Workshop Journal Vol. 1 • Issue 4

Darin Shiflett
Aug 1
2 min read

Updated: Aug 2

ReSound'65 | Workshop Journal

Vol. 1 • Issue 4

"Beautiful Bodies"

One of the most recognizable features of an Emmons guitar is its clean, timeless front apron. While it appears simple at first glance, achieving that iconic look requires a series of carefully executed operations, each building upon the last.

This week, our focus centered on transforming five SD-10 cabinets into instruments that are beginning to look unmistakably like Emmons.

After the cabinet work is completed, each front apron is meticulously sanded and prepared to receive its aluminum trim. Those trim strips don't arrive ready for installation—they are individually sanded, polished, and inspected before being permanently bonded to the cabinet using a commercial-strength adhesive. Their fit and finish play a major role in the instrument's appearance, demanding patience and precision every step of the way.

With the trim in place, the front apron surface is thoroughly cleaned before the laminate is carefully applied. The body is then masked to protect the newly finished surfaces while the exposed aluminum trim receives a final trip to the buffer, bringing out its signature brilliance.

Before these bodies move on, another critical step takes place: endplate fitment.

Using a dedicated set of fitment plates, each cabinet is checked and fine-tuned to ensure the endplates fit with the tight, seamless appearance that has long been associated with ReSound'65 guitars. Once those adjustments are complete, the bodies continue to the flocking stage, where the interior receives its protective finish in preparation for assembly.

Watching five SD10 cabinets advance through these stages together has been especially rewarding. Each week, they look less like individual components and more like the instruments they'll soon become.

ReSound'65 Custom Update

Our Custom Program continues to move forward right alongside standard production.

Every custom build begins with a collaborative design process. Once a customer approves the final rendering, the materials that define their instrument begin arriving at the shop.

This week, a stunning flame maple veneer and black diamond inlay material arrived for an upcoming D10 custom build, while another all-black SD10 design was finalized featuring elegant pearl inlays. It's always exciting to watch these one-of-a-kind instruments begin their journey from concept to reality.

Every Emmons guitar tells a story long before its first note is played. This week, another chapter was written—one built on craftsmanship, precision, and the countless details that make an Emmons unmistakably an Emmons.

We look forward to sharing the next chapter with you.

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