Guitar Gallery - Laurie Williams Guitars

LAURIE WILLIAMS

Laurie Williams lives and work in the far north of the North Island of New Zealand with his wife and four children. They live in a valley with a river flowing past their property. Laurie has been building professionally for over eleven years and all his instruments are handmade by him personally. It is a one man shop and he builds around 12 to 15 instruments each year. Lauie started to experiment early on with New Zealand native tonewoods for the back and sides and a few years later with top woods.

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These Steel String Models are currently available:

Tui Model
Especially suited for solo playing ~
15 3/4" lower bout
14 frets to the body
25.4" scale
A rounded cutaway is optional.

Kiwi Model
The Kiwi is a smaller bodied guitar. It also has a shorter scale length designed for a lighter touch ~
14 7/8" lower bout
12 or 14 frets to the body
24.9" scale
A rounded cutaway is optional.

Parlour Model
12 frets clear of body, small and easy to play with plenty of volume ond tone.~
13" lower bout
24 3/4" scale length

All guitars are constructed with the finest woods and only wood binding and purflings are used. Ancient Kauri is the predominant wood that Laurie chooses for the back & sides of his instruments. Here's some background information on Ancient Kaurie Wood.

There are differing theories regarding what caused these events but the likeliest was some form of natural disaster, possibly even the global flood of Noah's time. Whatever the cause, these trees have been sealed from the air for thousands of years and have been perfectly preserved. In fact, so well have they been preserved that when logs are extracted from the swamps today it is still possible to find the leaves of these mighty trees in good condition, albeit discoloured somewhat.

The timber is then dried and finally milled for use primarily in the funiture industry. Laurie selects all the timber personally to ensure the best quality and suitability for his instruments. He is often asked if he stains the timber to get that rich gold brown colour and the answer is no. It is completely natural!

The Ancient Kauri used for the back and sides of Laurie's instruments is offered in 3 main grades: First, Flame, and Whitebait.

The volume of timber still under the ground in the north of New Zealand is not known for certain but the men who salvage it are not finding it as readily as previous years. It is thought that perhaps in another few years most of it will be recovered.

The very nature of this wood makes it non-renewable, so when it is gone it will be gone forever.

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IN STOCK

Laurie Williams New generation Tui model: We have been anticipating this guitar for some time and it is outstanding! These new models from Laurie feature Kauri soundboards. These are from a tree he selected and milled himself and the process will be a big part of a documentary film that is due for completion at end of this year. This guitar also has premium Whitebait Ancient Kauri back and sides with a good flame figure. We've tried to capture it's beauty in the photos, but they do not do the guitar justice. It is really obvious when you tilt the guitar back and forth. A video of this wood will be forthcoming. Laurie used Macassar Ebony for the bindings, Top and Back ergonomic Bevels, and the front & back headstock faceplates. He also used Macassar Ebony for the wooden part of the delicate, yet elaborate abalone & wood rosette (Kowhaiwhai design), and then, just to show off a bit -- grin, he even made Macassar Ebony buttons for the the antique bronze Gotoh 510 tuning machines. He also utilized Evo gold frets (harder than standard nickel silver). The bridge is Ebony with Ebony pins. The nut and saddle are fossilized mammoth ivory. The neck is Totara ( another New Zealand native wood ). This guitar has very colorful abalone, and it forms the logo, top purfling and Tui bird 12th fret inlay as well. Laurie also trimmed the back in abalone and utilized it for the back center strip. The Ebony fretboard and the headstock are trimmed in very delicate abalone purflings called Micropurfling. This same Micropurfling accents the sides and even the stylish Macassar Ebony tail wedge is outlined in this stunning Micropurfling. This guitar also has some new design features, one of which is the LOW PROFILE Heel. It has a lower profile than the traditional triangular section that allows the thumb behind the neck to travel higher before it hits the stop at the heel. This makes access easier and more comfortable. Also note the strap button is below the area where the thumb is positioned so as not to cause obstruction. Another new design feature is Laurie's TRUSS BRACING. This reduces mass while retaining strength. Here's how: the truss bracing has a suspension effect that allows the top a certain degree of flexibility, within controlled areas and limits, whilst maintaining overall structural integrity. This controlled flexibility is one reason why the new generation models exhibit a much more open texture of tone that is both musical and clear. Laurie says other benefits gained from the new truss bracing include increased sustain, volume and a greater dynamic response. We Concur ! Custom fit Ameritage case with embroiderd logo included in our price of please Inquire. Front... Closer... Back... More back detail... Headstock... Headstock side... Front Bevel... Fretboard... Intricate Rosette... Another View... Down Front... Down Back... Side.

Click to Hear this guitar being played.

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Previously Sold

Parlor: One of the finest builders out there today -- Laurie has delivered another simply exquisite guitar. This piece has Flamed Ancient Kauri back and sides with a fine Bearclaw European Spruce top. 12 frets to the body. 13" lower bout; 24 3/4" scale length. Fascinating body & headstock binding (that Laurie makes himself) in a rope pattern of cocobolo and tulipwood. The same woods form the zigzag back center strip and bind the headstock, which is slotted. Blake-Robson Tuning machines with CocoBolo buttons. Matching CocoBolo endpin. The headstock is Ancient Kauri and the neck is laminated Ancient Kauri. Ebony fretboard that measures 1 13/16" at the nut and ~ is bound in Ebony. Silver Fern (emblem of NZ) 12th fret inlay. 2 5/16" string spacing at the saddle. Ebony bridge and bridge pins. This beauty abides in a custom fit Ameritage case. $SOLD. Front..... Back... Back at an angle.

Kiwi: Figured Taraire back and sides with a Kauri wood top. Abalone rosette. Ebony fretboard with 1 3/4" nut width. The fingerboard is bound in ebony. Abalone Tui bird inlay at the 12th fret. Gotoh 510 antique gold tuners with Ebony style buttons. Abalone headstock logo. Ebony bridge with Ebony bridge pins. Some specs: 14 7/8" lower bout; 12 frets to the body; 24.9" scale length. Great clarity of sound and playability with soaring trebles. Custom Ameritage case included in our price of SOLD.

Ancient Flamed Kauri Tui Cutaway: Flame grade Ancient Kauri forms the back and sides of this Tui model. Named after the Tui bird of New Zealand. The top, although similar in appearance to Sitka Spruce, is, in fact Kauri wood. The body is bound in Madagascar Rosewood. The rosette and other purfling lines are Tulipwood. Ebony fretboard that measures 1 3/4" at the nut. 12th fret Tui bird fingerboard inlay. Ebony bridge with Ebony bridge pins. Laminated neck. Gold 510 Gotoh supertuners for accuracy. The tone is pure, and this guitar is extremely responsive, and real joy to play. Custom Ameritage humdity controlled case included in our price of SOLD. Front... Closer... Back... Headstock... Fretboard... Rosette... Down Back... Side.

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