I didn't post about it for a while but my first real guitar project the Epsilon is finished and it's a great player as much as a real beauty. The idea was to make a guitar both ergonomic and looking wild - one I would want to play on stage -, and if I believe the feedback I've had so far it's not a complete failure.
The body is made of ash, the neck is maple (neck-through-body construction) and the fretboard is plum (all woods come from Europe). Pickups are handwound The Creamery Custom Double Track Humbuckers (they sound just wonderful!), wraparound bridge and locking tuners are Schaller, knobs and switch are Duesenberg, pickguard is laser cut polished aluminium.
It was a long and sometimes difficult process (I'll make another post later about the whole story) but I'm delighted with the result. Some of you have been following this blog for years and witnessed my many attempts at designing then making guitars, now I know why I've dedicated so much time and effort: the Epsilon is not only a great achievement for me, but I hope also the first step of a great journey!
Of course you don't have to believe me when I say it's a great guitar, so I asked Argentinian guitarist extraordinaire Diego Munè to test the Epsilon, and it's like they were made for each other - Diego's music is right for the guitar and he really loves it...
Looks and sounds fantastic! Really nice design you came up with there!
ReplyDeletethank you Gavin - and being in contact with you these last years has without any doubt fuelled my inspiration.
Deletegreat work - so nice to see one "pop off the paper" as it were
ReplyDeleteNice a guitar and can multitask with it, in the winter it can double as a expensive hockey stick.Kidding I think it's great ,I can't stand a headstock that is pretentious for no logical reason and is just "form over function".
ReplyDeletehere is the first headstock I designed and made - and I don't really dare to use this guitar anymore because of it... :-§
Deletehttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mgGR4foB0LE/SjewvHHzC8I/AAAAAAAACcU/XqSozUILj9s/s1600-h/teleVangelist.jpg
Really works well. Great to see this project finally "out there"
ReplyDeleteI do appreciate the ergonomic side of the body's design. I dig the wide tonal palette as well. But I've found that I prefer a headless guitar. For balance it helps, but also I find tuning so much easier. There's no strain on the left arm as when tuning with a headstock. The overall look pleases me, and it's much easier to travel with. Would you or have you ever considered a headless ergonomic build? Keep up the good, and unique work. Thanks! -Glenn
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment. I'm not a fan of headless guitars, mostly for visual reasons, they just feel incomplete (unless it's a classic Steinberger, then it's perfect). Also it seems obvious to me that the headstock has an influence on the sound - mostly on the sustain, hence the big head of the Epsilon. About balancing, playing and tuning honestly I couldn't tell, since I never played one more than a few minutes to try... But my partner Goran favours headless and I'm working on a headless model for him...
DeleteI love it! It sounds great, looks like a 60's version of a "futuristic" guitar. Totally agree about Diego Munè and Epsilon. Can't wait 'til you mass produce them so I can see the price and go... "when will China make a rip off, ya think?".
ReplyDelete