Renbourn Tribute
Introducing the Renbourn Tribute Series
To mark the 25th anniversary of John Renbourn commissioning the build of his Davies OM-28 back in 2002 (to replace his aging Franklin OM) I am delighted to announce that, together with the fully support and blessing of both Renbourn Guitar Workshops and the Renbourn family, we are launching a limited run of 25 Silver Jubilee Davies, John Renbourn Tribute, OM-28 guitars
This is a unique opportunity to purchase a John Renbourn luthier-built guitar made by the very same hands, and to the same specification, as John’s own instrument. John owned, toured and played Davies guitars (alongside others) from 2003 until his passing in 2015. To compliment his Davies OM-28, John also commission a Davies Orpharion 7-String, R-Type Jumbo Cutaway and also ordered a second Davies OM-28 which remained unfinished on John’s passing in 2015 – the timber of which is now being used to build Dariush Kanani his own spec Davies OM-28.
THE SPECIFICATION OF THE DAVIES, JOHN RENBOURN TRIBUTE, OM-28 MODEL IS AS FOLLOWS:
· Sound board: European Alpine Spruce
· Back and Sides: East Indian, Brazilian or Madagascan Rosewood
· Neck: Brazilian Mahogany
· Fretboard: African Ebony
· Bridge: African Ebony Pyramid Style
· Binding: Cream Ivoroid (Body, Neck and Headstock)
· Tuners: Waverley - Vintage Nickel
· Finish: Satin French Polish (Shellac)
Please note that while John’s guitar was built from Brazilian Rosewood, due to the expense the standard model will be made of East Indian Rosewood for the Back and Sides. However, please note that Brazilian rosewood or Madagascan Rosewood is also available – £POA.
OTHER ADDITIONAL £POA OPTIONS:
· Gloss lacquer finish
· Tuners – Waverley, Gotoh, Schaller (gold, nickel, chrome etc.)
· Fitted pickup system of client’s choice
· One piece Brazilian Mahogany neck
· Guitar case
Meticulously hand-built
Exclusive instruments 100% hand-built
Each guitar will be meticulously hand-built on the same mould and to the exact specification of John’s Davies OM-28 (which Alvin now owns, and which is available for customers to play and experience). These exclusive instruments are 100% hand-built and numbered by Alvin and each will come with an individual certificate of authenticity – signed by Alvin Davies, Mike Walker (Renbourn Guitar Workshops) and Jessie Renbourn (John’s daughter). We are expecting the run of 25 to sell fast as prices will start from an incredible £4995.
"John Renbourn's new favourite instrument"
Within days of taking delivery of his Davies OM-28 in 2003 John was using it on tour in the USA. While on tour, at a concert at the Patriots Theatre in Trenton, New Jersey, with Jacqui McShee and Woody Mann John was interviewed about the guitar by journalist Hayakawa-san, for the Japanese publication Acoustic Guitar Book (Vol:17). The article which later described the guitar as “John Renbourn's new favourite instrument, the Davies OM” reads as follows:
Hayakawa-san: “John played a new and different guitar from the last time he came to Japan. After the concert I talked to him about this mysterious guitar, his set-up and about his plans for the future. — The guitar you used this time isn’t the Ralph Bown guitar is it?”
John: “As I was leaving England 10 days ago I received a new guitar so I’m testing it out. It has a really good sound right! It was made by a young British luthier called Alvin Davies. He is still young but he trained under a number of different luthiers, did repairs, and now has a lot of fantastic experience. He made a guitar for my friend which I played and really liked, so I had him make a guitar for me. My Ralph Bown guitar was recently broken by an airline during transit. My older Franklin was also broken by an airline… This guitar by Alvin is like mixing those other two guitars. It’s easy to play and I really like the sound it makes. The audience also say that it has a wonderful sound.”
High praise indeed! In personal letters to Alvin John reiterated these thoughts a number of times (please see the LINK Affirmations page and letter pictures here).
Order your limited edition now (only 25 available!)
If you are interested in ordering one of this limited run of just 25 guitars worldwide we would encourage you to do so as soon as possible as we expect them to be in demand. While making is already underway, delivery will begin in 2027 (25 years on from John first commissioning his Davies OM) and go on throughout 2028 (25 years from when John took delivery of his Davies OM). With John’s personal guitars now fetching significant sums, and with a low starting cost for these Tribute instruments the model is likely to ascend in value. While other luthiers whose guitars John played are now charging over £10,000 for an OM, Alvin has chosen a different approach for this run:
“The price of luthier-built instruments made in the West is now beyond many guitarists and sadly many great players are missing out. The aim of the John Renbourn Tribute OM model is not only to celebrate John’s life, guitars, compositions and recordings but also to make available the same instrument John developed with me, and to uniquely do so for a great price. I am looking forward to this run of instruments as I pour 34 years of guitar building experience into these OMs – experience that combines John own input to extract what he required from an instrument in terms of playability, tone and projection.” – Alvin Davies.
Please book an appointment with Alvin today to play John’s original Davies OM28 and to discuss options and reserve your guitar commission.
To read more on Alvin’s work making guitars for John see here: blog article
For further information on Renbourn Guitar Workshops, tutorial weekends and music scores/tab, see: John Renbourn Guitar Workshops
