bedell · the wood story 13 the build 24 the craftsmen 31 documentation 46 ... hand craft, bedell...

BEDELL ANGELICA COLLECTION

SEED-TO-SONG JOURNAL

THE BEDELL ANGELICA COLLECTION WAS

LOVINGLY HANDCRAFTED IN BEND, OREGON.

4

CONTENTS

A LETTER FROM TOM 5

INTRODUCTION 9

SPECIFICATIONS 12

THE WOOD STORY 13

THE BUILD 24THE CRAFTSMEN 31

DOCUMENTATION 46DRUNKEN CEDAR 47

EAST INDIAN ROSEWOOD 57

HONDURAN MAHOGANY 66

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WELCOME TO THE BEDELL SEED-TO-SONG JOURNEY The adventure creating the Bedell Angelica Series has been a delightful

mission. There is a special sound I have longed for: warm, full bodied,

embracing…almost like the music delivers a big hug. Not a strumming gui-

tar, but masterpiece finger style instruments that deliver each note with

clarity, fullness, warmth and beauty. The Bedell Angelica Series is happily

a solo instrument, or if accompanied by other instruments, it will occupy

first chair.

Our journey started by experimenting with a new body shape we have

named the Bella Voce. Based on our Bedell Orchestra, we have increased

the body depth to TKTK Inches. By using a 12 fret, slotted headstock neck,

the bridge is positioned right in the center of the lower bout giving the

most efficient activation of the soundboard, and allowing for added sus-

tain AND projection.

The first challenge of obtaining the tonewoods I dreamed of was on the

coffee plantations of Eastern Inda. Working again with our friends the

Yogi family, we were able to obtain some of the most strikingly figured

6

Peace,

Tom Bedell

East Indian Rosewood we have ever set our eyes on. The figuring was so

ornate and incredible, we started to call these sets Royale Rosewood.

On a visit to the Fraser River in Vancouver, Canada with our friends at

Pacific Rim Tonewood, Angela Christensen and I encountered a large riv-

er skiff with a crane mounted on it. It would go up and down the river

randomly and blindly searching the river bottom for sunken cedar logs.

After a short conversation he agreed to sell us a salvaged sunken cedar

log, saving it from the pulp mills along the river banks. Steve McMinn,

owner of Pacific Rim Tonewood, facilitated having it processed in Canada

so it could be legally transported to his mill in Concrete, Washington. The

resulting sunken cedar soundboard sets are full of character with their

mineral deposits, reflecting their continuing journey from when the cedar

tree left the forest. And as it turned out this particular tree created stiff

and hardy quarter sawn tops, that when married to the Royale rosewood

bodies delivers exactly the sound I had longed for.

On the following pages of this Seed to Song Journal we tell the story of the

woods used in the Bella Voce, how and where the trees grew, the story of

their legal harvest and journey to be reborn in these incredible guitars.

We provide all of the documentation and chain of custody due diligence to

confirm that every stitch of wood in your Bella Voce was thoughtfully and

legally harvested. We guarantee that you can obtain permits in the United

States and throughout the world to travel with your Angelica Collection

instrument. And should you, someday, wish to sell your prized instrument,

it can be legally sold in all 180 CITES convention nations.

The Bedell Bella Voce is a dream come true. A very special and unique

instrument. A one-of-a-kind design, build and sound.

A LETTER FROM TOM

8

“There is a special sound I have longed for: warm,

full-bodied, and embracing. Not a strumming

guitar, but a masterpiece finger style instrument that

delivers each note with clarity, fullness, warmth and

beauty.”

- TOM BEDELL -

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INSPIRED BY OLD WORLD EUROPEAN DESIGN and high quality American

hand craft, Bedell Guitars proudly introduces the Angelica Collection. These

instruments masterfully merge design aspects that pay homage to one of the

modern guitars antecedents, the European vihuela, while celebrating our Amer-

ican roots proudly.

In the mid-15th century, an instrument called the vihuela began to gain popular-

ity in Portugal, Spain and Italy. While today the vihuela has less renown than

another stringed instrument of the same time, the lute, it had a much stronger

influence on the design of the modern guitar than its more popular, and much

older, cousin. Vihuelas were constructed with thin, flat slabs of wood, and in

general had more frets and six courses of strings. By the late 15th century, the

vihuela started to be designed with the bent sides so familiar in today’s acoustic

guitars, although it is worth noting that there is not an exact shape or size for a

vihuela since the advent of mass production was still centuries away.

The story of guitars in 19th century America is incredibly well documented.

Highly trained craftsmen began to immigrate to America along with the masses

of people from the Old World seeking freedom, adventure, opportunity and pros-

perity. Combining their years of training and skill, with the spirit of America,

these craftsmen started to create the acoustic guitar of today. The Angelica

Collection borrows heavily from these luthiers who created an instrument with

more volume, longevity and tone.

Bedell Guitars Angelica Collection is a group of three instruments created to

bring to life the best of the old and new worlds, and to create a superior instru-

ment for today’s fingerstylists that is ethically and sustainably sourced in accor-

dance with the Bedell Tonewood Certification Principles.

Three beautiful guitars make up the Angelica Collection: Bellissima, Bella Voce

and Grandezza. The shape of these guitars is a Parlor, Orchestra and Dread-

nought respectively. What makes the size of each one unique from other Bedell

guitars is an increase to their body depth of 1/4”.

The Angelica Collection also has other unique specifications to meet our goal

of creating a rich fingerstyle response. Two of the most noticeable features we

have added to delight the fingerstylist are our 12 fret-to-body neck and an ex-

tended bridge width. The 12 fret-to-body neck will deliver a more responsive feel

to the strings while the extended bridge width will increase the strings ability to

vibrate the top, both of which while deliver the depth and nuance to your music

INTRODUCTION

10

that you’d expect from such a stunning instrument.

Of course, an instrument of this caliber has to be made from hand graded, high

quality tonewoodstonewoods in the world. For our Angelica Collection, we have

selected a wood combination to make even the most discerning fingerstylist

pleased.

The Angelica Collection’s tops are made from a centuries old Western Red cedar

tree that sank to the bottom of the Fraser River in British Columbia, Canada,

approximately 100 years ago. The tree was felled using turn of the century

lumbering techniques and then floated down the Fraser in an attempt to get the

newly fallen tree to the mill. Along the way, this particular tree sank to the bot-

tom, to be left there untouched for over 100 years until our tonewood partners

at Pacific Rim salvaged it. These tops are a product of their one-of-a-kind life:

Old growth cedar that has absorbed the minerals of the longest running unob-

structed river in North America, creating a top for your guitar that will never be

able to be reproduced.

A top of such magnificence must be paired with a tonewood for its back and sides

that is its equal. We were fortunate to find such a tonewood in the hot and humid

climate of Eastern India, rooted amongst the coffee beans it shades and protects.

We did not just select the best sounding East Indian Rosewood, we also selected

among the most beautiful and rare, our Royale Rosewood. This rosewood lived a

long life shading some of the best coffee beans in the world. As these rosewood

trees approach the end of their life, our wood partners, the Yogi family, will come

by and remove the entire tree for use in other applications, including our guitars.

Some of these trees have grown in unique ways in which place differing stresses

on its trunk. These stresses can create very unique patterns in the grain of the

wood that are visually stunning. We have selected the most stunning and best

sounding for the Angelica Collection.

There are those times when you will want to amplify our fingerstyle performance,

and a guitar of such visual and aural beauty needs to have electronics up to the

task. For this, we selected K&K’s Pure Mini pickup, a bridge plate transducer

that is the optimal choice for achieving a rich, natural guitar sound.

Your Angelica Collection guitar will also ship in a deluxe hardshell case with a

Bedell Plant and Animal listing detailing the source for all the natural ingredi-

ents that make your guitar a masterpiece.

INTRODUCTION

12

BODY SHAPES

TOP WOOD

BODY WOOD

NECK

FRETBOARD

BINDING

FINISH

SCALE LENGTH

NUT WIDTH

INLAY

TUNERS

NUT/SADDLE

ELECTRONICS

CASE

Deep bodied: Dreadnought, Orchestra and Parlor

Western red cedar

Figured East Indian rosewood

Honduran mahogany

Ebony

Maple

Gloss

25”, 12 frets to body

1 3/4”

Angelica

Waverly, 3-on-plate with ebony buttons

Bone

K&K Pure Mini

Bedell deluxe hardshell case

SPECIFICATIONS

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TOP WOODWESTERN RED CEDAR

Western red cedar, also known as Pacific red cedar, originates in the Pacific Northwest of North America. It is a very large tree, ranging up to 210 to 230 ft tall and 9.5 to 13 ft in trunk diameter.

Thuja plicata

Western red cedar is among one of the most widespread trees in the Pacific Northwest. It grows from sea level to 7,510 ft. It is shade-tol-erant and able to reproduce under dense shade.

Western red cedar is a wonderful wood for fin-ger style players. It is softer than spruce, so it requires a careful and accurate touch, and it rewards with sweet, extended harmonic content. A highly resonant tonewood.

Warm color with straight grain. The color ranges from light to reddish.

WOOD

BOTANICAL NAME

ORIGIN

TONAL QUALITIES

AESTHETICS

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TOP WOOD | Western Red Cedar

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TOP WOOD | Western Red Cedar

Since Western Red cedar can live over a thousand years, we don’t know the exact

moment our tree’s life began, but it could have easily germinated while the lute

and vihuela ruled the stringed instrument world in Europe. Its life would span

the Renaissance, the formation of the New World, and the Industrial Revolution

before being harvested for use.

Our tree’s neighbors would be cut down with a primitive adze by First Nation

communities for use as either canoes or totem poles. Cedar’s light weight and

strength made it just as great of a choice for those communities as it does for gui-

tar builders worldwide.

An important aspect of our tree’s character starts high in the Canadian Rock-

ies. Here lies the source of the Fraser River, named for the North West Company

explorer, Simon Fraser, who was the first European to fully navigate the river,

searching for suitable passage ways between the interior of British Columbia and

the Pacific coast. The river was far too fierce to allow this, but in a few decades it

would serve as a bed for our tree. All the minerals and sediment would flow over

our tree after it sunk to the bottom in transport to the pulp mill. During these

decades on the riverbed, our tree absorbed the rich minerals that flow down this

river until Pacific Rim Tonewoods stopped its barge over this old-growth treasure,

lowered the crane and pulled this beautiful timber from the water. Once destined

for the pulp mill, this treasure is instead a part of your beautiful guitar.

The journey of this precious resource was not a simple one. Bedell Guitars had to

work closely with Pacific Rim Tonewoods and the Canadian Government to make

sure the entire process of timber to tonewood was done perfectly. Canadian red

cedar can’t be exported to the States as round logs; it has to be processed first.

So, Pacific Rim Tonewoods hauled the recovered tree to a mill in Mission, BC,

where the tree was quartersawed into flat boards. Then, the team at Pacific Rim

Tonewoods, hauled the boards to Concrete, Washington, where they carefully cut

out blanks for sets. Then they dried these sets prior to re-sawing, and after they

finished this last step, the new soundboards were graded and shipped to Bedell

Guitars in Bend, OR.

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Pacific Rim Tonewoods has had a longstanding mission to provide luthiers

with the best available soundboards for guitars and other musical instru-

ments.

Their shop is nestled in a forested valley of the North Cascades; neighbor-

ing British Columbia and Alaska are rich with spruce, the industry stan-

dard for guitar tops. They also have relationships throughout the world

that allows them to source a wide range of woods for guitar makers.

Theirs is a trade that starts with trees and ends with music, and is equally

about the people along the way.

ABOUT PACIFIC RIM TONEWOODS

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BACK & SIDE WOODEAST INDIAN ROSEWOOD

East Indian rosewood has been the standard rosewood choice for decades. It is often associat-ed with the great dreadnoughts, and is an amaz-ingly neutral wood that takes its personality from the player, making it a natural choice for many styles.

Dalbergia latifolia

India, Indonesia, Nepal

Well-balanced lows, mids, and highs. Famous for rich basses and clear treble response.

Black-streaked wood with coloration that usually leans toward purplish brown, and then oxidizes to a rich brown color. The grain is straight, some-times wavy or interlocked.

WOOD

BOTANICAL NAME

ORIGIN

TONAL QUALITIES

AESTHETICS

18

BACK & SIDE WOOD | East Indian Rosewood

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Over a century ago, a rosewood seed sprouted in Karnataka, India, destined to

become a part of your Coffee House guitar… but first it had a job to do. Shortly

after the Titanic collided with a formidable iceberg and during the months pre-

ceding WWI when all of Europe was on edge, this little seedling took root and

prepared to serve its first purpose: to provide protection and shelter. Throughout

its life, this beautiful rosewood tree offered shade to the coffee plants that flour-

ished near its roots. It matured more quickly than its wild relatives, thanks to the

farming practices bestowed on the coffee plants, such as fertilizer, compost, and

plentiful water.

Prior to its incarnation in your Bedell guitar, the tree that provided your tonewood

benefited from the care given to its soil mates and in return, provided cool shade

for the crop, shelter and habitat for an array of insects and dozens of species of

birds, and contributed plentiful leaf mulch and cuttings to return nutrients back

to the soil. This tree was harvested with the permission of Indian forestry officials

when it could no longer contribute the requisite amount of shade to benefit the

coffee crops it was serving. In most cases, whenever a rosewood tree is legally har-

vested in India, another seedling is planted nearby to ensure continual renewal of

Indian forest resources.

Stringent governmental regulations dictate very specific guidelines for the har-

vest and sale of all Indian hardwoods. There is only one source for acquiring legal

East Indian rosewood that grows in India: The auctions overseen by the govern-

ment. All auctioned woods are subject to very strict regulation. It is illegal to cut

any living East Indian rosewood tree in the wild. Rosewood trees may be harvested

on private property, such as a coffee plantation, however a permit is required.

The tree must be at least 175 centimeters in diameter (nearly six feet), and the

landowners are not allowed to harvest the tree themselves. Once a permit is ac-

quired (if it is granted), a licensed third party harvests the tree, assigns it a unique

number and transports it to the nearest government depot for auction. All legally

harvested Indian hardwoods must follow these procedures. There are checkpoints

throughout the country and if a driver is found transporting Indian hardwood

without the proper permits, the wood and the driver’s vehicle will be confiscat-

ed on the spot.

BACK & SIDE WOOD | East Indian Rosewood

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ABOUT OVERSEAS TRADERS

Overseas Traders is owned and operated by the Yogi family, and is located in the

bustling town of Hubli, about 250 miles northwest of Bangalore, in the state of

Karnataka. Overseas Traders was founded in 1968, though the Yogis have been in

the lumber business for five generations. The company is FSC-certified, a member

of NAMM and specializes in providing spectacular rosewood for the musical

instrument industry. The wood buyers from Overseas Traders attend 60 to 70

government auctions a year to acquire the most promising trees. Every tree is

numbered from the moment it is harvested, and it is tracked through the auction

process. Once the trees are in Overseas Traders’ possession, fastidious records are

kept through transport, processing, storage and sale, ensuring flawless chain-of-

custody documentation and assurance to Bedell devotees that their tonewood was

acquired legally through the proper channels that benefit the citizens of the state

in which the trees were selectively harvested or salvaged.

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NECK WOODHONDURAN MAHOGANY

WOOD

BOTANICAL NAME

ORIGIN

AESTHETICS

Honduran mahogany is a medium-lightweight wood, ranging in color from light brown to dark, primarily used for necks because of the feel and the stability it provides.

Swietenia macrophylla

Mexico to southern Amazonia in Brazil

Ranging from light brown to reddish brown in color, with an open pore structure.

The Honduran mahogany used for the neck of Bedell Angelica Collection was se-

lectively harvested in Guatemala in 2011 and was imported into the U.S. by Bedell

Guitars in the same year. It was then warehoused in Bedell’s humidity and tem-

perature-controlled warehouse in Central Oregon.

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NECK WOOD | Honduran Mahogany

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THE BUILD

This page

BENDING OF THE SIDES

Top

BELLA VOCE ON THE BINDING

TABLE

Right

BACK WOODS BEING PREPPED FOR THE BODY LINE

This page

SMOOTHING THE FACE OF THE DOVETAIL WITH SAND-

PAPER

Top

TOP OF THE GUITAR, READY FOR

FINISHING

Right

BACK OF THE GUITAR, READY FOR

FINISHING

30

The Craftspeople

32

DALTON BELL FINISH

Growing up in La Pine, Oregon, Dalton was an artistic, musical kid who learned to

play guitar in the seventh grade. His mother, whom he describes as “a hardwork-

ing single mom,” was a formative influence in his life, and to this day, his favorite

day of the year is any day he gets to spend with her.

At Bedell, Dalton is responsible for sanding, buffing, inspection and repairs, but

he enjoys repairs most of all due to the variety and the challenge involved. Dal-

ton is particularly good at his job for two reasons: He works hard (a skill he

learned from his mother) and he has an artistic eye, which enables him to see

the most minute details in his work. He’s very proud to work for Tom Bedell and

wholeheartedly believes in what Bedell Guitars stands for. As a guitar player

and music lover, he feels fortunate to be able to make instruments and do what

he loves. When Dalton isn’t applying his skills in the Bedell workshop, he can

be found playing guitar or drums, singing, drawing, hanging out with friends and

family, or woodworking and making things with his hands, including the electric

guitar he’s currently building. He’s also an avid outdoorsman who enjoys camp-

ing, hiking and swimming.

FAVORITE SCENIC VIEW IN OREGON:

Seaside, Oregon.

FAVORITE WEEKEND GETAWAY IN

THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST:

Newport, Oregon.

FAVORITE TONEWOOD:

It’s so hard to choose between koa

and myrtlewood.

PREFERRED MODE OF TRANSPORTATION:

I prefer teleportation, but I’m

stuck driving.

YOUR OBSESSION IN LIFE:

Music and art.

FIRST ALBUM YOU BOUGHT AS A KID?

Neon Ballroom by Silverchair.

MOST SENTIMENTAL THING YOU OWN:

My guitars and my great grandfather’s war

patches.

MUSICIAN YOU’D MOST LIKE TO

HAVE OVER FOR DINNER:

Guthrie Govan.

THE BUILD | The Craftspeople

34

BRANDON BOLING BODIES & NECKS

I am originally from San Luis Obispo CA. Before coming to work for Bedell I

worked for Ernie Ball/Music man, doing finishing. Knowing that I always wanted

to build things for a living, I thought engineering would be a good fit for me. After

working with instruments, I found that building stringed instruments was for me

and it has only progressively gone deeper from there.

I went to school for mechanical engineering, but found it wasn’t a fit, in the pro-

cess, I obtained a math degree then moved onto Audio technology, getting certi-

fied along the way. While I was finishing up my certifications, I started building

my first electric guitar, all the while, researching and acquiring my tools. I look

forward to continuing with my guitar building, and I will hopefully do something

bigger with it in the future.

FAVORITE ARTIST:

Salvador Dali

OBSESSION IN LIFE:

Innovative stringed instruments.

FAVORITE SCENIC VIEW:

Sahalie Falls

BEST LIVE SHOW YOU HAVE EVER SEEN:

DTP/Gooira

FAVORITE WEEKEND GETAWAY:

Portland, OR

DREAM VACATION:

Scandinavia


36

JOEL CHADD STRING UP

I am a born and raised Oregonian, I moved to Bend nine years ago and quickly fell

in love with this amazing place.

I love photography and the beauty of Central Oregon. My love is to experience it

to the fullest by: fly fishing, hiking, snowboarding, rock climbing, disk golf, and so

much more.

I’ve always had a keen eye for detail and love working with my hands. Music has

been a passion of mine my entire life, it is in my blood, so having the opportunity

to incorporate and direct that passion into building instruments is one of the best

things that has ever happened to me.

FAVORITE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION:

Walking.

OBSESSION IN LIFE:

Music.

BIGGEST MUSICAL INFLUENCE:

Jackson Browne & James Taylor


Something of my grandfather’s.


Summit of Mt. Bachelor on a bluebird

day.

FAVORITE GUILTY PLEASURE:

A bag of Skittles.

DREAM VACATION:

A year of traveling the world.

ITEM ALWAYS IN YOUR REFRIGERATOR:

Mom’s homemade pickles and good beer.

BEST LIVE SHOW YOU HAVE SEEN:

Devil Makes Three in Humbodlt county.

FAVORITE SOUND IN THE WORLD:

The river and the sound of my snowboard

carving fresh powder.


38

JASON CHINCHEN INLAY

Walk into the inlay room at the Bedell workshop and, invariably, you’ll be greeted

by a big, happy smile from Jason Chinchen. Jason is a man who loves his work,

and for good reason. His talents and skill are perfectly suited for the demanding

position of Bedell inlay artist.

Jason spends his days at Bedell immersed in art – conceptualizing, designing, and

then cutting and fitting the tiniest pieces of precious materials into the fretboard,

peghead, and soundboard of Bedell guitars. Jason is well versed in various artistic

mediums, but inlay is where he truly shines. He has an innate feel for “painting”

with the materials, for using flash to create shadow and light. Jason finds creative

inspiration in both the past and the present – in the tried and true aesthetics

found in classical art and Art Nouveaux, as well as beauty found in the organic,

natural world.

As an avid outdoorsman, Jason is especially passionate about Bedell’s reverence

for the forests. He volunteers regularly for trail cleanups and firmly believes in

stewardship – showing respect and being responsible for what we’re using, and

being aware of our footsteps to minimize our impact and find a way to have a re-

sponsible, respectful relationship with the outdoors and the special places we love.

As Jason likes to say, “We’re all in it together.”

PREFERRED MODE OF TRANSPORTATION?

Hiking boots.

YOUR ONE OBSESSION IN LIFE:

Writing songs.

FAVORITE TONEWOOD AND WHY?

Claro walnut: the figure and color

variations and the warm, clear tone across

the entire range from highs to lows.

BIGGEST MUSICAL INFLUENCE?

Neil Young, Avett Brothers.

BEST LIVE SHOW YOU’VE EVER SEEN?

Ben Harper, Les Schwab Amphitheater,

Bend, Oregon.

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH EVERY TIME?

My daughter, Avery.

YOUR SUPERPOWER:

Cooking bacon.

FAVORITE BAND OF ALL TIME?

Pearl Jam.


40

FAVORITE SOUND:

My son’s belly laugh.

FAVORITE SONG:

“Imagine” by John Lennon.

FAVORITE TIME OF DAY:

Sunrise. It is a visceral experience to

me, a special time in the day that is

renewing and energizing.

FAVORITE CRAFT BEER:

Sinister Ale by 10 Barrel Brewing Co.

FAVORITE FLOWER:

Peony.

ON WEEKENDS YOU CAN BE FOUND:

Slowing down and soaking it in.

ANGELA CHRISTENSEN BRAND MANAGER

Angela has always been talented at working with her hands, she has a degree

in sculpture and has been working with wood -- jewelry, high-end cabinetry and

musical instruments -- for most of her adult life. In 1999, while studying at ASU,

a summer road trip launched her passion for wood when she stopped at the

Wolf Education and Research Center in Idaho, and was awed by the impressive

hand-carved doors that graced the information center. Struck by the beauty

of this functional artwork, in that moment, she knew wood was her medium

of choice. When she returned from her trip, she started working for a custom

furniture shop, and never looked back.

Angela moved to Bend, Oregon, and has been working in the musical instrument

industry since 2002. She started managing raw wood and parts and then moved

into purchasing wood and working with suppliers. She apprenticed under a

master luthier in inlay in 2006, and at the same time, learned string up and

assembly. Currently, Angela oversees the Bedell brand, the Seed-to-Song Studio,

the inlay department, and manages all wood purchasing for custom instruments.

She says the most satisfying part of her job is working directly with clients,

helping to design the ultimate custom instrument. In her spare time, she’s

focused on her family. “It’s all about family,” she says. She and her husband also

have a jewelry line called Snap Dragon Studios.


42

JUSTIN FRANCIS NECKS

Justin Francis is a musician, a skilled woodworker, a retired professional

snowboarder, and an avid fly fisherman. He has an eye for immaculate detail, and

enjoys immersing himself in the minute detail and technical perfection required

of all Bedell craftsman. On any given day, you’ll find Justin in the workshop hand

shaping, dovetailing, wood binding, hand finishing and meticulously executing

every other detail that goes into completing Bedell guitar necks.

Born in Humboldt County, California, Justin’s family moved to Bend when he was

nine years old and Justin has lived in Oregon ever since. The Francis family is full

of talented musicians, so Justin’s passion for music and musical instruments is

practically coded in his DNA. Justin grew up playing sax in the school band and he

currently plays guitar (and drums, on occasion).

Justin’s favorite wood in the Bedell Wood Library is Brazilian rosewood, because

every single set is different from the last, and because, as he says, “The grain

orientation is incredible, it’s definitely not a boring wood, though Ziricote is a

close second choice because it has crazy three-dimensional figure, the figure pops

so much it doesn’t even look like wood.” Justin believes in Bedell’s sustainability

mission because he wants to ensure that these beautiful exotic woods are around

for the next generation.


Fly fishing.

MOVIE YOU COULD WATCH OVER & OVER:

Super Troopers.

BEST LIVE SHOW YOU’VE EVER SEEN?

U2, Rose Garden, Portland, Oregon.


Running water.

FAVORITE ADULT BEVERAGE:

Rum and Coke with lime.

YOUR SUPERPOWER:

The Kavorka.

YOUR KRYPTONITE:

The Kavorka.

DREAM VACATION:

Tarpon fishing the flats.


44

SIMON HAYCRAFT FINISH

Simon is a sculptor and a painter with a deep appreciation for tonewoods, and

a comprehensive understanding of finishes. He has almost a sixth-sense for the

perfect finish, which is essential since he hand finishes all Bedell instruments.

Simon sees each instrument as a piece of art, as a canvas that he has the honor

to complete. Like many artists, beauty is something Simon strives for, no matter

what he does.

Simon grew up in England, studied art in college, and has a diploma in

design from Leamington Spar College. He moved to the U.S. in 2000, and has lived

in Oregon since 2005. Prior to joining Bedell Guitars, Simon ran his own custom

interior finishes company for high-end residential homes. In his spare time, Simon

can be found fishing, carving, or working on other creative projects in his home

studio.

FAVORITE TIME OF DAY:

Sunrise. It’s beautiful and there aren’t

many people around.

FAVORITE POEM:

“If ” by Rudyard Kipling.

YOUR OBSESSION IN LIFE:

Fishing.

FAVORITE CRAFT BEER:

Dead Guy Ale by Rogue.

SIGNATURE DISH:

My chili and my spaghetti bolognese.

DREAM VACATION:

New Zealand.

BEST SKILL AS A CHILD:

Drawing.

IS ELVIS REALLY DEAD?

No, he lives in my basement.


46

PATRICK PARKINSON STRING UP

I was born in Colorado, lived in Utah,California, and Massachusetts. I moved

here for its close proximity to snowboarding, mountain biking, rock climbing, and

amazing beer. My Spare time is spent fixing up our old house built in 1947 and as

of October spending time with our new baby boy.

I love to travel, I studied visual art in college and love making things. I worked two

seasons at McMurdo Station in Antarctica.

For the last 12 years I have only played the acoustic guitar, once picking it up at

the age of 13, I didn’t want to play anything else. I do love a wide range of music, I

started playing the piano at 6, moving onto the drums, and the saxophone.

FAVORITE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION:

Bike.


The summit of South Sister.


Jimi Hendrix.


The river and the sound of my snow-

board carving fresh powder.

ITEMS ALWAYS IN YOUR FRIDGE:

Butter and good beer.

FAVORITE GUILTY PLEASURE:

Watching fail compilations on Youtube.


WW2 foot locker of my grandpa’s.

DREAM VACATION:

A year of traveling North America with a

truck and camper.


48

FAVORITE SCENIC VIEW IN OREGON:

The Fall River in the snow

(in the Cascade Mountains).

FAVORITE WEEKEND GETAWAY IN THE

PACIFIC NORTHWEST:

Bandon, Oregon.

FAVORITE TONEWOOD:

Myrtlewood.

PREFERRED MODE OF TRANSPORTATION:

4X4.


Building.


Stevie Ray Vaughn.


Red-winged blackbird.

DREAM VACATION:

Alaska.

DAVID PETO PRODUCTION LEAD

Growing up in Central Oregon, David never had a babysitter. His grandfather,

father, and step-dad were all tradesmen, and as a child, the men in his family

kept an eye on him – and often put him to work. At the age of fourteen, David

taught himself to play guitar. He built his first guitar in high school woodshop and

he’s been building and playing ever since. In 2006 he moved to the Oregon coast,

where he worked for K&K Sound and then headed to California to attend the Mu-

sician’s Institute in Los Angeles, California. At M.I. Dave earned his A.A. degree

with an emphasis in guitar building.

At Bedell Guitars, prior to finish, David works with the neck and the body, to fit

the dovetail joints. After the finish has been applied, he attaches the necks, bridg-

es, hardware and strings to complete the instruments. Dave admits to having a

healthy amount of O.C.D., but says the key is knowing when to stop. He particular-

ly loves working with woods from the Pacific Northwest, and has a soft spot for the

Bedell Earthsong series guitars. He’s a self-taught craftsman, and has read every

book on the subject. In his spare time, when he’s not building guitars, he works on

his house, goes fishing, and takes road trips.


50

JAKE SPECE LEAD CRAFTSMAN

Before Jake was promoted to lead craftsman, he worked in the body department,

and he still holds the shop record for the most bodies assembled by one person.

Before he started building guitars, Jake worked as a short-order cook. His

experience in the kitchen was the ideal training ground for the intensity of the

production environment; he learned how to work hard and remain cool under

pressure. As a guitar player, he has a deep appreciation for both the beauty and

tonal properties of the exquisite tonewoods in the Bedell Wood Library.

A Central Oregon native, Jake is the son of a welder and a piano player and the

grandson of a mandolin player – he has music and craftsmanship in his blood.

Jake’s dad taught him to weld at the tender age of seven. When he was fourteen,

Jake saved enough money moving pipe to buy a guitar from the local pawn shop;

he learned five chords from a library book, and formed a band called The Kronk

Men with two friends. They’ve been playing together since 1998. Jake can’t believe

it’s been fifteen years. He said, “It’s like we’re the Rolling Stones of Central Oregon.”

He plays with The Kronk Men around Bend regularly and is known for his uncon-

ventional playing style. When not building bodies for Bedell, or shredding on stage,

Jake spends his time taking care of his family, skateboarding, and hanging out with

his rad dog, Rudy.


Latin Beats, post-punk.

FIRST ALBUM YOU BOUGHT AS A KID:

Nirvana, “In Utero.”

BEST LIVE SHOW YOU’VE SEEN:

Nick Cave, 2009, Crystal Ballroom,

Portland, Oregon.

FAVORITE SOUND:

Reverb-drenched electric guitar.

WHAT DO YOU COLLECT?

Guitar effects boxes.

FAVORITE ADULT BEVERAGE:

Maker’s Mark.

FAVORITE BANDS AT THE MOMENT:

T-Rex, Jesus Lizard, Daughters.

PERSONAL HEROES?

Dad, Mom, and Jimi Hendrix.


51


WOODSTOCK TEAM WOOD SELECTION AND PROCESSING

52

DOCUMENTATION

53

BEDELL FISH AND WILDLIFE PERMITPERMIT TO IMPORT AND EXPORT WOOD ISSUED TO BEDELL BY U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

54

BEDELL PROTECTED PLANT PERMITPERMIT TO IMPORT AND EXPORT WOODS REGUL ATED AS THREATENED OR ENDANGERED SPECIES

ISSUED TO BEDELL’S PARENT COMPANY BY THE U.S.D.A.

55

BEDELL PROTECTED PLANT PERMITCONTINUED

56

Soundboard Documentation:

Western Red Cedar

57

WESTERN RED CEDAR HISTORY DOCUMENTSUPPLIED BY BEDELL WOOD PARTNER, PACIFIC RIM TONEWOODS

SPECIES

BOTANICAL NAME

ESTIMATED AGE

TYPE OF HARVEST

LOCATION HARVESTED

HARVESTED BY

WOOD PARTNER

Western red cedar

Thuja plicata

Approximately 500 years old

Salvaged sinker log

Fraser River, British Columbia, Canada

Pacific Rim TonewoodsPurchased by Bedell Guitars

Pacific Rim Tonewoods38511 Washington 20, Concrete, WA 98237

58

Back & SidesDocumentation:

East Indian Rosewood

59

EAST INDIAN ROSEWOOD HISTORY DOCUMENT

SUPPLIED BY BEDELL WOOD PARTNER, OVERSEAS TRADERS

SPECIES

BOTANICAL NAME

ESTIMATED AGE

TYPE OF HARVEST

LOCATION

HISTORY

WOOD PARTNER

East Indian rosewood

Dalbergia latifolia

Approximately 100 years old

Individual selective cut, with approval from the Indian Forest Service

Karnataka, India

Acquired by Overseas Traders at government auction in Karnataka, IndiaPurchased by Bedell Guitars

Overseas TradersPlot No. 12,13,14 & 15, Ravinagar,Gokul Road, Hubli, India 580030

60

EAST INDIAN ROSEWOOD HISTORY DOCUMENT

SUPPLIED BY BEDELL WOOD PARTNER, OVERSEAS TRADERS

KARNATAKA

DELHI

CHENNAI

INDIA

TIBET

SRI L ANKA

PAKISTAN

MUMBAI

61

EAST INDIAN ROSEWOOD PURCHASE ORDER

TOH (BEDELL PARENT COMPANY) PURCHASE FROM OVERSEAS TRADERS

62

EAST INDIAN ROSEWOOD INVOICETOH (BEDELL PARENT COMPANY) PURCHASE FROM OVERSEAS TRADERS

63

EAST INDIAN ROSEWOOD PACKING LIST


64

EAST INDIAN ROSEWOOD BILL OF LANDING


65

USDA PLANT AND PLANT PRODUCTDECLARATION “LACEY FORM”

66

USDA PLANT AND PLANT PRODUCTDECLARATION “LACEY FORM”

CONTINUED

67

Neck Documentation:Honduran Mahogany

68

SPECIES

BOTANICAL NAME

TYPE OF HARVEST

HARVEST LOCATION

YEAR HARVESTED

HARVESTED BY

IMPORTED TO THE U.S. BY

WOOD PARTNER

Honduran mahogany

(also known as bigleaf mahogany)


Selective cut, FSC-certified

Guatemala

2011

GIBOR, S.A., Guatemala

Sitco Lumber Company, Desoto, TX

RFL Group

PO Box 361, Lake Oswego, OR 97034

MEXICO

GUATEMAL A

BELIZE

SOUTHAMERICA

HONDURAN MAHOGANYHISTORY DOCUMENT

USED ON GUITARS WITH SERIAL NUMBERS 0414XXXX AND LOWER

69

GIBOR, S.A. exported the mahogany

to Sitco Lumber Company in Desoto, TX.

CITES permit #008-2011

Sitco Lumber Company sold the mahogany

to RFL Group in Lake Oswego, OR

Bedell Guitars acquired the mahogany from

RFL Group

MARCH 2011

OCTOBER 2011

DECEMBER 2011

HONDURAN MAHOGANYCHAIN OF CUSTODY

USED ON GUITARS WITH SERIAL NUMBERS 0414XXXX AND LOWER

70

HONDURAN MAHOGANYPURCHASE ORDER

TOH (BEDELL PARENT COMPANY) PURCHASE FROM RFL GROUP

71

HONDURAN MAHOGANY INVOICETOH (BEDELL PARENT COMPANY) PURCHASE FROM RFL GROUP

72


RFL GROUP PURCHASE FROM SITCO LUMBER COMPANY

73

HONDURAN MAHOGANYCITES PERMIT

ISSUED TO GIBOR, S.A. TO ALLOW EXPORT TO THE U.S.A. FROM GUATEMAL A

74

SPECIES

BOTANICAL NAME

HARVEST LOCATION

YEAR HARVESTED

HARVESTED BY

IMPORTED TO THE U.S. BY

Honduran mahogany

(also known as bigleaf mahogany)


Bolivia

2008

Agroindustrial La Perla de San Julian,

Bolivia

Continental Hardwoods, Portland, OR

Newman Lumber Company, Gulfport, MS

BRAZIL

BOLIVIA

PERU

ARGENTINA

HONDURAN MAHOGANYHISTORY DOCUMENT

USED ON GUITARS WITH SERIAL NUMBERS 0514XXXX AND HIGHER

75

Exported to Newman Lumber Co.

CITES permit #00678

Newman sold to Specialty Forest Products in

Algona, WA

Specialty Forest Products sold to Continental

Hardwoods in Portland, OR

TOH acquired a small quantity of this

mahogany from Continental Hardwoods

and a larger quantity of the same original

import from Newman Lumber directly.

NOVEMBER 2008

OCTOBER 2013

MAY 2014

HONDURAN MAHOGANYCHAIN OF CUSTODY

USED ON GUITARS WITH SERIAL NUMBERS 0514XXXX AND HIGHER

76


TOH (BEDELL PARENT COMPANY) PURCHASE FROM CONTINENTAL HARDWOOD

77

HONDURAN MAHOGANY INVOICETOH (BEDELL PARENT COMPANY) PURCHASE FROM CONTINENTAL HARDWOOD

78

HONDURAN MAHOGANYORDER CONFIRMATION

CONTINENTAL HARDWOOD PURCHASE FROM SPECIALT Y FOREST PRODUCTS

79


CONTINENTAL HARDWOOD PURCHASE FROM SPECIALT Y FOREST PRODUCTS

80


TOH (BEDELL PARENT COMPANY) PURCHASE FROM NEWMAN LUMBER COMPANY

81

HONDURAN MAHOGANY INVOICETOH (BEDELL PARENT COMPANY) PURCHASE FROM NEWMAN LUMBER COMPANY

82

HONDURAN MAHOGANY INVOICESPECIALT Y FOREST PRODUCTS PURCHASE FROM NEWMAN LUMBER COMPANY

83

HONDURAN MAHOGANYCITES PERMIT

ISSUED TO L APERL A DE SAN JULIAN TO ALLOW EXPORT TO THE U.S.A FROM BOLIVIA

85

Original Photography by

RA Beattie

Written by

Catrina Gregory

Designed by

Breedlove Creative, Inc.

BEDELL GUITARS61573 American Loop

Bend, Oregon 97702

888.234.2210

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