New "singlecut' guitar I just finished

[John Catto]

Time for a new guitar, I haven't built one for a while. This is a "singlecut" guitar I just finished with a couple of unusual design things.

Let me just bash through the basic spec.
American Black Walnut body and neck with a 3 piece (1.5" centre strip) Eastern Maple top. It's chambered and comes in at about 7.75 pounds. 25.5" ebony board and Tortoise binding everywhere, the neck is set in with a Gibson style tenon rather than a full width one to allow the binding to blend into the body properly like a Les Paul even though it has a "recessed" neck joint. The tuners are the new Grover 18/1 locking ones and the bridge is one of the new Wilkinson Aluminium ones, it has locking studs as well, Electrosocket jack socket. Pickups are a Duncan Pearly Gates in the bridge and a Duncan "something" (around 8k) in the neck, with the long scale and wrap bridge this guitar has a really vocal focussed sound. Finish is Nitro with a shellac sealer on the top and Epoxy pore fill on the Walnut, the burst is airbrushed. Oh yeah, the body is more or less the small "Zemaitis" style with a much size-reduced version of the headstock that would come with that.

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i51/mondocatto/singlecut/sc221006_1_06s.jpg

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i51/mondocatto/singlecut/sc241006_2-11s.jpg

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i51/mondocatto/singlecut/sc241006_2-12s.jpg

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i51/mondocatto/singlecut/sc221006_1_07s.jpg

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i51/mondocatto/singlecut/sc221006_1_13s.jpg

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i51/mondocatto/singlecut/19Oct2006_4-02s.jpg

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i51/mondocatto/singlecut/sc241006_2-06s.jpg

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i51/mondocatto/singlecut/sc241006_3-10s.jpg

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i51/mondocatto/singlecut/sc241006_3-15s.jpg

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i51/mondocatto/singlecut/sc241006_3-17s.jpg

[flicker180]

i'd buy it. :)

excellent work, man. :)

dave

[GuitarGuy510]

Nicely done John!!! That guitar is a beauty! The finish looks like liquid glass! Very cool! :cool:

[Don L]

Cool guitar!

[Lex Luthier]

:JAM
John, you know I'm a fan of your work! Looks great!

DP

[Scott Peterson]

Wow - that is incredible work.

The level of craftmanship is acknowledged from this guy, my hat is off. Fantastic.

[fugot]

Wow, that is nice. (like you need me to tell you that)...peace mike

[BIGGERSTAFF]

I'll say it again- great looking guitar there.

[mrfjones]

wonderful. I love the burst and the 3 piece top looks very nice

[JingleJungle]

Luvley... I just don't dig that particular wrappie bridge, but the rest... Hmmm :D

Bound to be in LDN one of these days... will give you a holler!

JJ

[EunosFD]

Very nice work, John! The burst is great, the tort binding really adds a nice touch, and the whole guitar just oozes with quality. Two thumbs up from me. :AOK:AOK I had considered buying one of the newer Greco Zemaitis guitars earlier this year when LP shopping, but opted to go with something more traditional instead. Maybe sometime in the future though...

[GuitarNorton]

Verey Very Nice! what pickups?

[matte]

as usual, beautiful work, john.

[rwe333]

Wow!!!

[CDaughtry]

John..that is just gorgeous. You really have a gift......

[Taller]

Man, that is really nice - congratulations. You display a wealth of luthiery talent, there.

[J Purcell]

i'd buy it. :)

excellent work, man. :)

dave

:AOK Beautiful.

[Dana Olsen]

Well John, I don't know you - my loss, what a lovely guitar. That's a real beauty!

Dana O.

[Mike Dresch]

Awesome work John! Curious as to what you think of the Wilkinson wraparound bridge? I've got a few of them for guitar projects of my own but haven't installed one of them yet. Kind of wondering what your tonal impressions are of them.

[jokerjkny]

holy crap,

that's monstrous!

but cmon at least one full on body shot, yea?! ;)

[GuitarsFromMars]

John Catto-that is a very fine instrument,a work of art.

[JeffG.]

wow,

nice inlay work and the attention to detail really shows.

[SFK]

Beautiful.

[Jon Silberman]

You made that yourself?! WOW!!!

[mainsale]

"dittto"! :aok

[DucatiWebDesign]

Great job on that one.

I like the skinny waist and 3 piece top. Lots of attention to detail!

[shallbe]

Very, very nice!

[TNJ]

Yep,
Way sweet!
I'll bet she sings link an angel.
I really dig that Zemaitis SC vibe. Nice black walnut body! Looks alot like korina or limba.

S.
j

[Bassomatic]

Impeccable taste + mutant hands = beautiful guitars.

[r9player]

Awesome looking guitar!

[daddyo]

Holy Cow!!!!

[mouldynudger]

As always John. Your work is exemplary.
I am super impressed again.

,Damian.

[Sam Evans]

It looks fantastic. I love the Z body style, and I'd love more to hear it.

SE

[slipbeer]

DAYUM. And I mean that in the most positive way possible. The detailing is spectacular.

[BattleAngel]

Each one of your guitars that I've seen will be burned in my memory forever. You've got unbelievable grace in your design and execution and such an eye for detail. I'd bet that they sound even better than they look. Could you ever be convinced to build an instrument for someone else? :-D

[george4908]

Beautiful guitar and a cool concept. How's she sound?

[John Hurtt]

Sweet, I'm continually impressed by the level of craftsmanship I see here. :AOK

[Zelmo]

GORGEOUS! I especially like the ebony FB with the inlays. Very elegant.

[Vendelcrow]

As usual, just awesome. You are a great inspiration

[JingleJungle]

Sweet, I'm continually impressed by the level of craftsmanship I see here. :AOK

IMHO it's going to get better and better... people keep pushing each other to new levels of craftmanship.
And being exposed to so much good stuff just reinforces the virtuous circle :)

Is the sky indeed the limit?

JJ

[enharmonic]

I've always appreciated your work, Mr. Catto. Wish I could have seen the in progress pics this time around.

[John Catto]

WOW, so many responses! Cheers!

Mike D, I'm actually very pleased with the Wilkinson bridge, it works well and I think plays some part in the "shimmer" that this guitar has acoustically. The locking studs work well but are predictably fiddly to set up since they need to be loosened (really requiring the strings to be as well) every time the studs are adjusted. Anyone considering using one of these on an existing guitar should consider that while it should go straight onto a PRS it won't replace a Gibson angled wraptail and still intonate. I should mention that I LOVE the grover locking tuners, it's nice to have that locking function on a set of tuners that look absoltely straight.

Thanks guys!

[JingleJungle]

Holy MUTHA!
I just "happened" to find your website (whattabout a shorter URL heh? :) )...
Talk about building for passion :eek: !!
Looks like I'm gonna visit my parents in LDN much earlier than I though :) :)

JJ

[Eric Pykala]

Nice work John! By the way, brother Paul and Jim McTaggart (Duane Wayne) say "Hi!"-Eric Pykala

[John Catto]

Hey Eric, how ya doing? Hi to Paul and Jim as well, how cool is that! You know, the Internet has turned the world into a really small place now. I should be in Canada sometime next year (30th band anniversary! :eek:) so I expect to see everyone then.

This the one you meant JJ? http://www.mondocatto.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/bigsbyplus.html

[Wheels]

Hey John,

1st time discovering your work. Absolutely stunning! Congrats on the new one.

Wheels

[todd richman]

John, that is another beautiful axe. I love the Zemaitis inspiration combined with the Les Paul styling and the color and finish is impeccable. I would seriously love to purchase one of these P.M. me sometime soon.

[wsaraceni]

that's an amazing looking guitar. actually checked out your website. all those guitars are amazing looking.

[JiMB]

Beautiful! Love that it's 25.5.

[ss396]

very beautiful, has a cool vintage vibe while remaining very unique.

[sears]

Another beauty. Especially the inlay work. You should etch the tuning pegs!

[John Catto]

A few new shots to drive people who don't have broadband crazy ;)

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i51/mondocatto/singlecut/singlecut_3.jpg

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i51/mondocatto/singlecut/singlecut_4.jpg

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i51/mondocatto/singlecut/singlecut_5.jpg

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i51/mondocatto/singlecut/singlecut_7.jpg

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i51/mondocatto/singlecut/singlecut_6.jpg

[Gauge613]

amazing work
what kind of bridge is that might i ask

[John Catto]

what kind of bridge is that might i ask

The new version Wilkinson in Aluminium

[tonedaddy]

John, your work always leaves me wondering how it could be topped.
Yet, every one manages to raise the bar.
This one is no exception!
Just beautiful!
:AOK

[v-verb]

Stunning - work of art!!!

[Mrgearguy]

Sweet! love the Tony Z vibe!

[Schroeder]

Beautiful man! I dig the skinny waist design. I am also a huge fan of ebony boards. Very very nice.

[Jack Briggs]

Very nice, John. I bet she sounds huge with a walnut back!? I've built a few solid walnut electrics. Weight is up there, but IMHO it's about the only tonewood that can hunt alongside Hondo mahogany in the bass response. Whadda ya think?


:dude

[VarLogMessages]

That right there takes TALENT!!!!

[lowendgenerator]

A little late getting in on this, but wowzers! I don't think there's a thing about that guitar that I don't like. Well, except that it isn't mine! :)

[go7]

:dudeWOW !! Love the 2 knobs and 1 switch and of course everything else. Gifted:)

[Rock-On!!]

Very nice;)