The journey of an idea V - CHARLIE

It had seemed like a long time since discovering that Sitar in Mysore! Work started on the latest (and quite possibly final) version of my archtop guitar on New Years eve, 2010, and continued pretty much around the clock until the guitar was done - I had tickets to go travelling again in mid February so there was no time to waste.

I'd thought a great deal about the advice I was given and how to make these ideas happen. The new version is slimmer, a little heavier, the neck joint is a little different, and instead of traditional f holes I went for an oval hole, placed where the bass f hole would be. The neck, instead of super light Honduras cedar, is fine old reclaimed mahogany. The electrics are all mounted under the pickguard instead of the soundboard.

Wow! Despite being shallower and heavier the acoustic sound is much fuller and louder. More sustain, more balance.

This guitar has little in common with my original idea - to make a flat top guitar that does not collapse, but this is what happens when you allow your imagination to roam. One of the things I love about my trade is that an idea can go off on a journey of it's own. It can take months or years for ideas to percolate, but once they have, they results can seem very obvious! But I had no inkling walking back from a dusty old Indian museum that a few years later, this instrument would be the result.

It's been my wish for some time to somehow honour the memory of my late Grandfather, Charles Ferguson. He was a lovely old feller and a fine guitarist who played jazz and dance band music. He was very proud that I became a luthier, and I think he would have loved this guitar. So, I think it appropriate to name this new model after him...so, may I introduce to you all ...

CHARLIE.