Building the Ergonomic Guitar

Guitar Builder Rick Canton combines exotic spalted maple, purpleheart and Macassar ebony woods to interesting effect in this chambered Klein variation for Jesse Thompson – a guitarist in a Navy band.

First up, the requisite front view reveals the hand bent spalted maple top and the use of a Steinberger Trans Trem Type 2 tremolo bridge. Note the purpleheart pickup rings and the Macassar Ebony bobbins:

Here we see the Honduran mahogany body with its purpleheart stripe and a good view of Rick’s extensive contouring of the heel area. The sculpting improves access to the Steinberger 5 bolt neck:

Another great shot revealing more of Rick’s sculpting of the body:

A great view showing the belly contour:

Here’s the electronics round up:

• 2 Reed James Custom wound A2 low output passive pickups
• CTS 500k Volume pot
• CTS 250k Tone pot
• Mini 3-way switch
• Flush mounted modern Tele style output jack

Rick is only building a limited run of these Klein variations and then returning his focus to his original designs. For examples of Rick’s work, take a look at these previously featured instruments:

• Canton Custom Guitars Ergo 2 Complete
• Mini Gordo Midi Guitar