JUMBO ORCHESTRA MODEL (JOM)

This model really does sound like a Jumbo crossed with an OM. The tonal balance is similar to the smaller traditional Orchestra size with strong carrying trebles and a well defined bass, whilst the expanded dimensions help to add a certain airiness to the tone and greater sustain to the lower end, producing an extremely versatile instrument. So if you love big, open but well focused sounds; this is the guitar for you, meaning that this guitar has rapidly become my most popular model since its introduction.

Left; 'Standard' Sitka spruce and mahogany JOM with custom tapered head, flamed maple bindings and abalone rosette. Construction is parabolic strutting for an explosive sound to suit altered tunings. This guitar was built for Newton Faulkner in 2004.

Right; Brazilian rosewood and Adirondack spruce 'Abalone' JOM with Macassar ebony and Bloodwood fitments.

Below; other views of the same guitars.

Here are some of the most common combinations of materials used for this model and their suggested uses. 'Standard', 'Deluxe' or any custom form of decoration scheme can be combined with any of the versions. See 'Prices' and 'Decoration Schemes' for details.

Cedar and Walnut
Cedar produces a rich, fruity sound that responds beautifully to fingernails and is enhanced by the warm, woody tonality of black walnut. This combination of responsive fullness and rich flowery overtones works very well for mellow fingerstyle work; giving a unique 'earthy' tone with lovely floating overtones.

Cedar and Mahogany
Mahogany gives a harmonically richer and slightly brighter tone than walnut with less emphasis on the lower mid range and a firmer bass. This produces good separation between the notes for more complex pieces or harder fingerstyle players. Also available in my 'Celtic' style for modern fingerstyle players requiring a rich explosive sound suiting altered tunings and modern techniques such as tapped harmonics and so on.

Cedar and Indian Rosewood
Indian rosewood adds a full smoothness to the cedar's rich mids with a vibrant treble and deep basses making this an ideal combination for full, sustaining fingerstyle playing and gentler players. This is definitely the biggest and warmest sounding combination with a rich ringing edge.

Spruce and Walnut
Spruce and walnut produce a mellow woody sound with earthy overtones, ideal for contemporary acoustic Jazz, vocal accompaniment, general fingerstyle playing and also playing lead with a plectrum seems to work especially well.

Spruce and Mahogany
Spruce imparts a more traditional tone with clearer, less flowery overtones than cedar and greater headroom for harder players. Construction can be varied to suit fingerstyle players looking for a rich clarity, Travis pickers, and strummed and fingerpicked vocal accompaniment. One of the most versatile combinations of woods for my most versatile model. Also available in my 'parabolic' strutting style for modern fingerstyle players requiring a rich explosive sound suiting altered tunings and modern techniques such as tapped harmonics and so on.

Spruce and Indian Rosewood
Indian rosewood gives a deeper, darker sound than mahogany combining deep sustain in the lower ranges and rich, bright, ringing projection in the treble. A very versatile instrument with construction tailored to your technique to suit styles from modern fingerstyle, to bluegrass and beyond.

Other Rosewoods
Brazilian rosewood, Amazon rosewood and Cocobolo rosewood all produce great presence and power, with a deep bottom end and clear carrying treble. More metallic sounding than Indian rosewood, they offer some players the ultimate clarity, presence and balance they have been looking for. For players looking for some of the richness offered by Indian rosewood but seeking something less run of the mill, mexican Palo Escrito is a fine choice:- a timber relatively new to guitar making, guaranteeing a unique looking guitar with a quick present response, ideal for complex pieces and low tunings. See 'Woods' and 'Prices' pages for up-to-date availability of unusual and one off pieces.

Any other combination of woods you desire can be used, please contact me for advice.

Dimensions