Craig Bumgarner

In the dead of winter I always seem to get the desire to do some thing different.  In this case, it was a rosette based on a 17th century viola I saw in an Italian museum three-four years ago.   The pattern is made up of elongated diamonds and rounds cut out of mother of pearl set in “mastic” (ebony dust & hide glue).

The top is Lutz spruce, five brace pattern, back and sides are American black walnut.  Mahogany neck, Ebano  fingerboard and bridge, nickel silver frets. Miller  tuners and tail.   Full French polish finish.

A petite bouche with a torrefied sitka spruce top and curly makore back and sides.   Pickguard is ebony veneer which is very similar in weight to the clear plastic variety and much lighter than the black plastic type.   Ebano fingerboard and bridge.   Nickel silver frets, Golden Age tuners and Miller tail.  Satin finish.

Petite Bouche for David Dugas in Georgia.  European spruce  five brace top top, curly makore back and sides.   Mahogany neck, ebony fingerboard, Ebano bridge,  nickel silver frets, Miller tuners and tail.

More 100+ year old redwood for the top on this one.   Four brace top, walnut back and sides, mahogany neck.  670mm scale, Ebano fingerboard and bridge, nickel silver frets, Golden Age tuners and Miller tail.   Satin finish.

Model Derecho for John McNeil in Virginia.   100+ year old redwood top, curly French walnut back and sides.  Spanish Cedar neck,  Ebano fingerboard and bridge.   Nickel Silver frets, Miller tuners and tail.   French polish.

If you scroll down in this Facebook thread, you’ll find a video of John playing his new guitar shortly after taking delivery.