New Square Neck Acoustic Prototype by Paul Beard

Beard Guitars · Post by **Beard Guitars** » 3 Apr 2009 11:22 am

Just loaded pics of Paul's prototype square neck acoustic up on MySpace site. We're calling it the Model "K" for now. It is spruce/rosewood.

Scroll down a bit...on the right.

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Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 3 Apr 2009 12:20 pm

That may be the first new squareneck acoustic guitar I've seen (i.e. one without a resonator that is not shaped like a Weissenborn). I look forward to audio samples!

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 3 Apr 2009 3:06 pm

I built this square-neck non-resonator that's not shaped like a Weissenborn about 4 yrs. ago....

Vince Luke · Post by **Vince Luke** » 3 Apr 2009 7:59 pm

I'm eager to hear it, also. I didn't realize anyone was currently making flattop squarenecks either (for retail sale) until I saw one at Adams Resonators' web site. That reminded me how nice it'd be to add have one of those around just for "something different" to pick on. Now comes this thread. . .another sign! Beard clearly makes great stuff--I'm eager to see how this goes over with customers/fans if it gets beyond prototype stage.

I've never been clear on squareneck necks, though--are they square to withstand higher string tension, do they offer different tone, or is it a production issue (i.e., if you don't need to round a neck, don't waste resources rounding a neck)? Just curious. I like 'em.

Thanks for the sneak preview, Beard/Howard!

Vince

Cliff Kane · Post by **Cliff Kane** » 3 Apr 2009 9:03 pm

That looks like a nice guitar.

Brad: here's a picture of a square neck acoustic, a Biltmore Hawaiian. I acquired this guitar from forumite Rand Anderson. It's a jumbo size acoustic with a round sound hole and a square neck, maple back and sides and a spruce top. Judging from it's deco style headstock design I'm guessing that it's from the 1930's (?). There were a few of these "Hawaiian" style acoustics made by Stella, Harmony, etc.

Hey Alan, that is cool! I like your headstock shape.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 4 Apr 2009 7:06 am

Do you have any idea when that guitar will be in production?
I would be interested.

I started out on a square neck acoustic.
I don't know the brand but it had a big gold decal that covered the lower part of the body. I wish I still had it.

Fred Kinbom · Post by **Fred Kinbom** » 4 Apr 2009 10:10 am

That looks very interesting, and it is a beautiful guitar! Curious to hear sound samples!

Erv - yours was maybe an Oahu like this?

Fred

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 4 Apr 2009 7:40 pm

Cliff Kane wrote:Hey Alan, that is cool! I like your headstock shape...

My intention was to create an instrument with the largest, deepest body practicable. To this end, I moved the bridge closer to the tail, as in a bass or classical guitar, and built internal bracing fanning out from the heel rather than the bridge. This brings the fretboard further into the instrument and makes for a short, stubby neck. The fingerboard floats above the body and does not touch it. I felt that that would make the top freeer to resonate. It has 8 strings and I tune it A6. The big body creates quite a lot of internal resonance. For an acoustic instrument, it virtually has its own built-in echo unit.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 5 Apr 2009 5:22 am

Fred,
Yes, I believe that's the one!

John Bushouse · Post by **John Bushouse** » 6 Apr 2009 5:47 pm

I don't have access to MySpace - can someone post a picture (not from the MySpace hosting site) or e-mail me a picture at the e-mail address in my profile?

Thanks,
John

John Bushouse · Post by **John Bushouse** » 8 Apr 2009 4:48 pm

Anyone?

Michael Maddex · Post by **Michael Maddex** » 8 Apr 2009 5:39 pm

John, here you go:

This was snagged from the Beard MySpace gallery. I hope that Howard doesn't mind.

Eric Larson · Post by **Eric Larson** » 8 Apr 2009 10:05 pm

Approximate price?

Beard Guitars · Post by **Beard Guitars** » 9 Apr 2009 4:58 am

Oops...

I missed this thread. We've got new pics coming.

Thanks for posting that one Michael.

I think forum rules prohibit me from pricing the guitar here.

Feel free to call or email/PM privately.

Beard Guitars · Post by **Beard Guitars** » 9 Apr 2009 7:40 am

John Bushouse · Post by **John Bushouse** » 11 Apr 2009 10:38 pm

Wow - what a beautiful guitar! For anyone who wanted a high-end Oahu, or Bronson, or a Roy Smeck Stage Deluxe, or an HG-00, or an 00-18KH, or a...

Mitch Druckman · Post by **Mitch Druckman** » 12 Apr 2009 10:32 am

Will there be a 7 or 8 string model?

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 12 Apr 2009 10:34 am

alan..you sure seem to have a fixation on short, fat, squatty instruments in your building and designing style! what do you attribute this to?
i admire your work..you seem to be quite prolific.

chas smith · Post by **chas smith** » 12 Apr 2009 8:42 pm

I don't have any good photos of this one.

and for a little resonance a titanium bridge and ring with a lot of small rods that resonate sympathetically

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 13 Apr 2009 5:37 pm

chris ivey wrote:alan..you sure seem to have a fixation on short, fat, squatty instruments in your building and designing style! what do you attribute this to?
i admire your work..you seem to be quite prolific.

I attribute this to the fact that you've seen photos of the short, fat, squatty instruments that I've built.

But I've built others...

How about this for long and lanky ? It's a Tromba Marina, and it's about 5 ft. long.

Mike Harris · Post by **Mike Harris** » 13 Apr 2009 5:52 pm

Alan,

you don't see one of those things every day. I had a professor in college who played tromba marina and literally "wrote the book" (or at least, wrote A book) on it.

For those who've never heard of this obscure instrument, you play it by bowing it and making contact with the nodal points that produce harmonics (with the other hand). The translation is "marine trumpet," but it's more like a marine bugle.