Topic: Champlin Concert

[Pan]

Hi all

I thought some of you might enjoy seeing my new guitar, by the luthier Devin Champlin (a fellow forum member).

It's a concert size guitar with Sitka spruce top, and mahogany sides and back.

The design is very much Devin's own, I just told him I want a gigging musician's instrument with simple appointments. I had some measurements requests and wanted a more playable instrument than my old Stella. I think Devin came up with a great looking guitar that sounds great too, and is a joy to play.

I'll try to post a sound sample after we've gotten to know each other a little better.

Cheers

Pan

Edited to add: the artificial light doesn't do much justice to the guitar. I'll try to post better pics, when and if we ever see sunlight here in Berlin again.

[Rivers]

Beautiful guitar, congratulations to you and kudos to Devin!

[Pan]

Thanks Rivers!

Cheers

Pan

[Johnm]

Congratulations on your new guitar, Pan, it's a beauty!  Congratulations to Devin too on making another really fine instrument.  I look forward to hearing you play something on it, Pan.
All best,
Johnm

[Pan]

Thanks, John!

Cheers

Pan

[Lyndvs]

Nice.X braced or ladder?.

[daddystovepipe]

Congrats, looks really nice
How about a sound sample?

[nobocaster]

  Thanks folks.. and thanks Pan for posting this.  It was a joy to build.  The body shape is based off a 20's Washburn.  It is ladder braced, constructed almost entirely with hide glue, and has a french polished shellac finish.  Pan did give me free reign on aesthetic appointments, and I kept the idea "cool, but no-nonsense" in mind.  The inlays and binding are ivoroid.  I have a couple other pics that I can post when I'm on my own computer.

[Stuart]

Congratulations, Pan--may it bring you much enjoyment. And to Devin as well, as fine instruments don't build themselves. (I live in Shoreline, so hopefully our paths will cross at some point.)

[nobocaster]

Congratulations, Pan--may it bring you much enjoyment. And to Devin as well, as fine instruments don't build themselves. (I live in Shoreline, so hopefully our paths will cross at some point.)

I'm in pretty far north Seattle.. practically Shoreline.  Anytime you want to come by the shop and say howdy, you'd be welcome.  Same goes for anyone who might be in the area.

[Lyndvs]

Ladder braced,thanks Devin.I really like the clean look of this guitar.Your craftsmanship is superb.

[Prof Scratchy]

Looking forward to the sound samples Pan! Beautiful guitar!

[Pan]

Hi all.

Here's a quick and dirty video playing the guitar through the most common playing positions/keys.
I have just moved to a new apartment, and haven't yet really figured out where is the ideal spot for recording. There's a sort of booming echo on the video, but since it'll be a while before I get around doing a better one, I still think it gives you the idea, what a fine guitar Devin has created.


Cheers

Pan

[Norfolk Slim]

Sounds pretty good to me...

[Prof Scratchy]

Sounds great!

[Johnm]

The guitar sounds wonderful, Pan, and you sound wonderful playing it.  It's neat to hear you put it through its paces in all of the different keys and positions.  What was the tune you played in F?  I assume it was your own arrangement--very nifty!
Congratulations to Devin, as well, for making such a fine instrument.  Well done!  It looks like a happy marriage of the right instrument with the right player.
All best,
Johnm

[daddystovepipe]

Really nice!

[Pan]

Thanks everybody!

John, the thing in F was my intro for "Hallelujah, I just Love Her So", the Ray Charles tune. I couldn't think of anything else in F for the occasion.

I must say I'm impressed with Devin's guitar. It is feather light and very responsive. The bass came out a little boomy on the video, I think,  but it does sound really balanced to my ears, in real life. For a smallish guitar, it does have a big sound.

The guitar is also very pronounced and accurate sounding, which can be a little intimidating, since any playing mistakes will clearly stand out! I'll regard this as a plus, after the initial shock! I'll need to do some serious woodshedding on a number of my tunes, though!

Cheers

Pan

[frailer24]

Pardon my French, but that guitar is *bleep* lovely! I gotta start saving up now!

[David Kaatz]

I agree, sounded great Pan. I am going to want to drop by your shop some time myself, Devin.

Not to highjack the thread, but I think Pan's sounds quite favorable compared to Collings new somewhat budget 'Waterloo' line of Kalamazoo inspired guitars - the ladder braced ones anyway. Here is a vid of a good A-B between the ladder and X braced models. To my ear, the X braced is the one to get. I know, I know, not as authentic a blues sound probably.

Dave

[nobocaster]

Great to hear the guitar in action Pan!  Thanks for posting.

Dave- you are welcome to come by.  My number's listed on the contact page of my site.

[uncle bud]

Sounds great, and nice picking too, Pan. Looks like another winner from Devin. I'm envious!

[Pan]

Thank you guys.

Davek, the Waterloo looks interesting. Someone pointed out on the UMGF forum that you can get a real Kalamazoo KG-14 with less money. But the x-braced one would be quite similar to an L-00, I think, which would be a much more expensive guitar. The x-braced one on the video sounded better to my ears too, at least when strummed with a flatpick. Perhaps this guitar would deserve it's own thread, if and when someone gets to try one?

Cheers

Pan