News From Berumen Guitars...

[berumen77]

Just finished up these two guitars over the last few months. These are going to Austin Guitar House tomorrow. They are called FlatTops as they have flat figured maple tops.

The first has a bit more modern look.
Here are the specs:

Spanish Cedar body
Mahogany Neck
Figured Maple Top
25" Rosewood Fingerboard
Bone Nut
Medium Tall Fretwire
White Binding
White Covers and Jack Plate
White Speed Knobs
Reed James Alnico2 Pickups
Wilkinson Tuners
Gotoh Bridge and Tailpiece
Bourns Potentiometers
5way Switch, 1 Vol and 2 Tone
Internal "Clarity" pot
Nitrocellulose Finish
Mother of Pearl Inlays
DAddario Strings 10-46

 

[berumen77]

Here's the second, a bit more traditional in finish color.

Here are the specs:

Mahogany Body
Mahogany Neck
Curly Maple Top
25" Rosewood Fingerboard
Bone Nut
Medium Tall Fretwire
White Binding
White Covers and Jack Plate
Gold Bell Knobs
Rosewood Headstock Veneers
Wilkinson Tuners
Gotoh Bridge and Tailpiece
Lollar Imperial Pickups
Bourns Potentiometers
5Way Switch, 1 Vol and 2 Tone
Internal "Clarity" Pot
Oil/Varnish Finish
Mother of Pearl Inlays
DAddario Strings 10-46

 

[Loni Specter]

Cool looking instruments! Pretty steep neck angle isn't it?

 

[berumen77]

Cool looking instruments! Pretty steep neck angle isn't it?

Good Eye The dark brown/black back had a 2.7 degree and the sunburst ended up with a 3 degree. Action is set up medium high and can still be lowered if the player prefers. I set them up for clear ringing notes. I could have set the neck flush to the body top and the bridge would have looked great but the amount of range to lower would be less and ultimately bottomed out.

The cedar guitar is so loud and resonant. It's my favorite body tone wood for sure.

Isaac
Berumen Guitars

 

[ElDiabloAmps]

Beautiful work!!

Quick question...why did you decide to have the backplate cover the control cavity rather than recessing it smooth to the body? It's a beautiful shape, but won't the sharp point get caught on things and/or break off? Just wondering...

 

[berumen77]

Thank You!

I came up with the back cover shape because I wanted it to look different and distinct, while flowing with the curves of the body. I kept seeing the the same rounded control cavity covers and really wanted to set mine apart. Plus, when I do have to unscrew to access I don't need to stick a fingernail or screwdriver to pop out the plate. I'm a guitar player first, so I make sure and build what I want to play. On my previous builds like the Time Machine guitar, I did not recess the plate and I don't find it's a problem.

 

[berumen77]

Here's another guitar built for a guitarist in the band Good In The Sack. A Gold Top. This one has a carved top, ebony headstock veneers, ebony fretboard and GFS Alnico2 pickups, nitro finish on the top and oil/varnish on the back. This guitar sounds big and fat.

This one came back to me because he wanted a pickguard and a stiffer volume control(Bourns pot).

Here are some before pics...

and the after...

The pickguard really makes it look like a bigger guitar.

 

[berumen77]

And some more guitars in the works....

 

[Rumblefish]

Very nice!Like 'em all!

 

[berumen77]

Thank you. Still waiting to make myself one. I've got the wood and some really nice tops in, but alas not the time. The Gold Top really sounded freakin' awesome, it was nice to have it back for a while.

 

[simplecomplexity]

i like the white knobs

 

[Rebel-Guitars]

Those look great!

 

[berumen77]

Those look great!

Thanks Wes. My wife and I just had our first baby, a boy. So of course these were kinda (very) slow going. I still have another body and neck set aside for another Time Machine guitar. But that has been slow going as well....will probably have to wait because of all the metal dust that is produced when making the mosaic, bad stuff to bring into the house on my clothes with a new baby.

On a side note, from now on I will be using Tone Pros tuners and bridges/tailpieces as well as Wolfetone Legend Pickups on all my guitars unless otherwise requested. I like the look of the Wilkinson mini tuners with this headstock but the Klusons may improve resonance. Plus I've heard and read nothing but great things about the Wolfetone Pickups.

*Thanks Oz

Isaac Berumen

 

[berumen77]

These first two guitars are now for sale at Austin Guitar House.

 

[Oz Hofstatter]

Thanks Wes. My wife and I just had our first baby, a boy. So of course these were kinda (very) slow going. I still have another body and neck set aside for another Time Machine guitar. But that has been slow going as well....will probably have to wait because of all the metal dust that is produced when making the mosaic, bad stuff to bring into the house on my clothes with a new baby.

On a side note, from now on I will be using Tone Pros tuners and bridges/tailpieces as well as Wolfetone Legend Pickups on all my guitars unless otherwise requested. I like the look of the Wilkinson mini tuners with this headstock but the Klusons may improve resonance. Plus I've heard and read nothing but great things about the Wolfetone Pickups.

*Thanks Oz

Isaac Berumen

You are welcome Isaac!
Cheers,
Oz

 

[berumen77]

The first guitar (Brown Top/Black Back) has been posted for sale in the Builder's & Retailer's Emporium.

Thanks
Isaac Berumen

 

[simplecomplexity]

is it the same one from Austin Guitar House??

 

[berumen77]

is it the same one from Austin Guitar House??

Same one.

The back looks like it was dinged up a tiny bit from someone's belt on the back and has some finish scratches around trussrod cover. I can re-sand and re-buff the back but the nitro finish will continue to shrink and they will become visible again. I tried to take pics of the imperfections but with the black finish they are very difficult to photograph.

I need to make a demo vid of this guitar. It is so freaking resonant unplugged and super lightweight at under 7lbs.

Isaac Berumen

 

[berumen77]

 

[berumen77]

Here are some pics of another "FlatTop" I've been working on. A reddish light tobacco burst with mahogany back. Still a week out.

The Top....

And The Back...