kenneth @ casperguitar.com
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The Guitars

  • The Guitars

THE GUITARS

I currently offer five guitar models

Each guitar is named after one of the larger lakes that border the state of Michigan:

  • St Clair is the smallest guitar I make and is based upon Gibson L-OO

  • Michigan is an orchestra sized model similar to a Martin OOO

  • Huron is a bit larger than the Michigan, sort of a grand orchestra

  • Georgian is a modified dreadnought, slightly larger the Huron

  • Superior is the largest and is based upon the gorgeously shaped Gibson J-185

Scroll down for detailed specification

Though not included here as a specific model, I do occasionally take on an electric guitar commission.  A few of the electric guitars I have built can be accessed via the link just below.

To see more pictures of completed guitars of a particular model, click the Sights & Sounds link at left

 

ST. CLAIR

The St. Clair is similar to the Gibson L-OO, though I have tended to make it with a slightly shallower body. I use scalloped x-bracing on the top and build the top slightly lighter than I would on larger models, allowing this small body guitar to still deliver a pretty full sound.

  • Upper Bout: 10″
  • Lower Bout: 14 3/4″
  • Waist: 8 3/8″
  • Body Length: 19 7/16″
  • Body at Heel: 3 3/8″
  • Body at Tail: 4 1/4″
  • Top Surface Area: 215 sq in
  • Volume: 840 cu in

For pictures of previously built St. Clair guitars, click here.

MICHIGAN

The Michigan is an orchestra size similar to Martin’s OM. However, the Michigan is slightly more rounded at the top of the upper bout. This body style is a very comfortable size. It is big enough to provide a full sound while still being small enough to easily hold and play:

  • Upper Bout: 11 1/4″
  • Lower Bout: 15 1/16″
  • Waist: 9 1/8″
  • Body Length: 19 1/2″
  • Body at Heel: 3 7/16″
  • Body at Tail: 4 1/8″
  • Top Surface Area: 228 sq in
  • Volume: 870 cu in

I have built this guitar deeper at the neck and at the tail depending on what my customer wants.

For pictures of previously built Michigan guitars, click here.

HURON

The Huron is an enlarged version of the Michigan, sort of a grand orchestra size, yet smaller than the Superior. I designed this guitar as I had received so much interest from customers:

  • Upper Bout: 11 5/8″
  • Lower Bout: 16″
  • Waist: 9 5/8″
  • Body Length: 20″
  • Body at Heel: 3 1/2″
  • Body at Tail: 4 5/8″
  • Top Surface Area: 243 sq in
  • Volume: 990 cu in

For pictures of previously built Huron guitars, click here.

GEORGIAN

The Georgian is a modified dreadnought ala Ervin Somogyi. However, my take is slightly narrower in the waist and a bit less in length:

  • Upper Bout: 11 7/8″
  • Lower Bout: 15 3/4″
  • Waist: 10 1/16″
  • Body Length: 20″
  • Body at Heel: 3 3/4″
  • Body at Tail: 4 3/4″
  • Top Surface Area: 245 sq in
  • Volume: 1045 cu in

For pictures of previously built Georgian guitars, click on Sights & Sounds.

SUPERIOR

The Superior is based on the lovely proportioned Gibson J-185, though the Superior is slightly wider in the waist. The Superior has a full rich sound as expected from the larger body:

  • Upper Bout: 11 13/16″
  • Lower Bout: 16″
  • Waist: 9 7/8″
  • Body Length: 20 1/4″
  • Body at Heel: 3 1/2″
  • Body at Tail: 4 5/8″
  • Top Surface Area: 249 sq in
  • Volume: 1015 cu in

For a bigger sound, the body can be built with a tail depth up to 5″, increasing the volume to 1075 cu in. I generally build it slightly less deep, making the guitar easier to hold in the lap and play.

For pictures of previously built Superior guitars, click here.