Jason Kostal MDW Modified Dreadnought Cutaway #127 Blackwood Back & Sides - Natural
Description
No sales tax for US customers outside California.
Jason Kostal's path to lutherie is longer and more rigorous than most. He was introduced to guitar building by Kent Everett of Everett Guitars in Atlanta while finishing his MBA at Emory University, made his way to the Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery in Phoenix, stayed on as an assistant instructor, and then spent two and a half years as an apprentice to master luthier Ervin Somogyi in San Francisco — under Ervin's daily supervision, continually refining his design process and improving upon the capabilities of his instruments. The waitlist for a Kostal guitar has been documented at seven years or longer. These instruments do not come to market often, and when they do, they sell quickly to players who understand what they are.
The MDW is the result of a collaboration between Kostal and fingerstyle musician Michael Watts — a project in which both parties described what they wanted a guitar to do and what they needed it to do, and then set out to create the guitar to meet those expectations. The MDW takes Kostal's modified dreadnought design — itself derived from the Somogyi MD body — shrinks it by approximately 15%, and adds a 12-fret neck join, making an intimate-feeling instrument that is effortless to play for extended sessions. The wedge body design is a Manzer-influenced ergonomic feature that angles the instrument toward the player for improved playing comfort. The body sits approximately 5" deep at the tail block, giving the MDW a depth and low-end resonance that smaller-body instruments don't produce.
This is instrument #127, built in 2018 with a spruce top over blackwood back and sides. Blackwood — Tasmanian blackwood, properly — is an Australian acacia species with tonal characteristics that experienced builders and players compare to a midpoint between mahogany and rosewood: warmer and more focused than Indian rosewood, with more midrange presence and a complex harmonic character that rewards fingerstyle playing specifically.
Plain ebony fingerboard with no inlays, letting the wood and the construction do the visual work — and an ebony bridge. Mahogany neck at .862" at the first fret and .986" at the tenth, 1-3/4" nut, 25" scale, 16" radius, 21 frets. Action set at 2/32" on both strings at the twelfth fret. At 5 lbs 15 oz this is a well-balanced instrument. Included Hoffee carbon fiber hardshell case — the preferred case for collectors and professional players transporting serious instruments.
This guitar is spellbinding. It plays effortlessly and delivers an unbelievably beautiful tone that you might have thought was impossible. The design is expressive and unique but classic. I'm completely blown away with this piece.
SPECS:
Color: Natural
Weight: 5lbs 15oz
Top: Spruce
Body: Blackwood
Neck: Mahogany
Fretboard: Ebony
Inlays: Nothing on fretboard
Frets: Original
Fret Count: 21
Nut: Original
Nut width: 1-3/4"
Radius: 16"
Scale: 25"
Neck thickness at 1st Fret: .862"
Neck thickness at 10th Fret: .986"
Action 1st String at 12th Fret: 2/32"
Action 6th String at 12th Fret: 2/32"
Overall length: 41-1/4"
Body length: 16"
Lower bout: 10-1/2"
Waist: 10-5/8"
Upper bout: 11-7/8"
Body depth/thickness: 5"
String gauge: 12-53
Electronics?: No
Bridge: Ebony
Tuners: Original
Case: Hoffee Carbon Fiber HSC
Notes:
Shipping policy:
There are multiple shipping cost options for purchases made on our site. Select Ground, 3 Day, 2 Day, or Next Day Air Saver. For Reverb purchases, there is one cost option for Eastern states - customers from any state that is more than a 3 day UPS ground shipment from our shop will get their shipment via UPS 3 day air. Otherwise, ground shipping will be used. Shipments will require signature on delivery, no exceptions. If there is damage, the buyer must retain all packing materials intact and picture them immediately and send them to . Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely, but we are taking these additional measures to make sure you are happy with your purchase. '
Jason Kostal's path to lutherie is longer and more rigorous than most. He was introduced to guitar building by Kent Everett of Everett Guitars in Atlanta while finishing his MBA at Emory University, made his way to the Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery in Phoenix, stayed on as an assistant instructor, and then spent two and a half years as an apprentice to master luthier Ervin Somogyi in San Francisco — under Ervin's daily supervision, continually refining his design process and improving upon the capabilities of his instruments. The waitlist for a Kostal guitar has been documented at seven years or longer. These instruments do not come to market often, and when they do, they sell quickly to players who understand what they are.
The MDW is the result of a collaboration between Kostal and fingerstyle musician Michael Watts — a project in which both parties described what they wanted a guitar to do and what they needed it to do, and then set out to create the guitar to meet those expectations. The MDW takes Kostal's modified dreadnought design — itself derived from the Somogyi MD body — shrinks it by approximately 15%, and adds a 12-fret neck join, making an intimate-feeling instrument that is effortless to play for extended sessions. The wedge body design is a Manzer-influenced ergonomic feature that angles the instrument toward the player for improved playing comfort. The body sits approximately 5" deep at the tail block, giving the MDW a depth and low-end resonance that smaller-body instruments don't produce.
This is instrument #127, built in 2018 with a spruce top over blackwood back and sides. Blackwood — Tasmanian blackwood, properly — is an Australian acacia species with tonal characteristics that experienced builders and players compare to a midpoint between mahogany and rosewood: warmer and more focused than Indian rosewood, with more midrange presence and a complex harmonic character that rewards fingerstyle playing specifically.
Plain ebony fingerboard with no inlays, letting the wood and the construction do the visual work — and an ebony bridge. Mahogany neck at .862" at the first fret and .986" at the tenth, 1-3/4" nut, 25" scale, 16" radius, 21 frets. Action set at 2/32" on both strings at the twelfth fret. At 5 lbs 15 oz this is a well-balanced instrument. Included Hoffee carbon fiber hardshell case — the preferred case for collectors and professional players transporting serious instruments.
This guitar is spellbinding. It plays effortlessly and delivers an unbelievably beautiful tone that you might have thought was impossible. The design is expressive and unique but classic. I'm completely blown away with this piece.
SPECS:
Color: Natural
Weight: 5lbs 15oz
Top: Spruce
Body: Blackwood
Neck: Mahogany
Fretboard: Ebony
Inlays: Nothing on fretboard
Frets: Original
Fret Count: 21
Nut: Original
Nut width: 1-3/4"
Radius: 16"
Scale: 25"
Neck thickness at 1st Fret: .862"
Neck thickness at 10th Fret: .986"
Action 1st String at 12th Fret: 2/32"
Action 6th String at 12th Fret: 2/32"
Overall length: 41-1/4"
Body length: 16"
Lower bout: 10-1/2"
Waist: 10-5/8"
Upper bout: 11-7/8"
Body depth/thickness: 5"
String gauge: 12-53
Electronics?: No
Bridge: Ebony
Tuners: Original
Case: Hoffee Carbon Fiber HSC
Notes:
Shipping policy:
There are multiple shipping cost options for purchases made on our site. Select Ground, 3 Day, 2 Day, or Next Day Air Saver. For Reverb purchases, there is one cost option for Eastern states - customers from any state that is more than a 3 day UPS ground shipment from our shop will get their shipment via UPS 3 day air. Otherwise, ground shipping will be used. Shipments will require signature on delivery, no exceptions. If there is damage, the buyer must retain all packing materials intact and picture them immediately and send them to . Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely, but we are taking these additional measures to make sure you are happy with your purchase. '