Guitars

Turtle Mound Flutes is excited to announce that we will soon begin offering for sale beautiful hybrid classical/electric guitars featuring the beautiful pyrographic (wood burning) artwork currently found on our Native American style flutes.

As an old-time guitar picker (over 50 years now), I've been dragging a guitar of one type or another to our flute circle gatherings almost from the time I first joined. Others enjoy playing their flutes as I improvise accompaniments to follow their playing, or when I play a particular song (such as Summertime or Wayfaring Stranger) or chord pattern as background to which the flute players provide a lead.

My primary guitar over the years 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 apply to 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.

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 and with Easy Feelin' on various stages. The basic instrument is carried over to the production "Waya" model, but with many 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.

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 burned) 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).

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 for sale 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.

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".


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.

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.


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.

Model designation:	HCE-1 (Hybrid Classical/Electric model 1)
Body size:	00 (standard classical guitar)
Body width:	Lower bout 15"; Upper bout 11 3/8"
Overall length:	~39 1/4"
Scale length:	650 mm (~25.6")
Soundboard:	Spruce
Rosette:	Walnut ring inlay
Headplate:	Walnut laminate
Sides/back:	Basswood (option: stained red mahogany)
Neck:	Poplar (option: stained red mahogany)
Fingerboard:	Rosewood (flat)
Markers:	Mother-of-Pearl side; Turquoise or Mother-of-Pearl fret markers
Strings:	Nylon, lower three wound
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)
Option: Ebony stain on sides, back, & neck with Koa rosette inlay and headplate laminate.

*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

Turtle Mound Flutes is now taking orders for the hybrid classical / electric (HCE-1) guitar 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) theme in 2012. If you would like a different animal theme, let me know. Custom work is my pleasure. All designs available with natural or stained sides, back, and neck. Fret & side markers may be turquoise or mother-of-pearl.

Watch for the introduction of Turtle Mound Flute acoustic / electric steel-string, flat-top guitars sometime in 2012.

Capo: A capo is a handy device to quickly change your guitar's tuning so that familiar chord forms may be used in other keys. A capo for a common steel-string guitar will most likely not work on a classical guitar, where the surface of the neck is flat (not curved) and the spacing of the strings is greater. Classical guitar capos are available from Amazon.com or any of the common on-line music sellers (such as Music 123 and Musician's Friend. Elastic band capos start under $10, spring action capos are at or under $15, up to the G7 brand for about $40.

Guitar Strap: I add strap buttons to this guitar on either end of the body. This is not traditional classical guitar! Although this guitar is quite lightweight, I do not recommend attaching a guitar strap to the neck at the nut/head. Most classical guitars do not have a truss rod to provide extra rigidity to the neck and attaching the strap in that manner may damage the neck. Classical guitar "straps" are traditionally a string like device with a hook that loops under the guitar body and hooks into the soundhole. You are welcome to use such a device with my guitar, but will likely find it uncomfortable if you are not playing in the classical style as it does not hold the guitar very securely.

Most acoustic guitar straps are of a length that allows them to be attached to the neck just above the nut. I find this much too long to attach to the upper body strap button and presents the guitar so low that it is uncomfortable to play. A strap length of about 47" (hole to hole) seems to be about right for this guitar.

I found a family of straps that seem to work well. They have a 3" wide leather section (with some interesting artwork) that extends about 25" from the hole that attaches at the lower end, and a 2" wide adjustable nylon section that can be shortened to about 25" that attaches to the upper body button, giving a total length (hole to hole) of about 47". They are made by Ralph Marlin and sell for just under $17 on Amazon, Music 123 (free shipping), Musician's Friend, and other on-line sites.

Anyone with a different suggestion/recommendation, let me know and I'll be glad to pass it along.

Strings: If you are an experienced nylon-string player, you most likely have your favorite replacement strings. String selection tends to be a very personal thing with about as many opinions about which are best sounding, longest lasting, etc. as there are players. I won't argue with anyone's preference or try to convince anyone that something else is better.

However, as I expect many of those who will be purchasing one of my hybrid classical/electric guitars may be acquiring their first nylon-strung guitar, let me offer a few words of advice regarding strings. First, do not change strings just before going on stage! Unlike steel strings, nylon strings will stretch quite a lot initially and will continue to stretch for several weeks as they settle in. The amount of stretching will diminish over time, but (especially if you are playing with someone else) plan to retune your guitar every time you take it out. The integrated tuner in the Joyo pre-amp on my hybrid classical/electric guitar will make this easy to do, and you'll be ready to go in a minute or so.

Fresh nylon strings every couple of months will do wonders for the sound of your guitar. I am currently using D'Addario Pro-Arte' EJ-45 (normal tension) strings and am very happy with them. I've had several experienced nylon-string guitarists tell me that this is a good choice, so I don't hesitate to recommend them to anyone inexperienced in buying nylon guitar strings. They are currently selling on Amazon for $6.49 a set or $16.88 for a pack of three sets. They are also available from many other sources on-line as well, or check at your local music store.

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 future plans include offering guitars that I will "make from scratch" while retaining this kit-based model as a less expensive alternative in my line.

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