Custom Acoustic Guitar Review – Cocobolo Alchemist
A note from Corrie:
This custom acoustic guitar project was sheer joy from start to finish. It began months ago when two amazing grandparents brought their grandson and his Mom to our studio and shop to play some guitars. They had decided to give their grandson a college graduation gift that he could enjoy for his lifetime – a custom Lichty guitar. At their first visit Greg played all the demo guitars we had on hand to get a feel for each design. On the second visit he decided on an Alchemist and Jay walked him through picking all the components for his custom acoustic guitar – from the exact set of cocobolo to the rosette, binding, etc.
A few days ago Greg and his family arrived to pick-up his new guitar. We have enjoyed getting to know the entire family. Greg’s design ideas and the enthusiasm of the entire family contributed to Jay building one very inspired instrument! Guitar and guitarist are a perfect fit!
We’re grateful to Greg for taking time to provide his custom acoustic guitar review and are happy to share what he’s got to say.
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Reposted from Sevenstring.org
“I just picked up my Custom acoustic guitar from Lichty Guitars and I’m speechless – the guitar is beyond my expectations. It’s the perfect guitar and a joy to play! Thank you so much to my grandparents for the anticipatory graduation gift!
Audio Sample played by Greg: https://soundcloud.com/gfactor/the-alchemist-new-guitar
Audio sample played by Jay: Ziggy Won't Walk
Here’s the rundown
- Back+Sides: Cocobolo
- Top: Sinker Redwood
- Neck: Mahogany
- Fingerboard+Bridge:Ebony
- Binding: Maple
- Nut+Saddle:Camel Bone
- Tuners: Got0h 510
The guitar looks incredible, I especially love the grain on the back and the shape is unique but still has classic lines. It also allows for great upper neck access. Speaking of the neck it turned out exactly right, it fits my hand like a glove and the body has a slight wedge to it so it is very comfortable to play.
The sound of this guitar is head and shoulders above any other that I’ve played, the notes seem to jump right out and the tone has the perfect balance of brightness and warmth and is very responsive to slight changes playing so it sound dynamic and alive. The highs never get brittle or shrill and the lows never get muddy, even dense cords low on the neck ring out clear. The amount of volume this thing can produce is also astounding i mean it’s LOUD!
The builder Jay Lichty was a joy to work with and he involved me in every element of the design (I even got to hand-pick the woods in his shop!) and the craftsmanship is top-notch.
Here’s a few of my favorite pictures of the thing, I don’t have a good camera but his wife’s a photographer and took a bunch of great pictures, I can’t post them all here but there’s much more on his website Custom Acoustic Guitar, Cocobolo Alchemist with Sinker Redwood Top and also a bunch of cool picture from the build.
(We have added a few shots of Greg at Lichty Guitar’s studio)
It looks even better in person but very few people will ever get close enough to it to know that . His other instruments are amazing too, I’ve lost plenty of hours looking through his archives.
I could not be happier with this guitar! This post took me forever to write cause I have it in my lap and keep stopping halfway through sentences to play. – Greg Hendler
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Learn more about …
Two of our favorite woods – Cocobolo and Sinker Redwood
See currently available acoustic guitars for sale
Read more acoustic guitar reviews
About the Lichty Alchemist Guitar …
If there was ever a guitar that could weave your notes, chords and intonations into pure gold the Alchemist just might be it. Jay headed out to the shop with the thread of a new guitar design in mind. Days later he emerged from clouds of sawdust with the first Alchemist in hand.
Features: Distinctive body lines with a OM style size, a wedge-shaped body (inspired by the innovations of Linda Manzer) a side sound port, extended fretboard, bound fretboard and headstock and Gotoh 510 tuners all distinguish the Alchemist.
Dimensions:
- Lower Bout: 15 1/2
- Waist: 9 3/4
- Upper Bout: 11 3/4
- Overall Length: 40
- Depth: 4 3/16 tappering wedge-shape (inspired by Linda Manzer)
- Body Length: 19 1/2
- Nut Width: as specified per order