This is the first in my Builder’s Choice series, where I give myself the space to try new things and build as I please. Hopefully it will also produce instruments that find a home with the perfect player/owner. The cedar for this was harvested near Bend, OR by luthier Jayson Bowerman. It is some of the stiffest cedar I have ever used and behaves more like spruce, in my opinion. The curly walnut also comes from Jayson as the pieces are too small for his guitars. I bound it with maple binding and some beautiful hombre purfling, with multiple brown shades in it. The curly walnut fretboard, headplate, bridge and pickguard are from the scrap bin at Goby Walnut in Portland. The old growth fir neck is from a salvaged floor joist. It sounds sweet but serious and is a joy to play.

“Thanks Nicole and Aaron,
I am throughly enjoying the Builder’s Choice. It reminds me of the Oregon I knew decades ago. I am not trained musician, and I just go by the sound of the instrument. The “Red” plays beautifully to me. Enjoying the smell of the wood when I bring Red out to play too.

I hope Aaron gets inspired again by a new wood find, or combination of old growth, old stash, and new ideas.
Best to you all
- A. F.
”