I’ve always been particularly drawn to jumbo-size acoustics. I learned to play guitar in the early 1970’s when John Denver was at the height of his career, and the sound he got from his jumbo Guild 6 and 12 string guitars made an impression on me that lasts to this day. I own one of the rare and coveted Guild JF-100 jumbos… arguably the most beautiful of any of the Guild models, and to my eye a rival with the Gibson SJ-200 for the top spot, esthetically speaking. These two famous jumbo acoustics formed the inspiration for the Dogwood Kingston Jumbo.
The Kingston has a large sound with impressive volume and is specifically tuned for a great bass response, without sacrificing the trebles. The tops for Kingston jumbos are selected specifically for low mass. Due the larger size of a jumbo guitar, it is especially important to use a top with an excellent stiffness-to-weight ratio to avoid weak trebles and muddy midrange. The top and the back are tuned to specific, complimentary fundamental resonances. This makes for a wonderful grand piano type tone without sounding boomy. You will immediately hear the clarity when you play a Kingston, with a slightly emphasized bass response compared to other Dogwood models.
Standard features for the Kingston include Indian Rosewood back and sides with solid Rosewood binding, hand voiced and tuned top and back, Abalone shell rosette, bound Ebony fretboard and custom Dogwood-style bridge, Abalone shell rosette and fretboard dot inlays, bone nut and saddle, high gloss lacquer finish, hand cut shell logo, and Gotoh tuners. Options include Abalone and gold Mother of Pearl crown fretboard inlays, Abalone body purflings, custom rosettes, exotic back and side woods, custom Tor-tis pickguard, mosaic back strip and matching end wedge purflings, and Venetian cutaway.
Kingston Jumbo Features and Available *Upgrades*
- High scoring Sitka Spruce top from reserve stock
- Top and back hand tuned and voiced
- Indian Rosewood sides and back (other woods available)
- Solid Rosewood body binding
- Bound Ebony fretboard with black and white purfling
- Hand cut shell peghead logo
- Abalone rosette
- Custom Dogwood Ebony bridge with curved bridge pin layout
- Ebony bridge pins and end pin with Abalone dots
- Gotoh tuners and strap button
- Bone nut and B-compensated saddle
- Hand carved Mahogany neck with Maple stringers
- Quality hard shell case
- Lifetime warranty to original owner
- “Tor-tis” poured resin pickguard (greatly superior to plastic) available*
- Gold Mother of Pearl and Abalone “crown” fretboard inlays available*
- Abalone body purflings available*
- Mosaic back strip with matching end wedge purfling available*
- Custom rosettes available*
The Kingston Jumbo base price is $7000.00
I would love to work with you to design a custom, one-of-a-kind jumbo, please contact me for details. I guarantee a great-sounding instrument with exceptional clarity, balance, projection, and separation.
Technical Information
The Kingston Jumbo is a 14 fret, true jumbo guitar with a 25.5 scale length. The bout is 17″ and the shoulder width is 12 1/2″. Body length is 2o 5/8″ and the overall length is 42 1/2″. Width at the nut is 1 3/4″ and the string spacing is 2 1/4″. Fretboard radius is 16″ and the neck is a comfortable oval shape. Alterations to some of these dimensions are available.
Scroll down for videos of the Kingston.
Samuel Hood playing an original composition on his Kingston, recorded at Bare Recording Studios. This guitar has a custom made Tor-tis resin pickguard and Abalone and gold MOP fretboard inlays.
Chris Tofilon playing an original instrumental on a Dogwood Kingston
Check out a Dogwood Kingston being played by Samuel Hood as he accompanies recording artist and worship leader Justin Rizzo performing “Lord of All.” The Kingston was used for all the guitar tracks in the studio; the Taylor being played in the video by Justin is a prop.