Gary’s Story
The Testadura is Tom Ribbecke’s semi-hollow design, slightly smaller than an ES-335, but its construction is much closer in spirit to an archtop. The top is a bookmatched, two-piece solid carved close-grained Sitka spruce plate and the back is solid and carved as well.
Tom designed the center block so it can be removed through the neck-pickup opening, allowing the instrument to be configured as a fully hollow guitar. That unusual construction was one of the things that fascinated me about the model.
For #23 of Tom’s Final 25 run, we used exceptionally rare quilted mahogany from “The Tree” for the carved body back, rear headstock veneer and pickguard. The rims and internal bracing are Brazilian rosewood, and the neck and fingerboard are solid dark Brazilian rosewood.
The scaled-down Homage headstock uses Macassar ebony on the face. Larry Robinson’s inlay work and the extensive black/white purfling tie the entire instrument together. The pickguard is bound with purfling and curly koa.
The neck has a Johnny Smith-like feel — thicker than a ’61 ES-335 but thinner than a ’59 Les Paul — with a 12-to-15-inch compound radius. Bare Knuckle Stormy Monday humbuckers provide the PAF-style voice I wanted.
This is exactly the kind of guitar that explains why I enjoy working directly with great builders: the woods, construction, feel and visual details all have a reason for being there.
