Ted Newman Jones was sitting in his living room in Dysersburg, TN on February 6th, 2016, diagnosed with lung cancer. Ted and I worked for a while together until he was not able to build guitars. He asked me to go for help and that’s what I did. I never told Ted no for any request ever, honestly. I had been working with Jacob Harper who helped make the first NEWMAN, that Ted would see, that he didn’t build since the days of the Austin Special with Chandler some 25 years ago. I knocked and walked in. As I took the guitar out, I wasn’t worried that he wouldn’t like it. It was the perfect Transparent White. So, I knew he would be honest about the guitar he was about to see.
I got the guitar out and handed it to Ted. He spun it around 3 or 4 times from different angles and said “its…it’s….its.” On the 3rd it’s, I got worried. Then he say’s “…it’s as NEWMAN.” From that moment on, we worked together to get things right in design. Ted had a specific Asymetrical Soft V shape neck carve and it was the critical piece of information to capture and get his approval within his lifetime. I asked Ted to sign the back of the headstock as a sign of approval and he did. Then, under his approval, we can start unfolding what we know is the revival of a great American design. When I saw Ted’s face realizing his work was taken to the next level and in good hands, I knew we were ready to get things on track for NEWMAN.
Extracting constructive input and wisdom from gifted people is not an easy task. Neither is taking someone’s advice on something that I am so “mother bear” about as NEWMAN Guitars. But, when you ask great people to join your vision, you “double the dream”. I have reached out to my favorite builders for advice, so why not coop and build a guitar together? Coop building can be constructive solution to keeping it fresh. The experience Ted had on that day was a rich experience moment I have always wanted to tap into. You can’t get that experience without going outside yourself.
As I write this final line to my first Blog, “Brown Sugar” plays on the radio, crazy true. Crazy clues show me this was meant to be.