A Guitar for Michael Alexa
This guitar was built in April 2021 at the Špejchar workshop in Dobruška for my friend Michael Alexa. Its foundation is a truly exceptional piece of wood-the body is crafted from a stunningly figured cherry, which I obtained from woodcarver David Plančík of Týniště nad Orlicí. Until then, I had never encountered cherry wood with such intense figuring. Several sets from this same batch were also used by David Mák (Salz Guitars) for his acoustic instruments.
Materials and Construction
The neck is made of maple provided by Kuba Kohout, and the original fretboard was plumwood, which my father and I harvested ourselves. Over time, Michael felt that an all-maple neck would suit the guitar better, so in May 2023, I crafted a new one for him. We kept the original neck, though, and agreed that I would build a new body for it. This resulted in another Tele with a classic Telecaster configuration (see tele okoume & maple #3), giving the original neck a second lease on life.
A Second Life
The neck of this guitar carries its own story. Originally, it was part of a different instrument. When that guitar received a new maple neck, this original one was given a second chance. I designed and built an entirely new body for it using okoume. The guitar took shape at the school in Hradec Králové; while the original instrument was completed in April 2021, its current form emerged in August 2023. The result is an instrument that seamlessly bridges the past with a new beginning.