Turtle Mound Flutes is pleased to
offer our beautiful hybrid
classical/electric guitars featuring the beautiful pyrographic (wood burning)
artwork currently found on our Native American style flutes.
My primary guitar over several decades has been the 12-string, of which I currently
play two. Although a versatile instrument, the steel-stringed 12-string can be
overpowering when accompanying a soft flute song. When Laura, co-founder of the
Indian River Flute Circle, and I thought we might pursue a flute/guitar duo of
our own, I decided to add a nylon-string classical style guitar to my personal
guitar inventory to
offer some variety to our sound. Rather than go out and purchase one, I decided
to make my own (from a commercially available kit) and also use it as a "canvas" for the
type of artwork I love burning onto my flutes. I've put out the guitar I made at the October 2010 Silverhawk Flute
Gathering at Dade City, Florida and the next month's Native Rhythms Festival in Melbourne,
Florida. The response has been overwhelming, especially from experienced guitar
players.
The Prototype TMF
Hybrid Classical/Electric Guitar
I can't part with my first TMF guitar, which I created as a
"proof-of-concept" prototype. I consider it a success and It has
become a real workhorse in my playing, both acoustically at home and through the
electronics in the church Praise Band andon
various stages. The
basic instrument is carried over to the production
"Waya" model, but with several visual
refinements.
The prototype Turtle Mound Flutes
hybrid classical / electric guitar in its first public appearance on-stage at the
Brevard Cultural Alliance
Fall for the Arts festival, October 1, 2010.
The following video was taken at the 2010 Native
Rhythms Festival of Easy Feelin' (Laura Covel Clark
and me) playing an original piece called Autumn Snowfall. The prototype
hybrid classical / electric "Waya" guitar is featured in this piece.
The acoustics aren't the best on this amateur recording, but you can get a good idea
of how this guitar sounds through an amplified sound system.
These guitars all illustrate the classic animal-themed artwork derived from
the artwork offered on our Native American Style Flutes. Themes from our
American Heritage art, as illustrated on some of our steel-string
guitars, are also available for an additional charge.
Custom "Painted Raven"
Guitar
Annette Abbondanza of the flute/guitar duo Painted
Raven requested I make the first production TMF Hybrid
Classical/Electric guitar with artwork that she created capturing ravens in
various poses. Although this beautiful artwork clearly illustrates the possibilities for making you a truly unique, personal
guitar. Watch for copies of this guitar to be offered as the "Painted
Raven Signature Series", each guitar personally signed by Annette..
Annette takes ownership of her new guitar
at the
Green Frog Moon Festival in St. Petersburg, FL.
(March 13, 2011)
The custom "Painted Raven"
guitar. Rosette is inlayed walnut. Fret markers are mother-of-pearl -
not traditional classical guitar.
A walnut headplate is laminated
to the headstock and is inlayed
with the Painted Raven logo.
Artec pre-amplifier with 6-band
equalizer. Note the beautiful grain of the stained side.
The beads and simulated raven
feathers add a nice finishing touch.
The back & sides of the
body and neck are stained red mahogany.
The pyrographic (wood burn)
artwork was designed by
Annette Abbondanza for her special guitar.
The pre-amp output is either
1/4" (High-Z unbalanced) or XLR (low-Z balanced). Note the crushed abalone inlay
over the body seam and the strap button (not traditional classical
guitar).
Awohali (Eagle) Guitar
The eagle (Awohali in Cherokee) is the majestic symbol of our
country, and also an important element of Native American culture. Most
indigenous peoples believe that birds are messengers, and the eagle is special
in that it can fly higher than any other bird, and is therefore the one who
carries our prayers to the Creator. The imagery on this guitar honors the eagle
in all its majestic glory.
This guitar is currently available at the introductory price of $500.00,
including a nylon gig bag. Price does not include shipping or Florida sales tax,
where applicable. Detailed specifications appear at the bottom of this page.
The body art on this guitar
depicts a majestic eagle nesting in a tree, looking up at another in
flight. These images are "burned" into the spruce top of this
guitar.
The "Awohali" (eagle) themed
guitar. Rosette is inlayed walnut, fret markers are turquoise.
A walnut headplate is laminated to the
headstock. The image of an eagle with a raised wing is burned into it,
and the Cherokee characters for Awohali are burned and inlayed in
crushed turquoise.
The fret markers are inlayed turquoise. The
(simulated) eagle feathers and beads add to the overall theme.
The back, sides, and neck are stained red mahogany.
This view shows the beautiful grain of the back.
Some of the detail of the
pyrography on this guitar can be seen in this view of the dominant eagle
head.
The "plug panel" supports either
1/4" (unbalanced) or XLR (balanced) connection to your amplifier.
It also contains the easily accessible 9V battery compartment. The turquoise inlay over the body seam is visible in this shot.
The approaching eagle in flight
appears in the upper bout.
The Joyo pre-amp features a
4-band equalizer and an integrated chromatic tuner. A volume control and
a low battery indicator are also included.
Tluhdatsi (Panther/Cougar) Guitar
The North American native "big cat" varies by size in
different parts of the country and comes with corresponding different names:
panther, cougar, mountain lion. This family of cats is known by the generic name
Tluhdatsi to the Cherokee. The images on this guitar and the inlay paw print on
the headstock pay tribute to our native "big cat".
This guitar is currently available at the introductory price of $500.00,
including a nylon gig bag. Price does not include shipping or Florida sales tax,
where applicable. Detailed specifications appear at the bottom of this page.
The pyrographic (wood burned)
artwork on the body of this guitar depicts two panthers, one (on the
lower bout) sitting on a stone outcropping and the other (on the upper
bout) watching over a little rise.
This "Tluhdatsi" (panther) theme
guitar has a walnut inlay rosette with mother-of-pearl and abalone shell
highlights.
The head has a walnut headplate
laminated on its face, with a crushed abalone shell inlay of a panther's
paw print.
The basswood sides and back are stained red
mahogany. As this photo shows, it brings out the dramatic grain of the
wood.
The image burned into the lower
bout is a panther seated on a rock outcropping.
The upper bout pyrographic
image is of panther raising its head over a rocky rise.
The fret markers and side
markers are both inset with mother-of-pearl.
The poplar neck is also stained
red mahogany. The upper strap button is shown on the backside of the
neck's heel. A heelplate of walnut is laminated on the base of the heel.
This picture shows the Joyo
electronics - pre-amp with a 4-band equalizer and integrated tuner.
There is also a volume control and low-battery indicator.
The "jack panel" is
just below the crushed abalone shell inlay over the body seam. It
accepts either a common "High-Z" instrument 1/4" plug or a
"balanced" XLR (microphone type) plug. The battery compartment
is incorporated into the jack panel. Also
visible in this photo is the lower strap button in the middle of the
seam inlay.
Waya (Wolf) Guitar
The wolf is a very popular theme for my musical instruments,
probably due to the affinity many people have for this animal. Wolves are very
social animals and mate for life. Although they hunt in packs, a wolf will often
take its kill back to its family while the remainder of the pack continues to
hunt.
The wolves on my prototype HCE-1 have drawn a great deal of
attention (see above). This guitar is the
production version of that guitar, far refined from the "proof of
concept" detail in the prototype.
This guitar is currently available at the introductory price of $500.00,
including a nylon gig bag. Price does not include shipping or Florida sales tax,
where applicable. Detailed specifications appear at the bottom of this page.
The "Waya" (wolf)
theme guitar builds on the design of the original prototype HCE-1 guitar
with many refinements that make it an even more beautiful instrument.
This "Waya" (wolf) theme guitar has a walnut inlay rosette with
turquoise inlay highlights.
The head has a walnut headplate
laminated on its face, with a crushed turquoise stone inlay of a wolf's
paw print.
The fret markers and side
markers are both inset with turquoise.
The very popular pair of
pyrographic (wood burned) howling wolves from the prototype appear prominently
on the lower bout of the production "Waya" guitar.
Not found on the prototype is a
third, prowling wolf on the upper bout. The inlay walnut rosette is also
visible in this view.
This picture shows the Joyo
electronics - pre-amp with a 4-band equalizer and integrated tuner,
which shows the "E" string to be in tune.
There is also a volume control and low-battery indicator.
In this photo, the "jack panel" is
just above the turquoise inlay over the body seam. It accepts either a
common "High-Z" instrument 1/4" plug or a
"balanced" XLR (microphone type) plug. The battery compartment
is incorporated into the jack panel. Also
visible in this photo is the lower strap button in the middle of the
seam inlay.
Nylon, lower three wound. A set of D'Addario
EJ-45 strings provided, installed upon request.
String spacing (nut):
1 11/16"
String spacing (saddle)
2 5/16"
Pre-Amp:
Joyo model JE-33 with 4-band equalizer &
integrated chromatic tuner
Pick-up:
Piezo under-saddle
Output:
Low-Z balanced XLR and High-Z unbalanced 1/4" (mono)
Options:
Back, sides, neck: may be left
unstained, or stained ebony or red mahogany. Ask about other
stain colors.
3/8" wide rosette inlay:
Walnut, or Koa.
Headstock and heel laminates: Flamed
Koa, Koa, Padauk, Walnut, etc. Ask about specific woods that
interest you.
Joyo electronics modules:
Joyo JE-33 Pre-Amp with 4-band equalizer and built-in
chromatic tuner.
Joyo output panel, with 1/4" (mono) unbalanced
and XLR balanced connectors. Also houses 9V battery.
Joyo JE-33 Specifications:
(Bass) ±12dB at 80HZ
(Middle) ±12dB at 800HZ
(Treble) ±12dB at 3KHZ
(Presto) ±12dB at 15KHZ
Low Voltage (Battery) Indicator
A4 Frequency: 440HZ
Tuning Range: 1Eb-8C
Tolerance: ± 1%
Weight:70g
Dimension:95(L)×33(H)×51(W)mm
Power:9V 6F22 Battery
Price & Availability
Turtle
Mound Flutes is now taking orders for the hybrid classical / electric
(HCE-1) guitar with Nature-Themed art at the special introductory price of $500
(plus shipping and FL sales tax if applicable). This price includes a nylon gig
bag. Designs currently available are "Awohali"
(eagle), "Tluhdatsi" (panther), and "Waya" (wolf).
In the works is a "Yona" (bear). If you would like a different animal theme, let me
know.
Optionally, the hybrid classical / electric
(HCE-1) guitar with Patriot-Themed art goes for the special introductory price of
$600
(plus shipping and FL sales tax if applicable).
Custom work is my pleasure. All designs available with natural or stained
sides, back, and neck. Fret & side markers are mother-of-pearl.
All
guitars are custom made to the customer's design selections. Contact us at sales@turtlemoundflutes.com
to place your order and schedule construction of your guitar.
In the interest of full disclosure, the
above described guitars are based on a commercially available kit. All
embellishments, such as the inlay wood ring rosette, headplate laminate,
body seam hiding inlay, etc.; the addition of electronics; and all
custom artwork are my contribution to the basic guitar. In addition, I
do the guitar setup, including properly aligning neck and body, setting
the action (string height), truing frets, etc. Starting with a kit
allows me to offer a quality custom guitar at a very reasonable price.
My long term goal includes offering guitars that I will "make from
scratch" while retaining this kit-based model as a less expensive
alternative in my line.