It’s been a while since I’ve been here. I will try to do better.. I’ve recently finished three Koa Weissenborn type guitars. Two are all Koa, the top, back and sides, the third has Koa back and sides with a Red Cedar top. Almost all my work is with local/domestic woods, but I went exotic with these. A nod to the traditional Weissenborn or Knudson ‘Hawaiian Guitar’ which were largely made from Koa. It’s a decent wood to work with, has a rich sound when put in an stringed instrument and is incredibly beautiful when finished.
The Weissenborn is a lap guitar, it’s played with a metal, glass, ceramic or bone slide. The strings aren’t fretted as with a traditional guitar, the slide plays on the strings, think bottleneck playing or pedal steel, it’s a beautiful sound and it’s acoustic. I can’t say I play slide guitar, but I do play around with them, I love the sound and making them. The names Weissenborn and Knudson are of Chris Knudson and Hermann Weissenborn, who made these type of guitars in the early 20th century, part of a Hawaiian music craze then. Knudson guitars were made in Tacoma, Port Townsend and Seattle, the Weisseborns were made in Los Angeles.
The Koa came from Notable Woods on Lopez Island in Washington state, who I highly recommend for sourcing instrument woods, great service and excellent material. Of course the wood originates from the big island of Hawaii exclusively, it is in the Acacia family. The bracing is made from Sitka Spruce from Alaska Woods, also great material. The Red Cedar was rescued from what was an old dock that was in Lake Chelan for many years. The dock was rebuilt and the old logs were disposed of, a few sections from a particularly nice log was harvested by yours truly before they got taken away. I’m guessing it’s origins are from somewhere up lake, a great find and wonderful tone wood.
Specifications: -Koa top, back & sides, except for the Cedar top on #21. The sides are structured (laminated). —Sitka Spruce bracing -#19 Black Walnut fretboard, bridge, rosette, binding and headstock veneer #20 Maple fretboard, bridge, rosette, binding and headstock veneer -#21 Koa fretboard, bridge, rosette, binding and headstock veneer -Bone nut & saddles -Pau Abalone fret markers at the 5, 7, 9, 12, 15, 17th frets -K&K Pure Mini under bridge pickups -19 & 20 have Gotah tuners with ebony buttons, 21 has Rubner tuners with ebony buttons -John Pearce Weissenborn strings .015″ – .060″ – Hard Shell cases for 19, 20 – Access Stage Three case for 21 -Overall length 39″, lower bout 15″ – 19, 20 3 1/4″ body depth – 21 3 3/4″ body depth #19 & #20 are available, contact me if interested.
Hampel Guitars 