a few hours getting their instrument set up and touring the shop as they travel through the Baltimore / Washington DC area .
Paul ’ s passion to innovate has continued since his first guitar was delivered and Beard Guitars has grown to build instruments played all over the world . He and the legendary bluegrass innovator Mike Auldridge became close friends and many Beard designs were the result of their collaborations .
Paul spinning cones .
In order to maintain consistent quality , Beard Guitars makes all of their guitar hardware components such as coverplates , tailpieces , and sound screens .
The spider bridges are cast in the USA from the original # 14 molds and every resonator cone is hand spun by Paul Beard .
Paul and Jerry Douglas at the Ramshead
With 14 squareneck and roundneck models already available , Beard guitars is launching three new lines , Copper Mountain™ composite back resonators , Belle Beard™ Passive resonator , and the Resoluxe™ solidbody electric resonator series for 2017 .
For more information , visit their webiste www . BeardGuitars . com .
Paul ’ s quest for continual improvement led him first to refine the traditional soundwell , an interior drum like cylinder that supports the top and back of the guitar and houses the resonator , with enlarged vents to allow for better bass response and overall volume . This is known as the open soundwell and was incorporated in the First Beard R-Model , derived from Mike Auldridge ’ s pre-war Regal .
Soon a completely new design , The Beard E-Model featuring a deeper body with a wider waist ( resembling a small Dreadnaught ) utilizing the open body was developed , featuring a traditional response with a more robust low end and the first Beard E-Model was built .
According to Paul the next logical step was to design an instrument with a completely open body and bass reflex baffle that is now standard on Mike Auldridge , Jerry Douglas Signature models , and the A Odyssey Roundneck series .
Nov � Dec 2016 CollectibleGuitar . com
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