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Hello everyone! A friend of mine constructs acoustic guitars, but he is about to start his first Flamenco guitar for me. Can you suggest me any good plan?? Where could I buy? Thanks.
RE: Flamenco guitar Plans? Any advice? (in reply to amigo)
quote:
ORIGINAL: amigo
Hello everyone! A friend of mine constructs acoustic guitars, but he is about to start his first Flamenco guitar for me. Can you suggest me any good plan?? Where could I buy? Thanks.
I'm not a luthier but being on this and other forums for a long time it seems like most recommend a basic Santos or Barbero to start with as there are plenty of them.
RE: Flamenco guitar Plans? Any advice? (in reply to amigo)
quote:
Hello everyone! A friend of mine constructs acoustic guitars, but he is about to start his first Flamenco guitar for me.
If your friend is a guitar builder then I would recommend the 2003 Manuel Reyes flamenco guitar plan sold at the Guild of American Luthiers www.luth.org
If your builder understands how to slant the angle of the neck into the box then all of the rest is very clear how to build the plan; even for the top and back brace sizes and shapes and top thickness.
RE: Flamenco guitar Plans? Any advice? (in reply to amigo)
Here in this forum the same topic was discussed in the past and other makers suggested to start with a plan of Santos. You may use the search function to find out the discussion if you like. The Reyes plan (drawn by Tom) is probably missing some infos about the neck angle and the top doming. Tom clarified here in the forum these critical aspects, so better to take a look if you want to follow that path. My 2 cents are that the Reyes plan is a useful tool and very and informative one for the flamenco guitar makers as it will be the plan of the Arcangel when/if it will be punished. If I was you, at my first built I’d go for a traditional Santos flamenco Guitar plan as suggested by Anders elsewhere. You may check in the website of Gal or tasks a look at the plans sold by David Merrin for a reference. In truth the so called Santos plan is anyway not clear enough about doming and neck angle as well as many plans in commerce.
RE: Flamenco guitar Plans? Any advice? (in reply to Echi)
The major reason I suggested the Reyes plan is that it is the most modern approach to flamenco building, and it has a basic explanation of brace outline and size that Reyes used to improve the tonal qualities and articulation of the right and left hand.
I've built a lot of Santos styles and can say that they are structurally not as sound as the Reyes, with thin tops.
Here is a good intermission riff with Nino de Pura's daughter.
RE: Flamenco guitar Plans? Any advice? (in reply to amigo)
I have a steel string guitar builder as my mentor. He has also built a number of classicals during an apprenticeship and is a very fine Luthier. He does amazing work. But if he were to build a flamenco he would get the neck angle/setup wrong.
The Reyes neck angle measurement is printed on the plan, but not drawn in plane. For for the dome it just said that there needs to be one to achieve proper string heights and does not list a specific number.
RE: Flamenco guitar Plans? Any advice? (in reply to amigo)
I have nothing against the idea to use your Reyes plan. Btw I also said it’s a good plan. I for one would suggest Santos instead as it’s the prototype of the flamenco guitar and a good starting point while the 2003 Reyes is a peculiar kind of guitar. Again, just my 2 cents and no polemic intention.
RE: Flamenco guitar Plans? Any advice? (in reply to Tom Blackshear)
quote:
ORIGINAL: Echi
My 2 cents are that the Reyes plan is a useful tool and very and informative one for the flamenco guitar makers as it will be the plan of the Arcangel when/if it will be (published).
Speaking of the Arcangel plan, which I’m assuming is the one Tom was considering drafting of Richard’s guitar...
Tom, is this still in the works? I’d pick up a copy if one were available, I think there would be quite a bit of interest in it.
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Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy
RE: Flamenco guitar Plans? Any advice? (in reply to Echi)
quote:
If I was you, at my first built I’d go for a traditional Santos flamenco Guitar plan as suggested by Anders elsewhere.
I did and it was ok apart from the heel being too narrow for the stresses and the tapa cracking on a hot day Got through most of it, but it lies unfinished.
RE: Flamenco guitar Plans? Any advice? (in reply to RobF)
quote:
Tom, is this still in the works? I’d pick up a copy if one were available, I think there would be quite a bit of interest in it.
I presented the drawing to Tim Olsen at www.luth.org and He has yet to publish it. You guys can e-mail him to see when it might be published.
I just called Tim and he said the plan would be published in the December issue of the Guild of American Luthiers magazine. This probably means that the actual drawn plan would be available soon after that.
Printable Version
Got through most of it, but it lies unfinished. 
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