Diamondback Stringworks

08/17/2026

Prototype copy of a 1942 J-45. Closest thing I’ve done to a Bench Copy guitar. I had the original 1942 guitar on the bench for several months and took detailed measurements to build two guitars, one topped in Adirondack Spruce (pictured) and one in Alaskan Yellow Spruce. Both guitars have Honduran Mahogany back and sides, 9-piece necks, and Wenge fretboard & bridge. I must say, they turned out very well! More on these later.

08/14/2026

Herringbone dreadnaught acoustic played by Frank Davis. Top is Adirondack Spruce courtesy of Guitars & Tonewood and back & sides are Indian Rosewood.

07/19/2026

The dry run. The prepared brace. The install. Yowza.

07/17/2026

Gibson grain runout struck this 60’s SJ right in the X-brace. The original plan was to remove the back to replace this brace, but, after scrutiny, that didn’t seem like the best option. Wracking my brain, I remembered something Mark Stutman Folkway Music mentioned doing on older Gibsons: removing the brace and replacing it through the sound hole. So, that’s what I did. The smaller section above is part of the other section of X-brace that had to be removed to get the broken brace out. The X-brace itself is actually 3 pieces so no harm no foul. Now, to make a new brace and get this little gal back playing!

06/13/2026

After a small hiatus to recenter, it feels good being back in the shop! First on the docket: necks! These three will get their ears glued on then move on to final shaping! Hope you’re well, friends and neighbors!

05/20/2026

05/16/2026

Waiting on glue to dry or parts to arrive can be oddly productive. New batch of prototypes coming down the pipe!

05/15/2026

Small update: got tuners in today for some special guitars. More to come!

04/16/2026

Any day is a good day with Bird’s Eye Maple!

04/12/2026

Aaaaaand rough carved! Still plenty of room for voicing and refinement down the road.