“Korean Acoustic Guys” Interview Jason Kostal
Jason had the pleasure of taking time to chat with Korean music super-stars Inoo Parks and Hwang Myeongheum, known collectively as the “Korean Acoustic Guys”, at the Woodstock Invitational Luthier’s Showcase held in upstate New York this past October. Inoo and Hwang treated an audience to an incredible performance where he played Kostal’s most recent showpiece- a one of a kind acoustic guitar made with a 250 year old Sinker Redwood top, and 10,000+ year old English Bog Oak on the back and sides.
From Jason, “I just don’t have the words to share how special this performance was as these two musical giants performed different styles of music on my guitar to showcase the different facets of its tonal range. The show was amazing, but more than that, I met two new people that I enjoyed on a personal level and am now honored to call my friends. We are already planning a trip to Korea in the near future!”
True to his words then, the Korean Acoustic Guys and Jason will reunite in Korea this May for another incredible showcase and performance of fine acoustic instruments. Be sure to visit the events page for all upcoming appearances.
This stunning MDW found a home after Woodstock thanks to the assistance of Craig Snyder of CR Guitars, one of Kostal Guitars US Dealer partners. When asked about the build, Jason said: “The top was cut from a submerged log found in Northern California, the back and sides were hand selected for me by @turnstoneguitar after spending years running around the bogs of England and Ireland, and enjoying the wonderful smell of Peat that comes from them. The material for the rosette and decorative back inlay comes from a Birch burl that was cut off of a tree in Alaska on the property where I help run @the98fund and the back of peghead veneer and endgraft comes from a billet of old western red cedar that was the very first set of wood I bought as a new (and somewhat clueless) guitar maker.”
We hope you enjoy this video where Jason spends time chatting with Inno and Hwang not only about the details of this incredible instrument, but about his philosophy as a luthier.
