Bocote OM, V-Class bracing, fan fretted. Soundclip.

[Herman]

No. 27. A mixture of a classic mid-sized steel string and a modern V-Class bracing and a fanned fret fingerboard.

Some of you were reserved to build with the "new" Taylor V-Class braced top. So I made this one with a fan-fretted fingerboard. Very easy to build. Few braces and a scary light build upper part of the soundboard. It is strung now for 2 weeks. At first it sounded very compressed, but it it opening very nice now.

Your question probably is: How does it sound?
Well, not so very different from X-braced one. If I was introduced to this guitar, and not knowing what bracing it has, I would not be able to tell.
An advantage of this design is that the area below the bridge is well supported. So it has no tendency to rise, as it does in my other guitars. In long term it will benifit the initial setup.
Downside for me is this guitar has a quite mid-oriented sound. Upside is that it is powerful and surprisingly good while strumming.
Listen to the first clip and hear how my customer makes it sound in an improvisation.
The latter is mine, trying to make it sound decent.
(The strumming clip got lost)

Sound 1
Sound 2


Top-Old growth bearclaw German Spruce
Bracing-Taylor style V-Class German Spruce
Bridgeplate-East Indian Rosewood
Back/Sides-Bocote
Neck-Honduran Mahogany
Scales-High E: 630 - Low E: 640 mm
Fingerboard-FSC Padouk, 16" radius
Bridge-FSC Padouk, pinless and split saddle
Headstock Plate-FSC Padouk
Tuners-Gotoh 381
Glue-Fish Glue
Finish-Nitrocellulose

[John Parchem]

Great looking Guitar. Overall it is a great sounding instrument. I agree that the guitar sounded really good while strumming. It also sounded good playing finger style as well, but I thought the bass sounded a bit tight. Given the top is spruce I suspect that it would open up within a short time. I find that Martin style X braced guitars are lacking in the middle voice. This guitar is more balanced than what I would expect from an x-braced guitar so I think this style of bracing does do something. To my ears it sound more like I would expect from Lowden, which in my view is an improvement over most x braced guitars for fingerstyle playing.

[Kevin in California]

Herman I love everything about it. Your work is getting better and better. Is this really #27? You've almost doubled me now, way to go!

[Will Reyer]

Just gorgeous! I like the Lowden-type double saddle. You include sound, too, which for me is the point of the build; otherwise it's just a finely lacquered, splendidly detailed cabinet. Loved your picking. And the sustain was simply incredible - like a carbon-fiber guitar. Wow! Audible even to someone half-deaf like me.

[Herman]

Thanks boys,
The guitar has a very present break-in period. The sound is still opening up and even my wife tells me now and then "It's getting better, isn't it?" I guess it will be a very good guitar in time. Patience.
The fan fretting does not contribute a large part to the sound imo. But it is very comfortable. While playing it is in fact "unnoticable", that means it is spot on.

[dave d]

Fabulous result! I love the look of that body wood and binding combination.