ECA: Acoustic Guitar

Custom-made for the guitarist of The Grooveliner. Hear him talk about this build in the first episode of the Play for Keeps podcast.

Dave’s Take: The client had a good baseline idea of what he wanted: the size of a Taylor Grand Concert, a 25-inch scale length, a wider nut width, and a Cedar top. He also knew that he wanted inlay that spanned the length of the fretboard. Outside of these parameters, he gave me the freedom to design the guitar in my own way. The back & sides were chosen to pair well with the Cedar top, and the specific piece of Nicaraguan Rosewood is a true showstopper - especially on the sides as it transitions from sapwood to heartwood. The inlay was inspired by an art nouveau stained glass design for a transom window. This guitar has a nice, warm sound with excellent sustain and volume.

Framed image of the body of MachMachines ECA custom acoustic guitar, facing left to showcase both the Cedar top and Nicaraguan Rosewood sides
Image of the full front of the ECA custom acoustic guitar with a Western Cedar top
Full image of the ECA custom acoustic guitar with Western Red Cedar top, facing to the left
Full image of the ECA custom acoustic guitar with Western Red Cedar top, facing to the right
Full image of the back of the ECA custom acoustic guitar with Nicaraguan Rosewood back and sides
Full image of the back of the ECA custom acoustic guitar with Nicaraguan Rosewood back and sides, facing to the right
Full image of the back of the ECA custom acoustic guitar with Nicaraguan Rosewood back and sides, facing to the left
The body of the ECA custom acoustic guitar with Western Red Cedar top and inlayed rosette and fretboard
The body of the ECA custom acoustic guitar with Western Red Cedar top and Nicaraguan Rosewood sides, facing to the left
The back of the body of the ECA custom acoustic guitar, made with Nicaraguan Rosewood
The end graft of the ECA custom acoustic guitar with Western Red Cedar top and Nicaraguan Rosewood back and sides
The fretboard of the ECA acoustic guitar with custom inlay inspired by the art nouveau stained glass in transom windows
The neck of the ECA custom acoustic guitar in Honduran Mahogany
Close up of the abalone shell rosette of the ECA custom acoustic guitar
Close up of the custom inlay at the 12th fret that was inspired by art nouveau stained glass in transom windows
Close up of the custom inlay in the fretboard of the ECA acoustic guitar that was inspired by art nouveau stained glass in transom windows
Close up of the front of the headstock of the ECA custom acoustic guitar in Indian Rosewood
Close up of the back of the headstock of the ECA custom acoustic guitar in Indian Rosewood

Materials

  • Top: Western Red Cedar

  • Back and Sides: Nicaraguan Rosewood

  • Neck: Honduran Mahogany

  • Fretboard: Ebony

  • Head/Back Plate: Indian Rosewood

  • Bridge: Ebony

  • Body Binding: Curly Maple

  • Fretboard Binding: Ebony

  • Heel Cap: Indian Rosewood

Dimensions

  • Overall Length: 40.5 inches

  • Scale Length: 25 inches

  • 14 Frets to the Body

Parts

  • Tuners: Waverly with Snakewood Knobs

  • Rosette: Abalone Shell

  • Side Dots: Mother-of-Pearl

  • Fretboard Inlay – White, black & gold mother-of-pearl

  • Bridge Pins: Water Buffalo horn with Abalone Shell dots

  • End Pin: Ebony with Abalone Shell dot

  • End Graft: Nicaraguan Rosewood