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Hi this is my first post and sign on to this site. I am an amateur guitar builder in Seattle Wa. Previously I have build a number of both classical and steel string guitars. I have always had an interested in building a flamenco guitar. After 8 years or so I finally got around to it. I completed my first flamenco guitar following Paco Chorobo's online course and plans on Robbie O'Brien Guitars site.
I have a lot to learn and plan to read through the forum before I start posting my own questions. Here is my first attempt at building a flamenco guitar. I all ready learned that I should wind the E strings the opposite way. Thanks for letting me on the forum.
Flamenco Blanca Top: sitka spruce back and sides: spanish cypress bindings: Rocklite Sundari (yes I lied on the video) back backstrip is East Indian Rosewood. Neck: spanish cedar and laid up it ebony Bridge and and peghead veneer Brazilian Rosewood. Tuners: Wittner Finetune Flamenco
Here is a video where I attempt to sort of play flamenco like on this new guitar. Not being a flamenco player or not really a guitar player at all listen at your own risk, It is an opportunity to hear it. The guitar is brighter than my classical guitars with a lot less sustain especially on the trebles. This is actually the first flamenco that I have held so I need to take it out and find a real players to help me understand what I need to do on the next. It is fun to play around with it.
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RE: New member introduction. (in reply to johnparchem)
Hi John, really like the documentation on the website. I'm new to playing flamenco but to me the guitar looks really nice and the build process fascinates me. Hard to judge the sound from the video but I'm sure it would come to life in the right hands. Hope its the first of many! Good luck.
Posts: 6447
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy
RE: New member introduction. (in reply to johnparchem)
quote:
I need to take it out and find a real players to help me understand what I need to do on the next
Hi John and welcome,
Yes, you really need to do that. Less sustain (dryness) is one of the things flamencos look for in a blanca, along with very, very light weight, a wonderful aroma and 'pulsation' of the soundboard. Only a real flamenco player can describe it.
What's with the strip down the back of the neck, is that ebony reinforcement?
I like the pegs and asymmetric headstock.
I have never asked before (ever), but should a guitar be able to stand on its bottom like that? I am not sure that it shouldn't be more of a gentle curve, but I don't have one to hand right now to check.
Also, you could wind your E strings the other way to narrow the angle of attack. See pic.
RE: New member introduction. (in reply to johnparchem)
Welcome to the foro and have fun. The second thing to learn is not to pronounce flamenco as "flaminco' but as "flamenco" (the e should sound like the e in "I ment to say" :-).. I myself once learned the hard way that the traditional tuning pegs should not be removed and replaced randomly but have to be paired to the same hole it was ment to cover originaly.
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RE: New member introduction. (in reply to Erik van Goch)
Thanks all for the feed back. I already have the e string wound the opposite way, and I will strive to correctly pronounce flamenco! Also in the photo I noticed that my winds are going up instead of down. Thinking about it, I can see that the way I wound them can place downward pressure on the pegs.
I do plan on finding a player to help me learn what to listen for.
RE: New member introduction. (in reply to Escribano)
Excellent documentary. Thank you for sharing it. In general I build much like Anders does in the video. I picked up some excellent tips for carving a classical heel. I especially like working down on a sacrificial work board, and seeing he had the same headaches carving against the grain that I ran into. There was enough shown to allow me to learn from his use of the tools.
RE: New member introduction. (in reply to johnparchem)
I was lucky enough to have Paco Chorobo, a fine Flamenco guitar builder, composer and Flamenco guitar player play this guitar. I followed his online video class offered on Robbie O'Brien's site to build this guitar and am current working with him building my second at Robbie's place in Colorado.
He was scheduled for a small informal concert and used my guitar. Here are a couple of pieces he played.
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