Without wanting to make too bad a judgment on a different guitar, against the Reid Vaultback, a normal price industry guitar would seems as it were the handicraft of a ten-year old child. Extraordinary, unique, far away from any mainstream and artistically valuable. The Vaultback Halo of DAR is a masterpiece of contemporary lutherie – without ifs and buts. Its unbelievable value as a musical instrument competes with its artistic quality. I am honoured to have been allowed to play a guitar that differs so much from anything known and which leaves such an impression. Considering how rare these creations are, how innovative, refined and special, I want to predict that they will also play a prominent role in the future.

Grand Gtrs Magazine

Realwood Headstock

David Antony Reid, Combolin. (SOLD)

The only thing that is nicer than having a very happy customer who has purchased one of your instruments is, when they ask you to make them another one!

Robbie Leask, of the Scottish band, Corran Raa, became the proud owner of one of my VaultBack acoustics in the summer of last year. Soon after his purchase, he spoke to me with great glee about the pleasure it brought him; then, proceeded to ask me of a mythical instrument that was a guitar/mandolin. "Ah, that's a Combolin", I told him. "Invented by, Roy Williamson, of the Scottish folk band, The Corries, back in 1969."

The Combolin, since, has been made by a select few of the worlds finest luthiers. Robbie asked if I could make him such a tool, and I was delighted to help out.

Most luthiers have made the combolin in a fairly traditional style, usually with a mandolin piggybacked onto the guitar like a siamese twin, but I wanted to have a modern take on this mythical machine. So, working closely with Robbie, I came up with this design, and it is going to be another VaultBack.
We are both very excited with this project, and work is underway.

The materials of choice are to be: cocobolo for the back and sides, master grade, cross silked sitka spruce for the top, macassar ebony for the finger boards and bridges, brazilian mahogany for the necks, flamed maple for the bindings, and birdseye maple for the head veneers. The rosettes shall be a take on my recent birdseye maple and thuya burr design, pictured in the link at the bottom right of the design image on your right. Just click, New Rosette.

Look out here for postings of progress in the near future!

To check out, Robbies' band, Corran Raa, click on "More Information" to be taken straight to their website.

More information at www.corranraa.co.uk…

Written: Monday August 6th, 8:50am 2012