocello ready for finish.

The mandocello ready for finish.

The head stock ready for finish.

The head stock ready for finish.

The body is ready for finish but first I have to mask off the binding and the rosette so I can spray the sunburst.

The body is ready for finish but first I have to mask off the binding and the rosette so I can spray the sunburst.

The tobacco sunburst has been sprayed on and I can take the masking off the binding.

The tobacco sunburst has been sprayed on and I can take the masking off the binding.

The tobacco sunburst has been sprayed on the the top, back and sides.

The tobacco sunburst has been sprayed on the the top, back and sides.

Double Cutaway Acoustic Guitar

final front dbl cut

This is a truly custom guitar, a one-of-a-kind acoustic double cutaway. It is based on my Jumbo shape and sounds fantastic! The top is Adirondack spruce and the back and sides are curly walnut. It is currently for sale. Let me know if you have any questions about it.


Custom Snap-On Tools Guitar

 In 2013 I was commissioned to build a custom acoustic guitar for Snap On Tools.  They wanted a guitar for a promotional event, it had to be playable since it was going to be played on stage in Nashville and they wanted the neck to look like a Snap-On wrench. It required extensive artwork and graphics but in the end they got exactly what they wanted. Now it hangs in the Snap-On museum in Kenosha WI.

final front 02final front 01

final front 01
final front endview sm

final top sm
The back of the guitar was painted with custom graphics

The back of the guitar was painted with custom graphics

The headstock was made to look like a wrench with a hex nut

The headstock was made to look like a wrench with a hex nut

21 String Hollow Arm Harp Guitar

Front, full view of the 21 string hollow arm Harp Guitar

Back Side of 21 string Hollow Arm Harp GuitarThe 21 string hollow arm harp guitar is the most logical layout for getting the most notes easily accessible on a harp guitar. This harp guitar is influenced heavily by the John Doan harp guitar which was designed and built by Jeffery Elliot and John Sullivan.

The top is Sitka spruce, back and sides are Indian rosewood. The neck is made from mahogany with an ebony fingerboard and bridge. The body is bound in curly maple and paua abalone and finished in lacquer.

There are a total of 21 strings, 7 sub-bass, 6 melody, 8 super trebles. In this case they are tuned (low to high) EFGABCD EADGBE efgabcde for a total of 5 octaves. The sub-basses are wound nylon, the melody strings are phos bronze and the super trebles are steel.

If you are interested in commisioning a custom harp guitar please let me know and we can discuss tunings, woods, inlay. etc. Every one is unique and built to custom order. If you would like more information feel free to contact me at Jim@WorlandGuitars.com

Lyra Harp Guitar – Sitka Spruce

The lyra harp guitar is inspired by William Eaton who built the original Lyraharp Guitar. Played like a standard guitar, the harp guitarist can pluck the harp strings or let them ring along with the melody strings adding depth to the overall sound.

The top is Sitka spruce, back and sides are Hawiian Koa wood. The necks are made from mahogany and topped with ebony. The body and necks are trimmed in curly maple.

There are a total of 24 strings, 10 sub-bass, 6 melody and 8 super trebles. They can be tuned any way the played wants and sound great when tuned to open tunings.

If you are interested in commisioning a lyra harp guitar please let me know and we can discuss tunings, woods, inlay. etc. Every one is unique and built to custom order. If you would like more information feel free to contact me.

Gibson Style Harp Guitar

A modern custom Harp Guitar based on the Gibson Model U

The Gibson model U harp guitar was a fairly popular harp guitar when they were made between the 1890’s and the 1930’s. They are big and heavy and are not as popular among harp guitarists today as the Dyer style.

My version of the Gisbon model U is built like a modern flat top guitar with braced top and back rather than the carved arch top and back of the originals. This gives it a sound more like a flat top guitar that most people are used to. It also makes for a lighter more responsive instrument. The body is scaled down to make it less cumbersome to hold.

The top of this particular example is cedar, back and sides are curly walnut with curly maple binding. The necks are made from mahogany with ebony fittings. It has 6 sub basses tuned with geared banjo tuners.

If you are interested in commisioning a harp guitar please let me know and we can discuss tunings, woods, inlay. etc. Every one is unique and built to custom order. If you would like more information feel free to contact me.

Lyra Harp Guitar – Koa

The Lyra Harp Guitar

lyra-harp-guitarThe Lyra harp guitar is inspired by William Eaton who built the original Lyraharp Guitar.

This version was designed in close collaboration with Echo Greywolf, the musician who now owns and plays it.

The Harp Guitar is played like a standard guitar, the harp guitarist can pluck the harp strings or let them ring along with the melody strings adding depth to the overall sound.


Vintage style L-00 with Italian spruce top, Honduran rosewood back and sides

Vintage sunburst top with a tortoise shell pickguard.
Vintage sunburst top with a tortoise shell pickguard.

Vintage sunburst top with a tortoise shell pickguard.

A highly customized vintage style guitar that was designed by the customer. The shape is based on a 1930’s Gibson L-00 that caught his eye. All of the appointments were specified by the customer, from the peghead shape which he found on an old National to the inlay inspired from a Silvertone. Some of his comments:

Read a review of this guitar on the Acoustic Guitar forum

“Well, you’ve outdone yourself again, Jim, and beat my expectations, too. Wow! This guitar is just so amazing. To be honest, I was a bundle of nerves all day (lots of butterflies). It arrived around 3 pm, but I didn’t get up the nerve to open the box until 6 pm. And then once I had the case out of the box, I was afraid to lift the lid. Maryann just laughed at me and opened it for me. What a sight! To my eyes, the most beautiful guitar I’ve ever seen.

The lush Honduran rosewood, the amazing color and shading, the lovely binding, purfling, and rosette. The cool peghead shape. The extra cool-looking inlays. I was surprised to see that your gold MOP logo matches perfectly with the vintage-style tuning keys. Beautiful craftsmanship all around. Fit and finish look perfect.

You know I love the vintage body shape, but the slim soft-V neck was a bit of a gamble, and yet it feels perfect. I tuned it up and played just a little (because I’m afraid I’ll scratch it), and it sounds young but really fine already. I was surprised at the bass and huge volume for such a small bodied guitar. It’s bright and clear and really rings out. And to think it will only get better. I’ll play a lot more tomorrow (and for years, I’m sure) but for now I’m content to just marvel at its stunning beauty.

You can’t get a guitar like this at Guitar Center at any price, and even though there are plenty of fine sounding and playing guitars at the better shops, you put the whole package together for me: beautiful tone, great feel, and everything I wanted in vintage looks. A simple “thank you” seems too little for such a fine thing, but here it is — Thanks! ”

Jumbo with sitka spruce top, curly koa back and sides

Curly koa back and sides.
This Jumbo model was built as a fingerstyle performance guitar. It has a koa back and sides with a sitka spruce top and a sharp cutaway. Some comments from the owner after picking up his new guitar:

This Jumbo model was built as a fingerstyle performance guitar. It has a koa back and sides with a sitka spruce top and a sharp cutaway. Some comments from the owner after picking up his new guitar:

This Jumbo model was built as a fingerstyle performance guitar. It has a koa back and sides with a sitka spruce top and a sharp cutaway. Some comments from the owner after picking up his new guitar:

Jim, thanks again for the fine work! Sorry I couldn’t stay longer: it promised to be a long day and I finally pulled in here at 4:45 totally exhausted. But Taylor people will tell you that you only need 30 seconds to tell whether a guitar is any good or not, and yours blew me away in15! I can tell you right now that it’s at least as good if not better than my 510! I may take it up to the jam session on Tuesday in Coopersville if the weather permits. Again thanks! rdw

Yah, I figured you meant “with it”. I hope to do that in the spring when I re-record a couple of tracks off my first CD. In the mean time, I finally got around to playing it this afternoon, what with church and letting it “climatize” and I would say it’s FANTASTIC, INCREDIBLE, THE BEST THING I’VE EVER PLAYED! Did I get that emphatic enough? It reminds me of a D-35 I played many years ago at my buddy’s store the day I bought my Guild instead – couldn’t afford the Martin. It just took the place of my 414 on Double Drop D and I’m putting that up for sale ASAP so I can get the Breedlove by Christmas. Best of wishes for the upcoming holidays – RDW