Jo would be better known for his bassplaying but he wanted a small acoustic guitar. As a bassplayer he wanted a wide neck for comfort and, after some discussion, we came up with a spec for an ASAPJM. This typical JM has a slotted headstock and a 12 fret to the body join. Body top, back and sides are some of my very beautifully figured sapele and the bindings are Irish lacewood. The headstock is faced with Rio rosewood and Jo opted for a set of the truly lovely hand made tuners from Nicolo Alessi. The rosewood bridge is smaller than usual and the 12th fret neck joint puts this right in the middle of the top which gives a sweeter sound to my ear. The neck is a multi-laminate of sapele with a flamed maple centre and maple stringers. The unmarked fingerboard is rosewood and the rosette is abalone. I really like these small guitars which have great balance across the strings. Don't take my word for it. Jo wrote this: "it's a real beauty.... I think about choosing a second nickname.... "chameleon"....because the colors seem to change every few minutes..... the neck is just what I wanted.. I think I have to arrange a little with shortness, but it really isn't a double-bass....:) the sound is from the start extraordinarily balanced and even.... and I like the dynamic range the guitar seems to offer... I have to discover lots of new sounds and "lands of music"..:) I will report you about developing, but it seems to be just a dream guitar...:) :) Now I notice, that I' missing the right vocabulary in English, but it would be hard in German too to describe my impressions.. it's some kind of ...."woooooooooow"...:)
thanks so lot for building this dream:)"