Music Appreciation

DFW

(54,388 posts) Tue Mar 31, 2020, 05:30 PM Mar 2020

A new addition to the family

Made by my old (and now departed) friend, Božo Podunavac for Leo Kottke in 1979, this guitar somehow found its way to Heritage Auctions last Sunday. I just saw it by chance as I have little to do these days. I couldn't believe it. I knew Božo liked to experiment, but I had never seen or heard one of these. He only made three of these "owl" guitars. I'll have to wait for the summer to actually play it, as my April trip to the States has been canceled. Twenty years ago, I swore I had enough guitars. I bid and won this in the Heritage auction, so I guess now I REALLY have enough guitars. I can't wait to play it!

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11 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

A new addition to the family (Original Post) DFW Mar 2020 OP

Wow...that's a beauty DFW! Docreed2003 Mar 2020 #1

Have you heard it's voice? The Polack MSgt Mar 2020 #2

That is for access to the truss rod DFW Mar 2020 #4

It looks so cool! MLAA Mar 2020 #3

His guitars usually sound as good as they look! DFW Mar 2020 #5

Wow, exquisite! MLAA Mar 2020 #6

Ummm, well.......... DFW Mar 2020 #7

And here I thought they were identical twins 😬 MLAA Mar 2020 #8

Well, except for gender............... n/t DFW Apr 2020 #11

Both of those have absolutely gorgeous inlay work on the binding, soundhole, headstock, etc. yonder Mar 2020 #9

Bracing is of a style that was made up as he went along DFW Apr 2020 #10

Docreed2003

(16,860 posts)

1. Wow...that's a beauty DFW!

Reply to DFW (Original post)

Tue Mar 31, 2020, 05:34 PM

Mar 2020

Glad you could give it a good home!!

The Polack MSgt

(13,188 posts)

2. Have you heard it's voice?

Reply to DFW (Original post)

Tue Mar 31, 2020, 05:35 PM

Mar 2020

and is that a small hole below the neck?

DFW

(54,388 posts)

4. That is for access to the truss rod

Reply to The Polack MSgt (Reply #2)

Tue Mar 31, 2020, 05:37 PM

Mar 2020

Not to worry!

MLAA

(17,295 posts)

3. It looks so cool!

Reply to DFW (Original post)

Tue Mar 31, 2020, 05:35 PM

Mar 2020

I know, looks aren’t everything, hope it has a good sound as well😬

DFW

(54,388 posts)

5. His guitars usually sound as good as they look!

Reply to MLAA (Reply #3)

Tue Mar 31, 2020, 05:39 PM

Mar 2020

He made me a matching pair in 2000:

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MLAA

(17,295 posts)

6. Wow, exquisite!

Reply to DFW (Reply #5)

Tue Mar 31, 2020, 06:03 PM

Mar 2020

How do you tell them apart?

DFW

(54,388 posts)

7. Ummm, well..........

Reply to MLAA (Reply #6)

Tue Mar 31, 2020, 06:12 PM

Mar 2020

Number of strings, for one thing?

MLAA

(17,295 posts)

8. And here I thought they were identical twins 😬

Reply to DFW (Reply #7)

Tue Mar 31, 2020, 06:18 PM

Mar 2020

DFW

(54,388 posts)

11. Well, except for gender............... n/t

Reply to MLAA (Reply #8)

Wed Apr 1, 2020, 02:12 PM

Apr 2020

yonder

(9,666 posts)

9. Both of those have absolutely gorgeous inlay work on the binding, soundhole, headstock, etc.

Reply to DFW (Reply #5)

Tue Mar 31, 2020, 06:32 PM

Mar 2020

A little fancier looking than the new one which I thought was a bouzouki at first. The two soundholes are different sizes. Interesting. I wonder what that does for it's tone? Bass side a bit boomier perhaps?

DFW

(54,388 posts)

10. Bracing is of a style that was made up as he went along

Reply to yonder (Reply #9)

Wed Apr 1, 2020, 02:11 PM

Apr 2020

Božo was a violin maker when he came to the USA in the 1950s. He was asked to build a guitar without having the slightest idea how, so he just guessed, and as it turned out lucked upon the magic formula. He is supposed to have said it was for guitar players who wanted a mandolin sound without having to get a mandolin. I have no idea how the "owl" sounds. I'll have to wait until I get back to Dallas. Most of his earlier 12 strings did have a booming bass, but a ringing mid-range as well. Just extraordinary instruments. The 12 string of the matching pair was a departure from his normal style, and is a lot lighter. Consequently it does not have the dynamism of Božo's earlier instruments. Of course, in the studio, it is ideal, and amplified, it is an absolute dream.

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