I prefer to buy my wood from lutherie suppliers since I will use only the best, clearest, most toneful woods, and I don't want any surprises. But despite a very cautious and conservative nature when it comes to wood choices, sometimes even I succumb to eye candy.

I found this billet at a local exotic hardwood supplier, and this is the most beautiful example of the wood I have seen. The stark white and black are a common feature, but the extraordinary spidering in crisp black lines is harder to come by. I'm a sucker for spiderweb figures and after slicing the wood, this beautiful chevron was revealed. I spent a lot of time working out layouts that would yield the best figure throughout this instrument and the two other guitars I was able to get out of it.

I built the Black and Tan in time for Harp Guitar Gathering 10. The guitar made it to the gathering with an "under construction" label, and I made it despite sleep deprivation, but it was worth it. It wouldn't have come together if not for a lucky weather break that allowed me to lay down lacquer fast. It was warm and dry way into the small hours.

The workshop pictures courtesy of Kathy's iPhone, the beautiful images of the completed instrument are courtesy of my good friend, Jim McCrain. Jim graciously did this shoot after picking up from DFW and before dropping me at Harp Guitar Gathering 10.