Abyss Guitars is celebrating their five year anniversary. Luthier and owner Kevin Pederson talks shop with Musicians Hotline regarding his company¹s place in the boutique high end guitar market. This is a luthier I guaruntee youwill be hearing more and more about. Exotic woods, splenid craftsmanship and Kevin¹s eye for explicit quality control, makes an Abyss guitar a serious choice in high end luthering. Here is what Kevin had to say about his company.

MH: Kevin, how and when did you first start modifying or building guitars?
KP: Trent, I first started building guitars because I couldn't afford the ones I wanted. The prices were right, but I just couldn't afford them. One in particular was a "natural" colored Music Man EVH with a killer quilt top. It was before Eddie's collaboration with them was finished. It would probably be worth some good coin right now.

MH: Can you recall the first guitar you modified?
KP: The first guitar I "messed" with was in 1990 when I ordered a Performance neck and a Warmouth body and I had a guy from Ft. Dodge put it together for me. It ended up having the wrong scale neck for that body. So he had to do some routing on it and it eventually got put together. Two years later after I knew some more about all the specifications I ordered another neck and body from Warmouth. I took it to the same guy in Ft. Dodge and he basically said "forget it"...So I took it to a guy in Minneapolis and he put it together for me. Even though I didn't put these together myself, having these parts around to see the "inside" of the guitar was informative. I eventually modified practically everything on these guitars.

MH: Give us a history and time line of when you first built your very first guitar.
KP: In 1995, I had basic wood construction knowledge and by the fall of 1996 I played the first guitar I built on a demo we did with some guys. I still have that guitar. I took money out of my savingsand instead of buying that EVH I invested it into some basic tools that I used to build that guitar. I had a long way to go to figure out "how" to do some of the steps on the neck, such as laying out the frets. I just got some books and started reading. I made cabinets and furniture during this time so I was gaining some woodworking ability. I put myself through a crash course in finishing and some people gave me hands-on tutoring along the way, too. I think if you want something bad enough you will take the course of action to get there.

What really got me on course was the seven-string guitar. That may sound weird, but Ibanez had just begun production of them for the second time and I thought...hmmmm, there are people who want their custom "six" string guitars, why wouldn't they want custom "seven" string guitars? I eventually realized the market for seven strings was going to be a few years off so I
started to do six string guitars.

MH: When did the first model appear that sported the Abyss Brand on the headstock?
KP: The first guitar that had Abyss on the headstock I made for a friend in 1997. He ordered the Koa and I used that to build a great carve top. He has it to this day and loves it. I checked it out lately and it is still a very nice guitar. This was the first time I ever did any inlay of any kind. It was the American Indian Petroglyph inlays. We were both impressed how it turned out. Shortly there after, I advertised and got a couple of orders and it has been increasing and blossoming ever since.

MH: When did you officially start accepting custom orders from the public?
KP: It was late 1997.

MH: You're pretty much a one man show. Tell us a bit about your shop and any special equipment or techniques used in producing your guitars?
KP: I am the CEO, the janitor and whatever else it takes to get the job done. My shop is attached to my house and I have been working out of that for the past four or five years. I have a special paint booth setup in my basement so I can get great finishes on these guitars. I may be purchasing a building and lot in town here (Forest City, IA) and expanding my operation there. More room will allow for more storage and better workstations. However, I still will be the man that answers the e-mail, takes the phone order, selects the wood, orders the parts, constructs the body, frets the neck, levels the frets, sands the guitar, sprays the finish on it, buff the guitar, put it together, set it up, pack it and eventually send it to the customer. The whole process takes 12 to 18 months per guitar. Gotta love that. Go to www.abyssguitars.com and see all the fine unique guitars.

MH: How many models are you currently producing and describe each?
KP: I have a few different models but they will be changing in the near future. I have a single cut away guitar called the Super Cut. The NDC is more of a "soloist" styled guitar for the shredders or anybody else who wants a superior guitar. This is a great feeling guitar. Well-balanced and great access to the 24 frets. It is a neck through guitar using Korina for the body and neck wood. I feel neck through guitars are the best of both worlds. You get great access with no heel and the sustain is very powerful.

The NC (New Classic) is a designed 22 fret guitar. Very nice looking and unique. Semi-Hollowbody model. The most popular guitar model I have now is the Abyss Arch Top Hollowbody.

MH: What do you feel is unique about the guitars you build?
KP: Everything. They ARE handmade one at a time. Just the way a person orders a guitar from me is unique. You can only get an Abyss Guitar from me! It is like ordering a steak at your favorite restaurant, you can have it how YOU like it. Another unique thing about my guitars is that the "horns" come to a point on all the models, the NC, The Super Cut, Arch Top and The NDC. The waist is narrower on the NDC, unlike other guitar models whose look becomes "fat" in this area. These models are all platforms for a customer to take and do what they want. The sky is the limit and they are all one of a kind handmade custom. If I were to pinpoint one thing that is most unique about my guitars, it would be the way they are constructed. Particularly the Abyss Arch Top Hollowbody model. Other "archtop" makers take a square mahogany chunk and then they saw out the shape and gut out the center with a router. Then they add a square top and back and have a CNC router machine it out from there. The Archtop construction I use is geared to a better sounding Arch top guitar not a production schedule. I call it Acoustic Construction. Just like an acoustic guitar, I BEND the side in a form. The top is shaped and carved by hand. The tops and back are graduated with the top being parallel braced. The back is carved and graduated. Just like acoustic guitars I put kerf lining to increase gluing surface for the top and back plate. This gives it that acoustic resonant tone and ultimately increases the sustain of the guitar. This type of construction is more time consuming than production routing as used in mass-produced Arch top guitars. Acoustic Construction is
more traditional, unique and favorable construction to the nature of the instrument.

MH: Abyss Guitars are definitely in the boutique arena. Tell us about your Custom Shop options and the exotic woods you utilize?
KP: This is truly where art and guitars emerge. Custom inlays are an option. Nearly anything you can dream up can be done. I have done Da Vinci's "The Last Supper" on the fingerboard. I have some wild inlay stuff coming up. I also use Master grade woods. I don't grade my tops and price the guitars accordingly. I just use the best wood for every guitar. If you order a guitar from me you will get Master grade wood period...after all, that is what you are paying for. I would say that to get wood like this you would have to order "custom shop" from others. Some people do like the more subtle figure and we can do thattoo. Koa is a great wood that I have been using regularly and is extremely rare. I have been using some nice Brazilian rosewood for fingerboards and other things. I have found GREAT suppliers and if I don't like it...I send it back. Matter of fact, you can "ok" your wood before I even order it. Pretty much going from hand selected to "customer selected."

MH: How many guitars are you able to produce on a monthly basis and do you intend to increase production to satisfy the ever-rising demand?
KP: Trent, I make right at two guitars a month. The rising demand is evident in the interest I receive from advertising and the Internet. I will increase with the demand, however, I have no plans to make this another production company mass-producing guitars. Quite the opposite. Because the way they are constructed and the quality I put in them, I won't rush them. As others are always finding ways to make their guitars faster and cheaper to a more diluted market, I will try to find ways to make Abyss guitars more unique and valuable.

MH: Abyss recently celebrated its five-year anniversary this year. Tell us about the five-year anniversary models you've created.
KP: It is a Super Cut model hand signed and numbered. It sports a zebra body, Brazilian rosewood NECK and fingerboard. Maple top, binding and pickup surrounds. It has two Chrome (or gold) covered PAF Classics with matching hardware and a Tribal inlay. Because it is the fifth anniversary, I will make five. Five years, five guitars and $4900 each. There are four numbers left.

MH: What do you feel is the ultimate goal of Abyss Guitars and how do you envision the company expanding in the next few years?
KP: My ultimate goal is to satisfy EVERY customer and make the best guitars in the world. The last five years I have been planting the seeds and nurturing them. I have invested a lot time into this company. To see it grow has been pleasure. I have exported to Germany, Japan and England so I am now officially "international". As it grows I want to keep the numbers consistent and just continue to get better at building master grade unique guitars. These guitars are very versatile and able to create all musical styles. They have the sound quality and personality to make the player as unique as the guitar. While helping others to find their dream guitar, I am realizing my own dream. I have the passion to design, build and market Abyss guitars. I thank God for giving me the drive and talent to do this. Without Him, none of this would be happening. Peace and God Bless.

Information
Kevin L. Pederson
Abyss Guitar Company
www.abyssguitars.com
(641) 582-3718

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