Here's a few of mine. Please excuse the bad photoshopping ...
Top row:
1. Self built copy of a Howe-Orme cylinder top 00 size.
2. 1898 Howe-Orme cylinder top parlour guitar (self restored)
3. 1949 Martin 00-17 (new bridge and neck reset)
4. Self built 12-fret 'falcate braced' L-00 style
Middle row:
1. 1919 Gibson L3 archtop (self restored)
2. Self built copy of Gibson Style-O from turn of the 20th Century
3. Self built copy of Gibson 'Robert Johnson' L1 flattop
Bottom row:
1. Self built copy of Martin style 12-fret 000
2. 1940s 'mystery Manouche' long (270 mm) scale (self restored)
3. Another 1940s short scale mystery Manouche (self restored)
4. My take on a OM size longish scale (648 mm) also using falcate bracing.
The two 'mystery Manouche' guitars are often attributed to Busato but I'm not so sure. They both look like they were built in the back of a caravan travelling at speed over cobble stones by a drunken Gypsy. Nothing is straight or symmetrical. Pine top and back/sides of construction grade two-ply veneer. However, they sound absolutely stunning. Pure Django!
The little Howe-Orme is interesting. Howe-Ormes were AFAIK built from the 1890s to around the first world war in the Boston area of the US. They have a cylindrical bulge along the length of the top, ladder bracing, adjustable neck joint and 'sweetened' fret placement. I believe they were the first guitars puposely built for steel strings. Very advanced for the time. Extremely lightly built and they sound magnificent. The little parlour sounds much bigger than its size. My attempt at a 'big brother' for it sounds pretty decent too, though I don't know how close it is to a real one ...
I have probably as many more guitars (both electric and acoustic plus sundry mandolins, banjos etc.) in various states of construction/disrepair. I really need to get rid of a few cause I'm running out of space ...
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