SIMIAN RIDGE (Jack MacKenzie) is undertaking to produce a series of steel string guitars with backs and sides made of New Zealand Woods.This project aims to improve the steel string guitar, mainly through a new soundboard bracing design.
So far (September 2019), A total of 6 prototypes have now been completed. Two guitars made with Honduras Mahogany back and sides have been produced, the first of which has been de-commissioned for disassembly and modification. A remaining 4 have been made from New Zealand native woods, two with New Zealand Black Maire back and sides, and two made of Kowhai.
A stock of Kowhai and Black Maire has been accumulated over the past decade. The use if these woods in guitar making ia largely untested. They are difficult to find in the right size and grain configuration for guitar making. It is my belief, that these woods are first class 'tonewoods'. Indeed, they produce superb sounding guitars.
So far (September 2019), A total of 6 prototypes have now been completed. Two guitars made with Honduras Mahogany back and sides have been produced, the first of which has been de-commissioned for disassembly and modification. A remaining 4 have been made from New Zealand native woods, two with New Zealand Black Maire back and sides, and two made of Kowhai.
A stock of Kowhai and Black Maire has been accumulated over the past decade. The use if these woods in guitar making ia largely untested. They are difficult to find in the right size and grain configuration for guitar making. It is my belief, that these woods are first class 'tonewoods'. Indeed, they produce superb sounding guitars.
The Simian Ridge Project
Process Photos
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Some types of New Zealand woods are virtually unavailable in lumber form. To obtain Kowhai wood, I went to the bush with Jack, Sam, Peter and Mary Jane Taylor and we milled a standing (but dead) Kowhai tree. Huhu grubs got the best of it, but I wound up with enough Kowhai for at least 12 guitars. For some pictures of that caper go here.
The Simian Ridge design employs mostly hot hide glue for assembly, neck attachment through compound dovetail joint, french polish shellac finishes, and a hybrid precision lapped double x soundboard bracing design which frames the soundhole for added strength, and turns the shoulders of the upper bout into effective soundboard.
The Simian Ridge design employs mostly hot hide glue for assembly, neck attachment through compound dovetail joint, french polish shellac finishes, and a hybrid precision lapped double x soundboard bracing design which frames the soundhole for added strength, and turns the shoulders of the upper bout into effective soundboard.