This first guitar was built several years ago in a class led by
Gerald Anderson,
star pupil of Wayne Henderson,
revered maker of exquisite guitars. A well-known bluegrass guitarist at a music festival played this first guitar of Ben's making,
and told Ben that it sounded and played like a 1940's era Martin -- high praise indeed. The little dragon tattoo near
the arm rest covers a "pitch pocket," a slight defect which can appear during the last sanding of the wood surface.
Ben likes dragons, so he covered it up with this little guy. |
Cat Piggott said of Ben's gift ... "I've never played a guitar like it.
It feels like it's strung with magic strings. ... It is as if it were literally made for my finger size, it feels so
natural and easy, probably easier than any guitar I've played outside of the first guitar, which, as it happens, the Luthier
of this guitar chose for me, forty years ago. The percussive qualities are... Superb. The dynamics... I just can't get over
how you can go from such a large sound to dulcet at a touch, so amazing. ...The TONE. Oh my god, it's warm, it's rich, it's
percussive (which I adore), it's streets ahead of anything I have ever played, even more so than the iconic first guitar. ... (continued)
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Wayne says, "This is the instrument that I call the KudzuPatch 4 or just KP-4. I had been wanting one, and Ben built this little beauty. It's not precisely a tenor guitar, since the scale is a little long, although it's only a 19 fret instrument, nor a true plectrum guitar. I tune it C-g-b-d and occasionally in other 5-string banjo tunings. However, this is the surprise! Instead of the usual light sound of 4-string guitars, this little boy is surprisingly loud and full, with a lot of sustain. It's a good chordal instrument, but makes a great, full melodic instrument for playing lead or accompaniment with other instruments. I thought it would be something I'd use occasionally, but it's become my "go to" instrument for many things." |
This guitar is dreadnought size, has Pre-Cites Indian Rosewood back and sides, aged Sitka Spruce top, and an inlaid ebony fretboard. The inlay was already there; Ben added the details. The neck is from 1970s Honduran Mahogany, and was made originally for a Harptone guitar.
This guitar is available for sale; the price is $2100. |