And so has the DMO! my single cutaway design prototype is finished and is performing admirably. It's named after one of the myriad nicknames Jen and I have for our son Desmond. It narrowly beat out Desmo, Desi, Desmondio, Deserton, Dester and Desi-Roo. It's a different guitar than the Spectre but a good companion. I have some future design ideas that it is leading me toward, such as a single pickup version and a hollowbody.
Spectre #006 is on the road as I type. Dave Rosser of the Afghan Whigs is using it on their current tour. I am pleased as punch that he's rocking it! I hope to get some pics soon. He had some real kind words about on his blog:
Joe Parker is a luthier from Austin, Texas. He builds guitars inspired by 60’s modernist architecture of the Japanese pawnshop prize guitars like the Teisco Del Rey Spectrum (only not shitty and they stay in tune). Different neck profiles & pickup combinations are available. Some models come with Bigsby’s or Jag/Jazzmaster vibratos, others have Tele or Gibson-style fixed bridges. He uses Jason Lollar pickups. I’ll be using a Joe Parker Spectre VI on the European leg of the 2014 Afghan Whigs tour – I acquired it last week and have not been able to put it down since. It’s bizarre – the pickup combination isn’t really found on any production model I’ve ever seen, but seems to be equally great at pure R.O.C.K. as well as twangy stuff. It feels great at any height, has good balance and is super lightweight and sustainy. You should check out his work and get you one, before they become popular & the back-orders stack up. These are pretty goddamn affordable despite being handmade. There is a neck shape & pickup combo for just about any hand or style of music, and the body shape is a show-stopper. I took one to New Orleans’ Frenchmen Street to sit in with friends last weekend and got a dozen comments before I’d played a note.
http://daveaux.com/newblog/