Simain Ridge
Guitar Repair
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Simian Ridge
Guitars
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All during the '70's, Jack MacKenzie worked as a guitar
repairman, both on his own and for McCabes Guitar Shop.
There wasn't a lot available in terms of appreticeships so
skills were gained through association with other local
luthiers like Lawrence Brown and Koichilo Oshio, and
through extensive experimentation on an inexhaustable
supply of guitars that flowed through McCabes Guitar
Shop.
The raw truth is plenty of guitars were ruined in the
process, mostly inexpensive imports. The experience
gathered and the techniques developed still stand as solid
background for the Simian Ridge Guitar Project, now
downunder in New Zealand.
Since the late '90's Jack MacKenzie has been doing a
modest amount of restoration work on select musical
instruments for musicians in New Zealand and Australia.
Some have been an exercise in innovation, rescuing
worthwhile instruments from the 'scrap heap'. It has been
rewarding work in many ways.
The Simian Ridge Guitar Project is aiming to produce flat-
top steel string guitars with backs and sides, necks and
fingerboards made from New Zealand woods like Maire
and Kowhai. The acoustic properties, beauty and and
durability of these woods is not to be underestimated.
Ever since childhood, the steel string guitar has been of
interest to me. Long and reguiar bicycle rides to a music
shop on West Covina California in the early '60's, where
the owner would let me play a Martin guitar were a regular
passtime.
As an exercise, some of the repair projects undertaken in
the past decade have been photographed. The links to the
left will take you to photo essays depicting the projects and
techniques applied, along with a discussion of the job and
anything unique to the project.
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It has been a long time passion of mine to build high quality steel string guitars. In the '70's I built 2 guitars, but I would not call them 'high quality'.
I lacked the knowledge and experience to do that well. And I lacked the freedom and financial independence to pursue the task. It is a different story now, and I can't tell you how excited I am about this project. Guitars are currently in the prototype stage. Simian Ridge Guitars use a unique hybrid Martin X bracing that effectively creates a larger soundboard, and absorb string energy through the neck into the soundboard. Starting in 2014 tooling and sourcing materials began in earnest. 6 Prototypes have been produced to date (2019), all excellent sounding guitars.
The first prototype (P103) was over-braced and has been de-commissioned for modification. I view it as the first generation of my design (2016). P104 and P105 (2017-18) have both been on the road with me and the Downunderdogs, contributing nicely to our stage sound. I view these two as second generation of the design. P104 is made from Honduras Mahogany that I brought with me in 1988 when I relocated to New Zealand. P105 is the first true New Zealand wood guitar, made from Black Maire.
2019 saw the completion of 3 more guitars, all made from New Zealand Woods (except the soundboards and bracing are Sitka Spruce). These three represent the third generation. An improvement in the 'voicing' has added a little more bass response to the standard crystal clear sound the design tends to produce.
I'm not sure if we can call any of my guitars anything other than prototypes. The quest for a better design continues.
Take a look here.
I'm lovin it. Livin' the dream...
I lacked the knowledge and experience to do that well. And I lacked the freedom and financial independence to pursue the task. It is a different story now, and I can't tell you how excited I am about this project. Guitars are currently in the prototype stage. Simian Ridge Guitars use a unique hybrid Martin X bracing that effectively creates a larger soundboard, and absorb string energy through the neck into the soundboard. Starting in 2014 tooling and sourcing materials began in earnest. 6 Prototypes have been produced to date (2019), all excellent sounding guitars.
The first prototype (P103) was over-braced and has been de-commissioned for modification. I view it as the first generation of my design (2016). P104 and P105 (2017-18) have both been on the road with me and the Downunderdogs, contributing nicely to our stage sound. I view these two as second generation of the design. P104 is made from Honduras Mahogany that I brought with me in 1988 when I relocated to New Zealand. P105 is the first true New Zealand wood guitar, made from Black Maire.
2019 saw the completion of 3 more guitars, all made from New Zealand Woods (except the soundboards and bracing are Sitka Spruce). These three represent the third generation. An improvement in the 'voicing' has added a little more bass response to the standard crystal clear sound the design tends to produce.
I'm not sure if we can call any of my guitars anything other than prototypes. The quest for a better design continues.
Take a look here.
I'm lovin it. Livin' the dream...