Daniel Ott Guitars S Cuban Mahogany/Moon Spruce #8

The plans for the first Model S have been sitting on my desk for three years, and now the time has finally come. The first Daniel Ott Guitars Model S is finished! My idea was to build a 00-style guitar with a 12-fret construction that would be significantly more versatile than other guitars of the same genre. My "Structured Sides" construction is essential for this. This is a special type of laminated sides that provide the sides with extremely high stability and give the guitar more projection and sustain. I also designed the top and back bracing according to my sound ideas.

The guitar is made of moon spruce from the Alps, as well as Cuban mahogany for the back and sides. The same material is used on the back of the headstock. The front of the headstock, as well as the bridge and pins, are made of ebony. The fingerboard in this case is made of African blackwood, an extremely hard African hardwood. To achieve a more fundamental sound while still retaining the mahogany's tactile texture, I finished the entire instrument with a very thin, open-pore satin finish. Despite the seemingly simple appearance, there are many beautiful details to discover. The rosette and end graft are made of Amboyna burl, finished with black and white and gray smoked oak decorative stripes. The same decorative stripes are also found in the body's edge trim. Fingerboard inlays have been completely omitted. Subtle and elegant copper side dots aid orientation. These can also be found on the bridge pins. Copper was also used for the "OTT" logo on the headstock. The magnetic truss rod cover made of Amboyna burl completes the look.

The result is a compact, comfortable, and extremely versatile guitar. Its sound is open and has an unusually wide frequency range for this body shape. From deep bass to bell-like highs, you can easily get everything out of this little guitar. I'd say it's especially at home with fingerstyle or fingerpicking. But strumming is also excellent. Be sure to check out the demo video! If you're looking for a compact guitar that delivers a surprisingly big sound without sounding in any way "boxy" or nasal, you should definitely check out my new Model S!