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Roger Bacorn
Roger Bacorn is a master luthier from Nichols, NY U.S.A. Bacorn gave AMG some insight into his personal life and his guitars. Bacorn's instruments are truly American made and inspired. His web site describes them like this, “Unique handcrafted built one at a time instruments for discerning tastes and requirements.” After taking the time to look over all of his instruments and reading reviews by some very qualified musicians we have to agree. Read the interview we had with Roger Bacorn luthier/ owner of Bacron Guitars. Click here to read interview. Visit www.bacornguitars.com and buy some Bacorn.
AMG. How long have you been building your own guitars?
RB. I built my first mandolin in 1978 as I could neither find nor afford my dream of an F style mandolin. Times have changed!
AMG. What do you think makes a great guitar?
RB. It's really a tight wire act between structural integrity and removing as much weight and mass as possible. I recently built an early 16" L-5 replica that is extremely light but very powerful and responsive.
AMG. What grade and type of tone woods do you prefer to work with, what parts of the world do they come from?
RB. That's a question that really is difficult to answer, as one piece of mahogany, etc. compared to the next will be different in many respects. For tops, I favor the traditional Sitka or Engelmann spruce, but have experimented with Douglas Fir, Red Cedar and good ole' Pine with amazing results. Bob Taylor (Taylor Guitars) asserted that it's ultimately the luthier trained ear and skill that makes a great guitar and can be built from any wood that is carefully selected and judged to be useful. I like Eastern Red Maple (soft) ,Red Birch for archtop back and sides, but will use Hard Curly Maple for a somewhat stiffer response. I've found some of the most amazing tone wood in the most unusual places. Red Cedar from house siding, 2"x12" construction lumber, etc. Ultimately, I use my ear and hands to assess stiffness, pitch and tonal qualities. When I thickness sand tops I will flex the wood and tap it while holding it with two fingers to get an idea what it's going to sound like.
AMG. Are you a guitar player yourself?
RB. Yes, I play guitar, mandolin and slide. I never quite got the hang of a banjo.
AMG. What kind of music do you listen to?
RB. I'm really all over the map on that one! I enjoy all types of music, but lately my listening has been to small jazz combos from the 50's. Gerry Mulligan, Stan Getz, Bill Evans, Wes Montgomery. I still enjoy well played bluegrass and other forms of acoustic music. I still love the old Rolling Stones stuff and am constantly amazed at Keith Richards incredible guitar work. Those guys really were brilliant on their earlier albums. I'm still trying to figure out the tunings for slide and acoustic signatures that grace those records. Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Dave Brubeck and Billy Strayhorn still amaze me! Ultimately, it's the joy and communication that grab me.
AMG. Who are some of your inspirations?
RB. I think I partially answered that in the previous question, but to quote Duke Ellington “There’s only two types of music, good or bad."
AMG. What guitar are you working on at the moment?
RB. A batch of 5 string mandos and a 335 style electric.
AMG. How large or small of an operation do you have?
RB. One man, small shop. I divide my time between a shop I share with another cabinet maker and assembly, repairs, etc. from home workshop.
AMG. How many guitars have you built since you started building?
RB. To date, around 75-85.
AMG. The M-1 for example is not a traditional looking mandolin, what or who inspired its creation?
RB. That came from a desire to design my own instruments. The late Jimmy D'Aquisto has also been a huge influence. For me, the traditional F-5 style mandolin really doesn't make sense from a purely acoustic point of view. The upper bout and points contribute nothing acoustically as they are carved stiffly. It's beautiful to look at but makes a better strap button than a tone producer.
AMG. The Nick Lucas L-00, what gives it balance tone?
"Bigger is better" is a myth. I find better balance and intimacy in a smaller guitar. I still appreciate the thunder of an old Martin Dreadnaught, but to my ear, they sound bassy and unbalanced, especially when they're miked . I think all the Gibson designs from the 30's are the pinnacle of design and aesthetics. By the way, I noticed that guitar on Brent's website (www.alaskaspecialtywoods.com). Great Guy !!
AMG. What guitar is the HOT seller these days?
RB. The 5 string electric mando pays my bills!
AMG. What are some of the pick ups that you offer with your guitars, who makes them and what makes them the right choice for your guitars?
RB. I generally use pickups that clients specify and adapt them to my instruments. The minihumbucker is still the most usable sound that I've found. It's interesting to note that Les Paul preferred the sound of the Deluxe LP pickups over the standard larger humbuckers. They're bright, but can be easily rolled back to mellow the sound, plus they're humbucking. Anyone those spent the night in a bar with a Stratocaster next to a neon beer sign can appreciate that!
AMG. What kind of finish do you most often apply to your instruments?
RB. Nitrocellulose laquer. It's a paradox there in that it deteriorates with time to produce that aged look that I really like. I also will "age" my instruments in a number of ways if the client prefers.
AMG. Other than build great American guitars what else do you spend time on?
RB. I really enjoy painting and photography. My wife (Paula) and I travel a lot, so I generally come back with rolls of film that eventually serve as inspiration for painting. Estate and yard sales always turn up minor epiphanies. Just ask my wife!! I'm completely hooked on tube stereo equipment from the fifties and sixties. A background in electronics has been very useful in that capacity. Vintage Silvertone guitars are a major weakness as well. I grew up in upstate NY, where exposure to culture came in the form of AM radio stations and Sears catalogues. I'm very nostalgic, as you may have guessed.
Our children, Ryland, Cory and Madeline who constantly amaze me with their talent , youthful insight and academic prowess! Ry does my web page and is a 4.0 average student at RIT. He's a major in marketing. Cory is a CAD design major, 4.0 student at SUNY/Delhi who mentors when he finds time. Hmm, I wonder how this will benefit my business? Maddie's still in school with good grades as well as being a beautiful young lady.
AMG. Do you do your own inlay work?
RB. Yes, but I'm starting to cut back on that as it is VERY hazardous to ones' health. I source inlays whenever possible, but will cut them when requested.
AMG. Your Gold 1954 Les Paul replica is stunning to look at, why do you prefer to play this guitar over all others you make?
RB. That's my all time favorite! There's a bit of nostalgia there as my first electric was a '54 all gold LP that I bought for $75.00 with proceeds from summer wages in 1969. Unfortunately, I was soon duped by a local music store employee in a bad deal where he promised a 61 LP/SG and a Super Reverb amp. I got the guitar but never saw him again. Sigh!
I hollow out the body as much as possible to reduce weight and increase resonance. Jimmy Page's permanent dowagers hump from Les Pauls serve as a primary inspiration for reducing weight. I found a pair of Les Paul bridge/tailpieces at a nearby store a few years back and decided to build one around it. It's interesting that the strings wrap over rather than under as on the first LP's. They were originally designed for an ES-295, but I just cut them and rethreaded to suit that guitar. The other one resides on my '54 Silvertone Espanada archtop that I installed a pair of original PAF pickups. I prefer the solid bridge/tailpiece as that is where the real sustain comes from. That's why I make them for the 5 string mando. It's true, there is a compromise as far as "perfect" intonation is concerned, but I still prefer these over any other setup.
AMG. Blues player Kim Simmonds of Savoy Brown plays your 335 how did he discover this guitar was right for him?
RB. I contacted him through his agency and he responded and stopped by for a spot of tea and left with that guitar. Fascinating chap!
Savoy Brown was a huge influence on our budding high school band. Kim had a good laugh when I related the incident we were playing in the high school auditorium for the Christmas Canned Food Drive. No doubt, in bad taste, we launched into Savoy Browns " Needle and Spoon", when the principal literally pulled the plug on us. It's funny, that tune is a cautionary tale as opposed to an endorsement, but we never got that far. "When you're married , you can divorce your wife. But when you're married to H, you're married for life."
AMG. Is there anything new you are working on or would like to one day turn out?
RB. I'm really fascinated with Rick Turners explorations and eventually will build a few things in that genre. The traditional designs still fascinate me as well.
AMG. What guitars do you own that were made by other manufacturers?
RB. Silvertone and Harmony top the list. When I have time, I peel the backs off the flattops and re-brace them in an X style. Incredible guitars!! The combination of really nice spruce and mahogany serves as a wonderful starting point. It's unfortunate that they were built to avoid warranty hassles instead of sounding good as they could have. Gibson suffered the same malady during the 60's and 70's. I have Strats, Teles as well, but I've never really liked them as much. I have too many guitars, just ask my long suffering wife! God bless her soul!