Comments

• littlemark New

  August 6 Posts: 475

  Love the pointy mustache bridge.
• Jangle_Jamie Scottish HighlandsNew De Rijk, some Gitanes and quite a few others

  August 6 edited August 6 Posts: 429

  Well, it looks wonderful!!! Difficult to see how much arch there is on the back and top. It sounds great!!! Congratulations!!!

  The colour of the top is a rich golden shade - very nice, and gives it a vintage, aged look.
• VicBulbon SeattleNew Ivanovski Busato

  August 6 Posts: 85

  Thanks Jamie. The only thing that remains to be see is how would I take to the 675 scale length. My original plan was a 660mm d hole, but then I changed my mind. Risto said that the long scale is essential for the attack, so I thought what the hell, if I'm going for the dimensions of a Busato, might as well go all out. I'll probably get used to it eventually.

  
• voutoreenie New

  August 6 Posts: 301

  Looks great, congrats!!

  
• B25Gib Bremerton WA✭✭✭✭ Holo Busato, Dell'Arte Hommage, Gitane D-500, Gibson ES295, Eastman AR805

  August 6 Posts: 219

  Vic - Nice sounding Busato. I like the thin finish that really shows the grain of the top and allows the tone to project cleanly. Nice purchase!

  Rocky

  
• Joonas EstoniaNew Taylor 210

  August 6 Posts: 84

  I always like plain fretboards without markers because they remind me classical guitars. I'm not a classical guitarist but I love the classical aestethics.

  
• VicBulbon SeattleNew Ivanovski Busato

  August 6 Posts: 85

  Thanks Rocky. The tone is a tad thin in the video, but I reckon its his pick position more than anything. It should sound great in person. I'll let you know when I got the chance to go cross the water. I'd love to try your Holo.

  
  

  Yes Joonas, I had to make that decision. At the end, I chose not to have dot markers thinking it may be cool. I don't need them anyways. How common is it for GJ guitars to not have dot markers?

  
• Joonas EstoniaNew Taylor 210

  August 6 Posts: 84

  VicBulbon, most of them have dots. But not all of them. Just lately there was a really nice D-hole type for sale on gypsyguitar.de for 3000 euros that had a plain fingerboard and just the right colour for the body too. If I had had that money I'd have bought that in a heartbeat. But now it's sold.

  
• billyshakes NoVA✭✭✭ Park Avance - Dupont Nomade - Dupont DM-50E

  August 6 Posts: 1,713

  @VicBulbon For what its worth, there appear to be fret dots on the side binding for anyone playing it that would need a "guide." I have usually played guitars with 9th fret dots but the Duponts have them on the 10th. I also have a guitar oddly with a binding dot on the 9th and fretboard dot on the 10th. So I have come to mostly ignore them or only focus on the 7th fret. While playing, if I'm looking at all, I am looking at the binding dots and not the fretboard itself. So if you worry is resale, I wouldn't. If I just swapped guitars with you at a jam, I'd also imagine I'd have no problem playing yours. It'll make it harder for players to steal your licks this way. ha ha! Fret dots are also the easiest thing for any luthier to add should you so choose, as I'm sure you know already.

  The back has nice grain pattern that sort of radiates up and outward in a narrow V shape coming from the bottom (where the strap button would be).

  The top (as mentioned) has an orange/golden shade as Jamie said, giving it that antiqued style that I've seen from other luthiers too. I remember first seeing it from Leo Eimers about 20+ years ago, but others might have done it before him. The tailpiece is a standard brass tailpiece with a brown wood insert that matches the sides and back while the leather underneath it is a bright red.

  The headstock has Risto's builder mark imprinted in gold that seems to mimic the original selmer style logo, probably with his name inside of the "banner." The rosette appears to have a dark thick ring in the middle surrounded by alternating thin stripes of dark-light-dark-light-dark on the outside and inside of the circle. Finally, the bottom of the fretboard that rests on the top (after the highest frets) is curved in harmony with the curvature of the rosette. Overall, a nice looking luthier-made guitar as would be expected.

  As for tone, I'll bet you'll find it will respond to a good rest stroke in person, unless you employ a delicate touch. The tremolo at the very end seemed well executed and was nice sounding to my ears. Hope that description helps. :-)

  
• VicBulbon SeattleNew Ivanovski Busato

  August 6 Posts: 85

  Joonas, for the record, this built came to about $2100 and that includes shipping to the US, so under 2k Euros, a very very competitive price in my opinion. You can't even get a standard line American Martin at that price. A selmer copy would've been cheaper, but this requires a bigger piece of wood.

  
  

  Billyshakes, really appreciate your description! It sounds really pretty. I asked him about the tailpiece and he said that a Busato replica one is very expensive so he just use the standard style. I'm looking forward to having it in my hands.