Jim Chelsvig built "The Plywood Special" as a special challenge. Could he make a great-sounding guitar using the cheapest materials available? To answer this question, Jim purchased all the tone woods from The Home Depot in Geneva, Illinois, at a total cost of less than $100. The final product has the following specifications:

- 6-string acoustic with cutaway
- 3-piece "bookmatched" solid Aspen top
- 3-piece Maple neck
- construction grade neck and tail blocks
- 1-piece "bookmatched" Luan Plywood back
- Luan Plywood sides
- Ponderosa Pine braces
- Poplar lining
- Red Oak fingerboard and bridge
- Black Countertop laminate headstock overlay and fret markers
- Corian nut
- Gotoh tuners

Jim constructed the guitar over a period of several months in late 1998/early 1999 and presented it (in a Home Depot shopping bag no less) to its owner in April 1999. So did he succeed in his mission to build the best guitar at the cheapest possible price? Judge for yourself:

....here's the amazing part. The damn thing sounds f***ing great!!! ... absolutely great. Amazing!! ... it makes for a "killer" slide guitar ... I will play it often ... for sure ... If my house catches on fire, the [Plywood Special] will be out the door before either of my [Leo Kottke Signature Models]. They can be replaced ... the [Plywood Special] can't.

Jim "Jet" Jarrell
Proud Owner of The Plywood Special