Bobby Broom’s Chicagoan

I have known Bobby for most of my life, or known of him would be a better way of putting it. It is next to impossible to go without hearing about the amazingly talented Chicago jazz guitarist while growing up in the same city with a passion for guitar. I think my mom had taken me to the Green Mill long before I was old enough to enter on my own, to see him perform. Bobby’s sound stuck with me. He had this deep, lush, and powerful voice. It was the kind of experience that you leave with an overwhelming sense of inspiration and energy.

Years passed, many years passed…  After I was established in Chicago with my business and making guitars on the North side of Chicago, I got a phone call from Bobby one day. He wanted to discuss the making of an instrument. After getting over the shock of the hearing “this is Bobby Broom”, we began discussing his custom Chicagoan archtop. We spent the next two years talking about sound, about his playing style and his requirements. We talked about things he liked and things he did not like. This build was a great challenge for me. I wanted to get everything perfect and blow him away.

“Among other things, I was interested in hearing a richer depth in tone quality when sitting behind the instrument,” explained Broom. “This should really enhance my listening pleasure!”

It was an honor and pleasure to work with Bobby and develop the natural friendship that comes from this process

I measured Bobby’s main guitar and we decided to build the guitar off of similar specifications:

• 17″ Lower Bout
• Cutaway
• Maple back and sides, Spruce top
• 25.5″ scale length
• Parallel bracing
• 1 11/16″ nut width
• Slimmer neck profile
• Kent Armstrong Pickup with controls in top
• Patina brown finish with contrasting maple binding
• Ebony fingerboard and fittings
• Schaller tuners with Ebony buttons
• Bobby Broom logo inlay on rear of headstock

Bobby opening the case for the first time

First time looking it over

and the first time under the hands of Bobby Broom!

Bobby Broom custom Chicagoan Front and Back

Back and sides

Bound Fhole and Bindings

Player’s eye view

Laid down

Front in perspective

Maple bindings and inner waist

The money shot!

Posted on Sunday, May 31st, 2015 at in Client Profiles, Guitar Construction, Instruments, News & Events.