Brendan O'Gorman Forres 12 Fret - Dark Forest Cypress & Andaman Padauk #3626BC

The Brendan O'Gorman Forres 12 Fret in Dark Forest Cypress and Andaman Padauk is an instrument with the presence of something unearthed rather than simply built. It feels ancient, vivid, and completely individual, shaped by a luthier with the confidence to let extraordinary materials speak in their own language. From its axe cut Cypress top to the glowing depth of the Andaman Padauk back and sides, this guitar is not trying to look like anything else. It exists entirely on its own terms.

Brendan O'Gorman brings a rare combination of woodworking discipline, artistic instinct, and tonal sensitivity to every guitar he builds. His background in fine hand craftsmanship can be seen in the precision of the miters, the clean flow of the bindings, the sculptural cutaway, and the way every material choice feels connected to the next. The Forres 12 Fret is a deeply expressive platform for that vision, with the 12 fret neck joint placing the bridge in a powerful and responsive part of the soundboard. The result is an instrument with warmth, immediacy, and an intimate connection between the player and the body of the guitar.

The Dark Forest Cypress top is the soul of this build. Axe cut Cypress carries a physical, almost primal character, with a surface and grain structure that feels connected to the hand tools, forests, and slow passing of time behind the wood itself. Cypress is already a remarkable tonewood, prized for its quick response, dry clarity, and earthy complexity, but this particular top brings something even more evocative. It has a visual texture that feels old, elemental, and alive. Under the high gloss finish, the wood has a quiet darkness and depth that gives the guitar an unmistakable sense of history.

The Andaman Padauk back and sides create a striking contrast to the Cypress, both visually and sonically. Padauk is known for its bold color, glassy reflectivity, and strong fundamental voice, and the Andaman variety used here gives the guitar a rich, exotic glow. Its reddish orange depth plays beautifully against the darker, more weathered presence of the Cypress top, creating a guitar that feels both ancient and radiant. Tonally, the pairing offers focus, warmth, projection, and a clear, vibrant response that suits the 12 fret Forres design beautifully.

The appointments are just as distinctive as the woods themselves. A Bloodwood bridge and fingerboard bring a deep, saturated warmth to the playing surface, while Mother of Pearl fret markers add a classic shimmer against the darker board. The Spalted Beech front headstock veneer and matching Spalted Beech rosette introduce organic movement and pale, ghostly figure, while the Blue Boxwood rear headstock veneer and Boxwood bindings add an unexpected sense of refinement. The fully mitered blue multi layer purflings around the top, back, sides, cutaway, fingerboard, and headstock give the entire instrument a precise, jewel like frame. It is bold without being loud, intricate without feeling crowded.

The Forres is also designed with the player in mind. The Florentine cutaway gives graceful access into the upper register, while the Honduran Mahogany neck provides familiar strength, balance, and stability. Black Schertler tuning machines with Ebony buttons add a clean modern accent, and the bone nut, saddle, and bridge pins help keep the response clear, lively, and direct.

With a 25.4 inch scale length, 1.77 inch nut width, 2.24 inch bridge spacing, and a comfortable weight of 4 lbs 9 oz, this Brendan O'Gorman Forres 12 Fret has the feel of a refined custom instrument built for serious musical expression. The high gloss polyurethane finish brings out every nuance of the Cypress, Padauk, Bloodwood, Beech, and Boxwood, giving the guitar a luminous quality from every angle.

The Brendan O'Gorman Forres 12 Fret in Dark Forest Cypress and Andaman Padauk is rare in the truest sense. Not just because of the woods, and not just because of the craftsmanship, but because the entire instrument feels like a singular idea brought fully to life. It is ancient and modern, earthy and elegant, visually unforgettable, and built with the kind of care that makes a guitar feel personal before the first note is ever played.

Other specifications include:

• Dark Forest Cypress Top - Axe Cut
• Andaman Padauk Back & Sides
• Honduran Mahogany Neck
• Bloodwood Bridge & Fingerboard
• Mother of Pearl Fret Markers
• Spalted Beech Front Headstock Veneer
• Blue Boxwood Rear Headstock Veneer
• Spalted Beech Rosette
• Boxwood Bindings
• Fully-Mitered Blue Multi-Layer Top, Back, Sides, Cutaway, Fingerboard & Headstock Purflings
• Florentine Cutaway
• Black Schertler Tuning Machines with Ebony Buttons
• Bone Nut, Saddle & Bridge Pins
• High Gloss Polyurethane Finish
• 25.4" (643.6mm) Scale Length
• 1.77" (45mm) Nut Width
• 2.24" (57mm) Bridge Spacing
• 4 lbs 9 oz
• #3626BC

For more information about the Brendan O'Gorman Moir 12 Fret, please contact us.

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