New-ish plantilla

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New-ish plantilla

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Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3023
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

New-ish plantilla

I was taught to make guitars with a square tailblock, and a slightly flat area on the bottom.. it had been bugging me for a while so I changed it, much nicer now IMO. It may seem like a small thing to some people but it makes the guitar look so much better. I mean, who doesn't love a round bottom?

Here is my latest, a cedar top blanca with orangey-brown finish and planetary pegs:

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Andy Culpepper, luthier
http://www.andyculpepper.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 20 2012 20:55:43

Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3023
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

RE: New-ish plantilla (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

side view

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Andy Culpepper, luthier
http://www.andyculpepper.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 20 2012 20:58:51

orsonw

Posts: 1936
Joined: Jul. 4 2009
From: London

RE: New-ish plantilla (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

quote:

it makes the guitar look so much better

I agree much better, I had always noticed that flat part of your guitars.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 20 2012 21:12:00

estebanana

Posts: 9355
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: New-ish plantilla (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

There's nothing wrong with the flat on the bottom of the plantilla, it's just a older style. I do like your new one, but over time you might find you go back and forth depending on your mood. What seems unhip to you now in five years may make sense because you refine your senses and the flat bottom might be better again.

I have both flats and curves and I sometime make up a plantilla by mixing them together. Gene Clark is an advocate of a refined flat tail end and many other contemporary builders go with the Torres style shapes. It's just in how you handle them. I think of it more like a cycle of taste and learning, you have to keep trying new curves and that is how you learn to modulate and make them beautiful. It's more about how you handle the lines than whether they are flat or curved.

Know what I mean?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 20 2012 21:47:16

orsonw

Posts: 1936
Joined: Jul. 4 2009
From: London

RE: New-ish plantilla (in reply to estebanana)

quote:

It's more about how you handle the lines than whether they are flat or curved.

This makes sense, thanks for the insight.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 20 2012 22:13:32

Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3023
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

RE: New-ish plantilla (in reply to estebanana)

quote:

It's more about how you handle the lines than whether they are flat or curved.

Yes, agree totally... for some reason I don't mind the flat bottom on my Hauser plantilla but for a flamenco it seems wrong to me. But of course I could feel differently in the future as you say.

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Andy Culpepper, luthier
http://www.andyculpepper.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 20 2012 22:46:51

RTC

Posts: 667
Joined: Aug. 20 2008
From: DFW Area, Texas

RE: New-ish plantilla (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

Looks great, when are you posting a video?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 21 2012 3:53:25

Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3023
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

RE: New-ish plantilla (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

Thanks RTC, I might try to make a video before I send it off.

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Andy Culpepper, luthier
http://www.andyculpepper.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 22 2012 22:01:51

Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3023
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

RE: New-ish plantilla (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

I almost didn't want to record this guitar because I knew a recording couldn't do it justice.. it's very special to me actually because the sound is just unbelievable in person. It's seriously loud, perfectly balanced and so crisp and percussive. And the intonation is basically 100%. This one and #18 (spruce top) have been real breakthroughs for me.
Anyhow here it is even though I have crappy technique and compas tonight, and this mic adds some kind of weird reverb (I didn't do anything to the sound) lol
Sorry for all the apologies

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Andy Culpepper, luthier
http://www.andyculpepper.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 23 2012 23:14:33

estebanana

Posts: 9355
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: New-ish plantilla (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

That's a good one.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 24 2012 1:22:40

RTC

Posts: 667
Joined: Aug. 20 2008
From: DFW Area, Texas

RE: New-ish plantilla (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

Andy:
You are a skilled lutherie, and a talented guitarist. I might be partial to Peg Heads but I like this one a heck of a lot. I am sure the new Owner will enjoy.
Congrats!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 24 2012 2:01:08

rodpacheco

Posts: 80
Joined: Apr. 19 2010
From: Mexico

RE: New-ish plantilla (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

Niiiiiice!!!!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 24 2012 2:39:30

Sean

Posts: 672
Joined: Jan. 20 2011
From: Canada

RE: New-ish plantilla (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

A woman is supposed to have a round bottom not a flat ass.

Gee I wonder what Hauser's wife looked like

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 24 2012 3:34:12

Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3023
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

RE: New-ish plantilla (in reply to Sean)

quote:

A woman is supposed to have a round bottom not a flat ass.

Gee I wonder what Hauser's wife looked like

I know right?

Well if she looked anything like his great granddaughter then he just wasn't paying attention.. or maybe I am just partial to ladies in the workshop