Thompson DWA-A 2056

{{#invoke:Instrument|infobox |type=Guitar |nickname= |image=Jmh-pearl.png |make=Thompson Guitars |model=DWA/A |serial=2056 |year=2024 |current_owner=Justin Holmes |previous_owners= |body_shape= |top_wood=Adirondack Spruce |back_sides_wood=Claro Walnut |neck_wood= |fingerboard_wood= |bridge_wood= |scale_length= |nut_width= |strings= |electronics=K&K Double Helix ^[unverified] Thompson Guitars DWA/A 2056 is the current primary stage guitar of Justin Myles Holmes. It was custom-made for Holmes at the Thompson Guitars workshop in Sisters, Oregon in 2023 and 2024 and delivered to him at IBMA World of Bluegrass in September of 2024. It is a Dreadnought acoustic guitar. }}

Materials

Wood

2056 has claro walnut back and sides, and an adirondack spruce top. The wood choice was the product of extensive deliberation and trial-and-error. Holmes wanted wood grown in North America, and the specific choices reflect two of his long-term communities - the Adirondack spruce from upstate NY, where he grew up, and the walnut from Oregon, where he lived for years.^[unverified]

Luthier Olivia Elia said she "had a blast" building 2056. "I think it's going to be a very special one. Walnut is my favorite wood - I think my guitar might have walnut from the same tree."

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Inlays

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The fretboard has three inlays, all made from red abalone:^[unverified]

• A bicycle wheel on the fifth fret^[unverified]
• A snake on the ninth fret, representing Holmes' tattoo of Isis, a ball python friend that lived with Holmes^[unverified]
• On the 15th fret, a symbol drawn by Holmes.^[unverified]

The fret dots, rossette, and purfing are turquoise fiber.^[unverified]

Electronics

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The piezo and soundhole pickups are routed to separate outputs, for mixing with a floor rig.

It is fitted with the K&K Double Helix, with the piezo and magnetic soundhole pickup each routed to their own jack, which Holmes mixes in real time with a Line 6 Helix Floor.

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History

2056 was commissioned and built to replace Holmes' previous stage guitar, Composite Acoustics 0x 003BCJ304-053CW.^[unverified]

In 2022, Holmes and his son, Fibonacci Emery Holmes, visited the Thompson Guitar workshop in Sisters, Oregon, for a tour and the initial consultation that would lead to the construction of 2056.^[unverified]

Gallery

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