I need advice from Flamenco Luthiers

Costs are rising and times are tough.
Please consider a donation to keep this
place going.

Welcome to one of the most active flamenco sites on the Internet. Guests can read most posts but if you want to participate click here to register.

This site is dedicated to the memory of Paco de Lucía, Ron Mitchell, Guy Williams, Linda Elvira, Philip John Lee, Craig Eros, Ben Woods, David Serva and Tom Blackshear who went ahead of us.

We receive 12,200 visitors a month from 200 countries and 1.7 million page impressions a year. To advertise on this site please contact us.

You are logged in as Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >>Discussions >>Lutherie >>

Page: [1]

Message

<< Newer Topic Older Topic >>

MauiFlamenco

Posts: 17
Joined: Dec. 8 2009
From: Maui Hawaii

I need advice from Flamenco Luthiers

Im working on creating my 2nd Guitar. I have recently finished my 1st guitar, which sounded wonderful but truly deserves the label as a classical guitar. I gave it to my dad. It resonated very well, but was lacking in the rasquedos percussiveness and sharp attack that a Flamenco blanca should have.
I have some new plans for a Torres, and I want to convert my current plans to a Flamenco guitar set up. My question is how do I ALTER the plans???
Do I straighten the angle of the struts or do I add more angle? Do I shorten the width of the sides? What about the neck angle? (15-17degree or more? what is it?). Should I be changing the thickness of the soundboard? Thin soundboard or thin back, or thick soundboard with a thin side and back?
I know this is asking a lot, but your recommendations will help a lot when I approach this new FLAMENCO guitar. I just started this "2nd guitar", as the glue joint is currently drying on the soundboards which are sitka spruce. Im planning on using a monterey cypress for the back and sides. I just don't want to end up with a Classical Blanca. I want an earthy punchy growling bass blanca Flamenca. Please tell me what to do different or at least help direct me in the right direction. I am NOT after sustain, I am after high brilliance and a deep bass with little sustain. Your advice is welcome, but please keep it constructive as my time is limited, and I want to make my shop time productful. Politics are not welcome. Also wondering if a 2mm compensated saddle vs a straight saddle? Please give your advice, as it will help me greatly improve. Your advice is priceless, so thanks in advance

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 3 2012 3:15:15

constructordeguitarras

Posts: 1677
Joined: Jan. 29 2012
From: Seattle, Washington, USA

RE: Attention Flamenco Luthiers (in reply to MauiFlamenco)

I would say that the most important change to make for converting classical guitar plans to flamenco guitar plans is, everything else being held constant, make the soundboard 20% thinner. Also, since the action will be lower on a flamenco guitar, the bridge compensation should be only 1 mm. I'm talking about the amount that you move the bridge so the strings are longer than the scale length. Regarding angled saddles: I have found that on flamenco guitars they make no discernable difference.

_____________________________

Ethan Deutsch
www.edluthier.com
www.facebook.com/ethandeutschguitars
www.youtube.com/marioamayaflamenco
I always have flamenco guitars available for sale.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 3 2012 6:18:42