"the goddess" by james curtis

[BlueMountain]

James Curtis is a MandolinCafe member and luthier in Port Townsend, WA. He's an artist at heart, and he loves to do interesting new things to his instruments. This one is called "The Goddess." Look closely and figure out why. Just right for all you Pagans out there. I've just sold this, but I told James that I'd post photos.

[BlueMountain]

Goddess on the headstock, rather like the Venus of Willendorf (about 25,000 years old). This isn't a truss rod cover. It's painted on.

[BlueMountain]

Unusually big-bottomed. I think it's a very attractive look.

[BlueMountain]

Interesting hand-carved soundhole. I think the lack of symetricality was deliberate. I'm not sure what the red inlay is. It's fiber-like.

[BlueMountain]

Another look at the soundhole.

[BlueMountain]

I love this graceful little ebony bridge. It's positioned with two tiny registration pins that help keep it from falling over. The top is X-braced, and the legs sit on the braces.

[BlueMountain]

Nice maple back with moderate quilting. All solid wood.

[BlueMountain]

Nice Schaller tuners

[BlueMountain]

I don't think the binding is wood, but I can't tell for sure. Boy, wouldn't it be awful to splurge on ebony binding, then have people think it was plastic?

[BlueMountain]

Tone: Very loud, very smooth, incredibly long sustain. Not at all for bluegrass type sounds--no bark, no chop. Characteristic pancake-style sound--a bit echoey. But a pleasant, pure sound. This was made in January of 2004. I think the number was in the 60s, and James is presently in the 90s. I bought it for $625 and sold it for $650, but after the fees, I just broke even. I also put about four hours of labor into sprucing it up in various ways. So I guess $650 is a good sign of what the market will bear.

[bush-man]

Shades of Georgia O'Keefe! Oh gosh! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

russell

[K3NTUCKI8oy]

very different indeed brade http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif