Steel-String Guitars

Having played numerous and guitars built on traditional patterns, I’ve found such a wide variety of appealing sounds and qualities that my steel-string guitars utilize familiar body shapes. My standard bodies are a Dreadnought, OM/SJ, Jumbo, and Gibson-style L-0 small-body.

I use a 25’ dome on the top and a 15’ dome on the back for improved dimensional stability and tonal punchiness with the sides profiled to accommodate the dome. All bracing is shaped from hand-split faces and hot hide glue used for all the tonally critical components. I prefer hardwood binding for aesthetic and sound preferences and also prefer to bind the fingerboard to present a smooth, clean edge instead of exposed fretwire ends. I use either Jescar’s Gold Evo brass alloy or stainless steel fretwire for improved durability, sustain, and superior wear resistance, though I can also fret with nickel-silver upon request. Regardless of neck joint, I use a double-acting truss rod in my instruments with the option of access either through the soundhole, the headstock, or through the neck extension for adjustable necks. Side sound ports are standard and a wide range of pickup choices are available.

My Dreadnought follows the classic Martin contours with a subtle slope to the shoulders and a slightly slimmer waist. I typically use a standard X-braced pattern for the top and either parallel braces for a more traditional sound or a double-X for a quicker, clearer bass response.

Instead of an OM with squared shoulders, my pattern is slightly more rounded and wider at in the lower bout. Not quite as large as an SJ but a happy medium between the two, for a slightly less boxy sound but still with the disciplined, even sound that is typical of an OM. I also tend to prefer a slightly deeper body for a fuller bass response but a standard-depth with a slightly smaller soundhole achieves a similar response if playing comfort is of concern.

The Jumbo body is a pretty standard take on the Gibson Jumbo and my platform of choice for baritone guitars, enabling an resonant low-B without requiring excessively long scale lengths. It also works for citterns, mandocellos, and other octave-strung instruments where an expansive, nearly cavernous sound is desired.

The L-0 body outline I use is essentially the same shape as a Hauser Sr. classical outline with a 24.75” scale length. I find it to be a good compromise between the feel and playability of a parlor-style guitar and a full-range instrument that doesn’t compensate on volume or quality of sound. Inviting to play solo and stands out in a mix even in larger ensembles, it’s one of my favorite body styles to use.

Classical Guitars

While my initial interest was in classical guitars, I build comparatively few nylon-strung guitars these days but I still maintain an interest and appreciation for fine classicals. After experimenting with several build styles I gravitate towards models based on Miguel Rodriguez Sr., a standard Hauser/Torres style, and a romantic guitar inspired by Stauffer and Panormo.

Mandolin Family

While I’ve only built a few mandolins, much of my work at Dammann Custom instruments has been the construction and development of five-course mandocellos (the cello equivalent to a mandolin with an added high string or a mandolin equivalent to the violincello piccolo). Consult the Dammann Instruments webpage for more information. Outside of mandocellos I build primarily A-style mandolins and freely use non-traditional woods such as Redwood for tops and domestic hardwoods such as Walnut, Locust, and Osage Orange for the backs and sides.

Philippine Rondalla

After building my first several rondalla instruments, my work with traditional Philippine instruments has largely been on hiatus aside from a documented build in partnership with the Rondalla club of Los Angeles (photo album of the build hosted on Flickr here). An updated bandurria build is planned to commemorate 20 years since my first build and the entire process from design to construction will be documented and posted here, so stay tuned for updates.