Build Diary| David Wren | Concert Guitar Alpine/ Cocobolo
Please Click on the pics for fullsized view!
David Wren is a really talented Canadian luthier who trained under Jean Larrivée along side Grit Laskin, Linda Manzer, Sergei De Jonge and Tony Duggan-Smith. Jean Larrivée spoke of David Wren saying: “He worked for me for five years, and he was by far the very best that ever worked in the shop. He is very, very talented.” In David’s own words:
“During the seventies and eighties I was privileged to accept orders from performers that included Bruce Cockburn, Jackson Browne and Joan Baez. I produced close to two hundred guitars in the old Elmer Avenue and Oakcrest Avenue shops … everything from my original Concert body style to Orchestra Models and Dreadnoughts, as well as hand carved archtop jazz guitars.
From 1990 until 2009 I was a partner in the Twelfth Fret Guitarists’ Pro Shop in Toronto. My responsibilities included developing the acoustic instrument roster with special emphasis on small-shop and individual luthier brands. From 1996 until 2009 I also developed and maintained all aspects of the store’s website.
Working in a retail environment that specialized in high-end acoustic guitars gave me access to a wide array of instruments from all over the world. Studying these instruments in detail … their dimensions, resonant frequencies, top graduations, plate radius details … was an education that has been invaluable to my developement as a luthier
In September of 2009, the call to build guitars again became too loud to ignore … it was time to sharpen my chisels once again. At that point in time I was able to build an instrument with my friend Sergei de Jonge, who helped me get my woodworking chops back up to speed, and along with his daughter Joshia, taught me to French Polish. The de Jonge family’s influence can be seen in my instruments in many ways … my finish, spalted wood rosette and side port are all from Sergei de Jonge.”
I have always loved the older Larrivees and over the years have come across several of David Wren’s old guitars. Balance and response in spades have been their hallmark and suffice to say my appetite for a Wren grew year after year as I played more and more great sounding Wrens. His concerts have been very very consistent and the tone from even the simpliest of Sitka/ Mahogay combinations has been great.
Throw in David’s delicate inlay work and I always knew a Wren would be on the cards soon. I just had to wait for the right used one to come along as David was still heavily involved in the 12fret and not building. The stage was really set when David returned to lutherie in 2009 last year and started taking orders again!
Resources:
1. Stay tuned for an interview with David!
2. Read about cocobolo here
3. Build diary index
- Part 1: Raw wood joining the top & back
-Part 2: Preparing the frame
-Part 3: Rosette, preparing & glueing the back
- Part 4: Final assembly and voicing the box
- Part 5: Finishing the box
- Part 6: Carving & finishing the neck
- Part 7: French Polishing
- Part 8: Completing the guitar
- Part 9: The finished guitar!
I jumped at the chance to order a new Wren and after some consultation with David, settled on his impressive Concert model and the following specs:
- Concert model
- Venetian rounded Cutaway
- Top: European Alpine Spruce
- Back: Figured “cloud” Cocobolo (from my stash)
- Nut width: 1 3/4″
- Scale: 25.4″
- Tuners: Gotoh 510s
- Modern assymetrical frequency compensated ebony bridge
- Bone bridge pins
- Modern assymetrical fingerboard extension (matches radius of peghead)
- ebony body body binding
- Modern assymetrical peghead shape with Wren inlay on front veneer
- Tuners: Gotoh 510 tuners : antique gold finish with ebony buttons
- Matching peghead backstrap
- Simplified small Wren inlay at 12th fret position on ebony fingerboard : side dots
As a fan of his inlays I had to get a signature Wren inlay, but instead of having at the 5th fret, David’s usual placement, he kindly agreed to inlay it onto the headstock and have a matching simplified inlay at the 12 fret.
The cocobolo from my personal stash is a highly figured set with tight, small burly areas and cut just off the quarter. Some folks have called it “Cloud” figure, I just think it’s very pretty. Here’s a sneak preview of the completed guitar:
David has very kindly agreed to document the build process of this guitar. So without further ado, here starts the build diary:
Part 1: Raw wood, Joining the top and the Back
Part 3: Rosette, preparing & gluing the back
Part 4: Final assembly and voicing of the box
Part 6: Carving & finishing the neck
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