Built a Hauser, now a blanca! (Questions)

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Aadi

Posts: 28
Joined: Mar. 30 2009

Built a Hauser, now a blanca! (Quest...

I've had much trouble getting technical information on flamenco guitars so I need some aid. Bogdanovich's and Cumpiano's books were very helpful with the Hauser but I haven't found anything similar about flamenco guitars. I have Courtnall's 1933 Hernandez plan but it lacks details. So here's some questions:

(1) Should I use highest grade (perfectly quartersawn, tightest grain, most rigid) spruce for the top or is it better to use a somewhat lower grade, less rigid top to dampen sustain?

(2) I intend to dome the bridge area as I did on the Hauser, for durability, but I read somewhere that flamenco backs are normally left flat. Is this true?

(3) On the Hauser I used reverse kerfing to stiffen the sides. Keeping in mind the general goal of building a guitar with a low-sustain flamenco tone, should I instead use standard kerfing or maybe even tantalones on the blanca? Also, are flamenco backs traditionally lined with a solid basswood strip as are classicals?

I'm sure I'll think of more questions when I start building. Thanks for the help!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 30 2009 13:40:57

jshelton5040

Posts: 1500
Joined: Jan. 17 2005

RE: Built a Hauser, now a blanca! (Q... (in reply to Aadi)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Aadi

(1) Should I use highest grade (perfectly quartersawn, tightest grain, most rigid) spruce for the top or is it better to use a somewhat lower grade, less rigid top to dampen sustain?

Stiff and quartered are nice but only if you want it to sound good.

quote:

(2) I intend to dome the bridge area as I did on the Hauser, for durability, but I read somewhere that flamenco backs are normally left flat. Is this true?

No.

quote:

(3) On the Hauser I used reverse kerfing to stiffen the sides. Keeping in mind the general goal of building a guitar with a low-sustain flamenco tone, should I instead use standard kerfing or maybe even tantalones on the blanca? Also, are flamenco backs traditionally lined with a solid basswood strip as are classicals?

Traditionally tentallones are used on the top and Spanish Cedar for the back linings. Of course you can use any wood that will bend for the back linings but Spanish Cedar looks really nice and carves easily. Although there's nothing wrong with kerfed linings I've always thought of them as sort of uncraftsmanly

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 30 2009 14:47:55

Stephen Eden

Posts: 914
Joined: Apr. 12 2008
From: UK

RE: Built a Hauser, now a blanca! (Q... (in reply to Aadi)

Use a nice top best quality if you can. just take it nice n thin! Hernandez's tops were about 2mm. so says my book

not sure what you mean by the way hauser did his bridge area. I do my Backs at a 15ft radius dome, others i know a mixture of 15ft and 25ft domes.

it seems strange that you call them tentalones or how ever you spell it. ive always been told they are called peónes. The Spanish word for pawns.

I use a solid laminated lining that is laminated to my shape and use a nice light wood. I dont like kurfed linings either they dont bend nicely and snap alot. it mat lighten up the guitar a tiny amount but not enough to worry about.

how thick are you going to do the back?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 30 2009 23:51:51

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: Built a Hauser, now a blanca! (Q... (in reply to Aadi)

quote:

(2) I intend to dome the bridge area as I did on the Hauser, for durability, but I read somewhere that flamenco backs are normally left flat. Is this true?

I dont get this one. Are you talking about the top or the back. The back is domed as on any other guitar. The top can be domed or left flat as you like. I dome VERY little. almost flat.

I use reverse kerfed linings for the back and tentellones for the top.

The Hernandez 1933 is a very small guitar and sounds very old fashion. If thats what you want, go for it. If not, look out for something bigger.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 30 2009 23:52:56

Aadi

Posts: 28
Joined: Mar. 30 2009

RE: Built a Hauser, now a blanca! (Q... (in reply to Stephen Eden)

quote:

how thick are you going to do the back?

Plan calls for 2.1mm... I have no reason to disagree.

quote:

The Hernandez 1933 is a very small guitar and sounds very old fashion. If thats what you want, go for it. If not, look out for something bigger.

This raises some more issues. I live in a part of the world with no flamenco. The nearest shop that sells flamenco guitars (and not many) is about 600 miles away. I haven't played a flamenco guitar for years. I chose the Hernandez plan hoping that I will end up with a nice dry, raspy and brittle tone. My favorite tone right now is Paco Pena's from the '60s and '70s. I love the sound of the blanca he played so often then. I don't know who built it, but you can see it in

I was planning to reuse my Hauser plantilla, which is slightly longer than the Hernandez. But if this is a poor choice for the sound I'm chasing, please point me in a better direction.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 31 2009 10:18:06

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: Built a Hauser, now a blanca! (Q... (in reply to Aadi)

If the guitar that Paco Peña plays there is his Gerundino, its a very different beast from a Santos Hernandez

You should be able to use your Hauser plantilla, no problem

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 31 2009 10:41:21

Escribano

Posts: 6415
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy

RE: Built a Hauser, now a blanca! (Q... (in reply to Aadi)

quote:

I chose the Hernandez plan hoping that I will end up with a nice dry, raspy and brittle tone

Be careful with that plan. Anders saw my half-finished Hernandez from Courtnall's book, the tapa and back split through a poor choice of grainy wood, humidity and over zealous scraping.

He said that the foot was way too small and might tear apart if I had put strings on it.

Anders - it is hanging on the wall in my house in Spain, remember?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 31 2009 12:41:32

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: Built a Hauser, now a blanca! (Q... (in reply to Aadi)

yeah, I remember your guitar. It was a good try, but also a good lesson in what humidity control means.

Do you still have your house in the valley? Right now Andalucia is at its best. The winter was very cold but March has been wonderfull and right now the orange trees are in full blossom with that heavy smell of azahar.

Sorry for changing the subject. I was just thrown sentimentally back a couple of years

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 1 2009 0:03:32

krichards

Posts: 597
Joined: Jan. 14 2007
From: York, England

RE: Built a Hauser, now a blanca! (Q... (in reply to Escribano)

quote:

He said that the foot was way too small and might tear apart if I had put strings on it.

I've never understood why the foot is so big generally. Could you or Anders enlighten me?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 1 2009 0:19:06

Escribano

Posts: 6415
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy

RE: Built a Hauser, now a blanca! (Q... (in reply to Anders Eliasson)

Yeah, I still have the house (and the Euro exchange rate is killing me on the small mortage) but haven't been back in a year this month.

I too miss the orange and lemon groves around now but sentiment aside, I was going nuts in rural isolation with the random 19th century service levels

England meanwhile has well and truly lost the plot!

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 1 2009 3:12:56

HemeolaMan

Posts: 1514
Joined: Jul. 13 2007
From: Chicago

RE: Built a Hauser, now a blanca! (Q... (in reply to Aadi)

so would a santos offer a dry dusty tone? I don't think I can recall ever hearing one...........

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 1 2009 18:47:31

jshelton5040

Posts: 1500
Joined: Jan. 17 2005

RE: Built a Hauser, now a blanca! (Q... (in reply to HemeolaMan)

quote:

ORIGINAL: HemeolaMan

so would a santos offer a dry dusty tone? I don't think I can recall ever hearing one...........

Hard to say. I've played a couple but they were completely worn out. When a guitar has that many years of hard use they become flabby. Although the action was fine on both the ones I've played the voice was rather weak and dull sounding. The owner of one of them referred to it as a "rare gem" but it sounded more like a cheap Paracho guitar to me.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 2 2009 15:18:01