New om in works!

**PCypert** · Mar-22-2007, 9:43pm

Hey all,
Well after waffling around a bit with a few builders who were all great (have to say Petersen and Paddy Burgin were really responsive and nice guys...will order for them when I have more funds one day) finally decided to go with Jack Spira. Originally was going to go for a dola, but decided to go for the full deal and get a OM/Zouk.

I'm getting a full body OM/Zouk with some special features. I'm doing a three piece back with Blackwood and Vic Ash down the middle. So the Vic Ash will be coming down the center as if it's continuing from the neck. More wood, natural binding types. Spruce top. Probably do a matte finish as I'm not a glossy fan. And will be augmenting the soundhole and fretboard a bit so it doesn't look so "guitarish" with the big round sound hole.

He's really been so laid back and easy to deal with. I don't know if there's one thing I haven't asked to change and he's rolled with it all to see what we can do. I'm hoping to have it in time for Zouk fest as I'll be back in the states then and would love to be able to play along with all you way more skilled folks and see my old school.

Paul

**PCypert** · Mar-22-2007, 9:50pm

Here's some pics of the wood choices:

**PCypert** · Mar-22-2007, 9:52pm

The top:

**PCypert** · Mar-22-2007, 9:54pm

And the sides:

**otterly2k** · Mar-22-2007, 9:57pm

Paul, I know you won't regret going with Spira... Dion (Dolamon) brought his Spira OM and 'dola to our Philly CBOM-o-rama last June, and they were both splendid instruments!

Can't wait to see yours take shape!
KE

**Unseen122** · Mar-22-2007, 10:17pm

Yeah I got a chance to play Dion's Spiras also and they were very nice. What scale length are you getting? IME, Petersens are very nice also.

**PCypert** · Mar-22-2007, 10:39pm

Still waffling on that...originally was going to go for 22 inch as I wanted some chording and maybe have some mellody stuff. He said 22 or 23 would be fine...but lately I've been thinking about going 24 or so. All I've owned are longer scale Zouks so I'm used to that...plus play guitar a lot. That's the last bit I'm having trouble on...also we're deciding on a custom rosette so those are the last two decisions I guess.

Paul

**groveland** · Mar-23-2007, 6:38am

Paul -

I ordered a cittern recently (should arrive in April) at a 25.25" scale for more strength in the bottom end. As a zouk/guitarist, the stretch isn't an issue. If you're taking a vote, I say go long.

Just my $0.02. IMHO. YMMV.

**PhilGE** · Mar-23-2007, 6:45am

Excellent choice, Paul! Of course, I'm in no way biased (cough, cough). Okay, Hear my bias HERE.

-Phil

**steve V. johnson** · Mar-23-2007, 9:04am

Hey Paul, good choice, and beautiful wood! Congratulations!

As for the length, I'm happy with my 25.4" Crump and it's not going anywhere <GG>, so if I were to have another it would be different, definitely shorter. So if you still have any of your (wonderful) longer ones, maybe a different length would be a good complement.

It would be splendid for you to have it for Zoukfest, indeed!

All the best,

stv

**rclepper** · Mar-23-2007, 10:03am

Originally Posted by

Still waffling on that...originally was going to go for 22 inch as I wanted some chording and maybe have some mellody stuff. He said 22 or 23 would be fine...but lately I've been thinking about going 24 or so. All I've owned are longer scale Zouks so I'm used to that...plus play guitar a lot. That's the last bit I'm having trouble on...also we're deciding on a custom rosette so those are the last two decisions I guess.

I play a lot of melody on my zouks but also accompaniment. For me I've found that around 23" - 24" (for a 5-course -- maybe 22-24" for a 4...) is a good compromise between the two. I love stv's 25.4" Crump, but find it difficult to play fast melody on some tunes due to the stretches. While I like a shorter scale (e.g, 22") for just melody, my instruments are all 5-course and for accompaniment I like having a D on the low course, which becomes impractical for much under 23" (my main axe is a 5-c Sobell 22.8" and it's just barely long enough for the low D...).

I also play guitar and am used to that scale length, but on a guitar the intervals between strings are more fourths vs. more fifths on the zouks, which leads to more stretches for melody. With double courses vs. single on a guitar, I find that's a lot of work for little pinky...

This is less of an issue if you don't plan to play much melody, though.

Randy

**PCypert** · Mar-23-2007, 10:26am

Nice playing Phil...hadn't heard that clip yet...can't wait to have that cavern-like open sound, plus a some low end growl and grumble that that low C is only hinting at

I hope anyways. He had me debating between a 22 and 23 but I feel I'm leaning at 23 or 24 more lately. I don't do so much single note stuff...maybe I would if it were shorter....the other problem I have is if I order too much in the middle then maybe I don't have an excuse to get another in a couple years

In all seriousness my old Crump and Flatiron didn't give me much trouble when I was playing the little I was playing on those...so maybe...

Paul