My first two acoustic guitars were based roughly upon the OOOO, or grand auditorium style. Other than the cutaway on one of the two (shown here is the standard, non-cutaway), they are based upon the same features:

• The back and sides are sapale. This wood is some times called African mahogany. Although it is not related to mahogany, it’s appearance is somewhat similar. Although, in my opinion the three dimensional stripes of sapale makes it more attractive. It also has a very aromatic smell – Maybe my imagination, but I got an occasional whiff while playing.
• The sound board is sitka spruce with a bearclaw figure.

• The necks are Honduran mahogany.
• Cocobolo was used for the fingerboards, bridge, peghead veneer, and pickguard. Cocobolo is a variety of rosewood from Central America. It has beautiful coloring and figure, is very hard and dense (all good things), but is a bitch to work with (oily – clogs up sand paper, smells nasty, etc.).
• Laminations of cocbolo and ivoroid were used for binding/purfling and sound hole rings.
• Aluminum wire was inlayed at the 12th fret (JeSt) and on the pickguards (my JeSter logo). Abalone shell and wire inlays were placed on the peghead.
• Goto vintage style slot-head tuners were used.

K&K Pure Western bridge plate mounted transducers were installed on both. I like this transducer a lot. It does an excellent job of reproducing the sound quality of the guitar. Best of all, it works very well passively.

My experience with the construction of my first two acoustics was both humbling and rewarding. I made many mistakes, none of which were fatal.

There is much room for improvement, but overall I am pleased with the results. I am particularly proud of the sound.