The Jazz

The Jazz

My passion for fire-finished oak has reached new heights with this extraordinary project—a solid body archtop guitar that I’ve been perfecting over the past few years. Crafted from a single piece of solid oak, the body features a dramatically arched top and an even more intricately carved, concave bottom. At its center, the body is just 6mm thick, gradually thickening towards the edges to ensure proper stiffness and stability, allowing the entire body to act as a soundboard. The floating bridge rests on a thin, highly resonant section, emulating the behavior of a fully hollow-body guitar while maintaining exceptional ergonomics and a lightweight design of under 2.5 kg.

The back plates, made from hand-hammered and patinated brass, add a striking contrast to the organic woodwork. Fire-finishing this delicate construction not only released tension in the wood but also created small cracks, which were filled with resin and adorned with 24k gold, drawing inspiration from the Japanese art of Kintsugi—celebrating imperfections as part of an object’s beauty. The neodymium pickup, crafted by Humless, is encased in a custom ebony housing, with its shape and the bridge design tailored specifically for this build. Together, these elements pay homage to the inspiring spirit of Japan, blending timeless craftsmanship with artistic innovation.