Handmade 12 string 'Leadbelly' Guitar

Finally got the strings on the 'Leadbelly' 12-string guitar I've been building - a tribute to the great folk and blues musicians of America's great depression of the 1930's.

I've often wondered what it would be like to hear Leadbelly, Bessy Smith, Blind Willie Mctell, Billie Holliday, Woody Guthrie as they actually sounded - not on a scratchy old recording. This guitar gives me some idea. It's a massive sound!

The guitar is based around the specifications and design of the Stella 12 string guitar which Leadbelly bought to celebrate his release from prison in 1925, which he attained by singing a song to the governor of Texas asking for a pardon.

The soundboard is German Spruce, the body and neck are Mahogany. Fingerboard and bridge are Ebony. Cocobolo bindings. The rosette is made from rosewood, mahogany, sycamore, ebony and shells from the sea of Galilee. The marker dots are copper and sterling silver. The finish is natural shellac french polish.

In keeping with the style of guitars built by Oscar Shmitt (who founded Stella guitars in 1910) and most makers of guitars in those days, the soundboard has 'ladder' bracing as opposed to X-bracing, like most modern steel string guitars. The sustain seems to go on forever.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT G.WEIGERT HANDMADE GUITARSVISIT : WWW.GWGUITARS.COM