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http://s246.photobucket.com/albums/gg105/ro7939/Thorell%20Grand%20olive%20wood%20Zambia/?start=allAdirondack (red) spruce top
Olive wood from Zambia side back (my understanding is this is of the rosewood family; builder states performance similar to Brazilian and I agree)
1-13/16" nut width
Turquoise rosette
Closest in sound and performance I've played to a $25k (used value) Steve Klein flat top model such as is played by Andy Sommers and other professionals (as of a few months ago Klein is not taking orders).
It would be fun and not in any way embarassing (esp considering it is only three weeks old) to place this next to an Eric Schoenberg OM to compare nuanced fingerstyle performance. Based on pricing about a year ago, a similar guitar from Eric would be 2-3x higher in cost.
Even players of moderate skill might consider something like this. The joy of ownership of such a piece of art is difficult to quantify.
A similar size/shape guitar ("The Grand") will be commissioned shortly, difference being African Blackwood side/back
("The Grand" is smaller than the Dreadnaught outline). Ryan states African Blackwood is to Brazilian rosewood what Brazilian is to Indian (harvesting Brazilian was banned years ago). Top will be Port Orford cedar certified to be from a 10k year old tree. Binding will be either the olive wood from Zambia or a lighter blond wood (leaning toward the later).
After owning two Dreadnaughts & having played dozens, w/ all due respect to lovers of the breed I prefer the tonal balance of this size/shape.
Readers that may want to see this guitar at THE Show or CES '10 should PM me.