A Max Spohn OM - The Second Twin

[sinistral]

Originally Posted by KevinH

Just before the holiday break, Max has sent these images now that the binding, purfling, tailpiece and sound port are complete. I'm really liking how Max's choice of Amboyna Burl works with the Wenge. We've settled on the deets for the neck, which will be up next.

Happy Holidays to everyone. More in 2024.

Kevin

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Wow, stunning! Love the soundport!

[KevinH]

Originally Posted by colins

Darn those beautiful images, I’ve gone and drooled on my keyboard!

All the best for the festive season, and please post more images when Max gets back to work!

Originally Posted by Deliberate1

Older sibling "twin" says, looking real good, there kiddo.
Now, just wait till you get your neck....

D

Originally Posted by sinistral

Wow, stunning! Love the soundport!

Thanks all for the kind words. I'm doing my best to pretend this is someone else's build. It makes the wait much easier! Nevertheless I'm really looking forward to seeing it with finish on.

[justonwo]

That’s looking really pretty. Wow.

[KevinH]

Max is back after the holiday break and has completed the woodworking part. He's going to fill the pores then, I believe, it's off to the finisher. I'm really liking how it's turning out. All the pieces work well together. To my eye, nothing needs to be added, nor taken away.

38 - Whole front with neck attached_White_600.jpg

37 - Front with neck attached_White_600.jpg

39 - Headstock_White_600.jpg

43 - Back end view_White_600.jpg

40 - Whole Back_White_600.jpg

44 - Bridge_White_600.jpg

[Nemoman]

Looks wonderful--really like Max's aesthetics.

Looking forward to hearing your impressions of the wenge!

[canuck7]

Originally Posted by Nemoman

Looks wonderful--really like Max's aesthetics.

Looking forward to hearing your impressions of the wenge!

Echo that!!

[colins]

Originally Posted by Nemoman

Looks wonderful--really like Max's aesthetics.

Looking forward to hearing your impressions of the wenge!

All I can says is...I agree with Kevin too!

[Deliberate1]

Those are fantastic baby pics.
As you so correctly note, there is just something so elegantly cohesive about Max's design ethos and build design. And that is something I know just a bit about.
It is on full display right here. Especially that carved bridge. The shape and execution just slay me. Max is right to feature it.

David (aka, Other "Twin Dad")

[Merlemantel]

I love this elegant minimalist aesthetic

[KevinH]

Originally Posted by colins

All I can says is...I agree with Kevin too!

100% of Kevins agree!

[KevinH]

Originally Posted by Deliberate1

…there is just something so elegantly cohesive about Max's design ethos and build design. And that is something I know just a bit about.
It is on full display right here. Especially that carved bridge. The shape and execution just slay me. Max is right to feature it.

David (aka, Other "Twin Dad")

Originally Posted by Merlemantel

I love this elegant minimalist aesthetic

That is a perfect description of Max’s guitars

[KevinH]

As the final update for this build I’m happy to say that my Max Spohn OM arrived a couple weeks ago, and has flown past all my expectations. Right from the start, when I gripped the neck to pick it up the first time, it felt different from my other guitars. A really nice tactile sensation that is hard to describe, a combination of the texture of the finish and the geometrical shapes bundled up in the guitar. Max uses an asymmetrical carve on the neck, and a slightly unusual body shape. The waist is on the slim side which lets the guitar sit a little lower when playing seated. That and the Manzer wedge make it a perfect fit. Like a well-tailored suit that I just don’t want to take off, and I’m not really a suit guy.

Tonally, it was exactly what I’d asked for. Something on the lush side, rich in overtones and responsive to the touch. Which is one reason, along with the visuals, that I decided to go with Wenge. This felt like the most risky part of the build. I’m nearly half way around the planet from Max. I can ask for something lush, but what does that really mean to someone else? To be sure we were on the same page I listened to example clips of Max’s guitars and pointed to one or two and asked for “that sound”. And “that sound” is exactly what Max created.

I’m really happy with how it turned out visually. Wenge, a chocolatey brown with darker streaks, is not a flashy tonewood. Max’s use of simple shapes, impossibly thin lines and linear inlays, Amboyna Burl in this case, fit in nicely with the visual silence of Wenge and the Ebony fretboard. The thin white line inset from the edge of the fretboard as well as the one running around the sound port, the hand-carved bridge and the details in the nut and saddle are bits revealed only on close inspection. And the silking in the Moon Spruce top is beautiful. When it’s not making music it’s a work of art hanging on the wall.

So there you have it, the second of the fraternal OM twins (see above). Final pictures from Max are attached, in the usual squashed to smithereens format. I encourage you to take a look at the much nicer full-res versions here. I asked Max to send along a picture of himself with the guitar, which he was kind enough to do.

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[Nemoman]

Awesome--glad to hear it's exactly what you were hoping for.

Beautiful guitar--enjoy!

[Deliberate1]

Just magnificent, and handsomely presented in the images. Even if it did not make a sound, it is a legitimate a museum-quality sculpture, That fact that it apparently sounds as luscious as it looks just make you a very fortunate man. So says the other "twin."
Enjoy your new instrument in the best of health.

David

[colins]

If it sounds as good as it looks, then it will sound truly magnificent. Congratulations Kevin, and Max too!