Meet DragonHart

DragonHart is unlike any other guitar. This beast really wants to rock-n-roll! Follow the links below back through time, through construction and to the origins of DragonHart. From the DragonSharp teeth of the feller's chainsaw to ffff rottenstone polish, have a bite of guitar construction. For more about DragonHart, instrument building, fine woodworking and, of course, Dragons, be sure to look for "DragonHart" on facebook. Will be working on some sound bites, so send me your favorite DragonTunes. They are very rare indeed. Thanks and Enjoy, Chuck. (Email me here)

DragonHart is carved in relief out of the traditional arched top electric. Highly figured poplar carves well and combines with other design features to make a great acoustic-electric guitar. The Bigsby B5 tremolo is designed for solid body guitars, but adapted here via internal sound posts that bring integrity to the acoustic chamber. See DragonInnards and DragonCoustics if acoustic design is your bailiwick or just a curiosity.

DragonLinks

Some other links at the Hollow Road Guitar Shop, Chuck's Instrument Website:

DragonHart is smaller than the traditional arch top. The lower bout is just a little bigger than a classical guitar. The upper bout slimmed with double violin corners for access to the highest frets. He is an easy beast to tote around. He is also more than just another "pretty boy" featuring scrimshaw and mother-of-pearl inlay. The twin P90 pick ups with switch to Black Ice on board overdrive device deliver a variety of voices. Chuck likes the great rockabilly twang and the hard electric edge of Industrial Strength Black Ice. Pull out the tone knob to activate the mini-switch and select from two levels of dial-in Black Ice overdrive.

Rosewood faceplate featuring scrimshaw, three colors of mother-of-pearl and red coral heart from an old charm bracelet.

The rosewood fingerboard is bound with rosewood and maple purfling. Mother-of-pearl in white and gold continue the DragonTheme with tongues of flame and flying images. Frets are buffed. Fingerboard is compound radiused to allow differential relief from treble to bass strings. Under the fingerboard, two pieces of epoxy graphite reinforcement rod complete the three piece neck to deliver maximum sustain and long term stability. Chuck has built eight instrument necks in this style over 30 years and they are all just as straight as the day they were born.

Check out the three-piece neck; bookmatched mahogany with hard curly maple center and walnut veneers. Note the ebony plate capping the "thumb rester" heel. DragonHart is fully bound with coco bolo. The back and sides are made from curly, spalted, wormy red maple. A turqouise glitter-epoxy fills the worm tracks in the bookmatched sides; a technique developed by Chuck. Sides reinforced from the inside. And hang on to the Aerosmith Rock-n-Roller Coaster strap Chuck found at Disney World, Hollywood Studios, Orlando.

Chuck has some beautiful instrument lumber, but only enough for one more instrument with back and sides like this. Tru-oil, a gun stock varnish, completes the finish. A much softer finish than commercial lacquers one will find on most any other instrument.

Another look at the back. Note the cocobolo bindings and mitered violin corners. The raised back helps to separate the back plate from the sides and free up bottom-end vibrations. Note more of the glitter/epoxy filled wormholes.