Aaron Morris Custom Guitar

Aaron Morris Custom Guitar 2011

From Aaron Morris: This guitar project began after talking with David Holt about his desire for a small guitar with a big sound. David’s criteria offered up a challenge, something small enough to tote in a gig bag and fit in the overhead storage of a plane, a big full sound, an easy playing neck, a cutaway, a sunburst and the use of simply controlled electronics that would maintain the true acoustic sound. Well, that was enough to cause a bunch of head scratching for sure!

After much thought, trying out small bodied guitars and bouncing ideas back and forth, a design was formed. The instrument that was created is comprised of Honduran mahogany back, sides and neck, an Adirondack spruce top and bracing, ebony bridge and fingerboard and a bone nut and saddle. The guitar is the body size and shape of a Martin 00-12 fret with a cutaway, the bracing is that of a 14 fret, Gibson L-00 and it has a depth of 4.75” at the end block. The scale length is 24.75. The electronics were scouted out by David. He chose to use the L.R. Baggs Anthem Tru-Mic pickup with the under saddle piezo, the acoustic mic on the bridge plate and the soundhole control.

What we ended up with is certainly a hybrid guitar and so far, one of a kind. I truly hope it will perform to David’s needs for a long time to come. I had a great, big bunch of fun building it and it was a unique opportunity to get to know David during the process, another one of a kind.

Mahogany back and sides