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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
Posts: 1708
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.