No 10

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No 10

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Flamingrae

Posts: 220
Joined: May 19 2009

No 10

This one has taken forever. Lots of reasons, but between lockdown, fishing and mushroom picking, I couldn't get over to the studio much. There was a fair amount of detail and fiddly corners too. However, finally done! It was a bit of a bitsa material wise. I had two sets of cypress ribs and decided to try for a three piece back using up an old piece of Brazilian rosewood that came from a timber yard closing years ago. Soundboard is not super high quality but same source as the ribs, so as they came from the same stock, I decided to lump together. Neck material is mahogany from some old coat hanging support found in the skip at a college. It's settling down quite well. The pattern is loosely based on a small Torres/Santo curves and using my own bracing. Trying a bit of scalloping this time and noting the differences. Initial response is it's quite loud for a tiny one and it seems to project quite well. I'm guessing the rosewood is responsible for some of that, if not most of it. Anyway, just sharing a little of the latest.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 19 2021 16:12:21

Flamingrae

Posts: 220
Joined: May 19 2009

RE: No 10 (in reply to Flamingrae)

A few sound hole details and labels etc. This took a surprising amount of time this time round - maybe running out of ideas for the label.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 19 2021 16:15:29

Flamingrae

Posts: 220
Joined: May 19 2009

RE: No 10 (in reply to Flamingrae)

and finally.......a pick from inside the box, soundport details and 12 hole bridge, which seems to be standard these days.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 19 2021 16:19:22

Filip

Posts: 403
Joined: Apr. 23 2006
From: Paris

RE: No 10 (in reply to Flamingrae)

That mix on the back is interesting. Do you have any recording?
And I see violins also, do you make them as well?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 19 2021 19:22:34

Flamingrae

Posts: 220
Joined: May 19 2009

RE: No 10 (in reply to Filip)

quote:

That mix on the back is interesting. Do you have any recording?
And I see violins also, do you make them as well?

No recording as yet - still settling down - although getting close. The violins are from some time back. Projects that were half finished and need finally nailing. Mainly to do with varnishing and setting up. It was the forerunner to making guitars but I learnt so much about wood and balancing from making them. I'm sure this a big influence on my making as it stands.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 19 2021 20:17:13

Andy Culpepper

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

RE: No 10 (in reply to Flamingrae)

The most high-tech tentellones I have ever seen. Congrats! I always like the ornamentation on your guitars.

_____________________________

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

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 20 2021 3:04:32

mango

Posts: 158
Joined: Apr. 2 2019

RE: No 10 (in reply to Flamingrae)

really nice! What is your philosophy behind the construction of the interior?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 20 2021 7:26:28

Stu

Posts: 2523
Joined: Jan. 30 2007
From: London (the South of it), England

RE: No 10 (in reply to Flamingrae)

Awesome Ray! really love the back!
Shame I don't live round the corner any more or I'd be down for a go on that!! haha

Yeah whats with those peones? what the science?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 20 2021 9:25:31

Flamingrae

Posts: 220
Joined: May 19 2009

RE: No 10 (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

quote:

The most high-tech tentellones I have ever seen.

Yeah whats with those peones? what the science?

What is your philosophy behind the construction of the interior?

Thanks for the compliments guys - I'll do my best on answering.

Andy - not so much high tech as hard graft. A bit labour intensive, but all I'm doing is making normal peones, then taking a round file and using that to take out material on the top and bottom of the wedge. I'm used to working on that scale as in another life (still living it) I make and teach jewellery making. Handling on that scale comes second nature. I can do about 70 in 2-2 1/2 hrs if I have the right head on.

Stu - The science - I suppose what I'm trying to do is reduce material whilst retaining strength. A bit like using H section steel in construction, only it's a little bit of wood. I just try and space them out evenly for whatever pattern I'm working on. The reduction in material weight might be minimal, but all these minimal differences add up in the course of a build. A bit of spacing, I dont think matters much and I have seen other makers do this.

Mango - I left you till last as the others were questions about peonies. Philosophy - there might be better qualified people on here to answer that, but.....most builds, for me are going to mean that I try stuff out - see what happens. If I like the end result, I'll do something similar but with another subtle change. So along with the thicknessing, I've been using only five main fans as they are small guitars. On the treble side I extend this to go through the cross brace - more material to try and encourage the higher trebles. Also slightly bigger closing fan. Reducing this on the bass side as I want to try and encourage the lower frequencies. This time round I decided I wanted to try a bit of scalloping along the fans - to see what happened. I'm not disappointed as such, but my self criticism might say, I made too many variables from my normal. Anyway, it's done and it will be nice to see how it develops and settles down. Sometimes you just have to try things out and see. It's definitely different and I'd put it down to the rosewood in the back and/or the scallops in the fans. There has never been this difference in sound in previous builds. It could be that I'm maybe settling into a way that works for me? Oh and then there is factor X that is in there, meaning it doesn't matter what you do sometimes it could be either amazing or just not quite there - even though you did everything as you normally do. It won't be bad as such, just that some are better than others.You have to enjoy it though - otherwise there is not much point.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 20 2021 23:01:33

constructordeguitarras

Posts: 1674
Joined: Jan. 29 2012
From: Seattle, Washington, USA

RE: No 10 (in reply to Flamingrae)

Nice! Very cute. I doubt that the loudness is due to the rosewood, which usually has more to do with modulating the tone. What you've done with the soundboard is probably responsible for the loudness. Why shouldn't smaller instruments be loud? There are plenty of loud violins. I like what you did with the tuner slots and the decorations. Bravo. I hope to hear it soon.

_____________________________

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 Sep. 21 2021 4:23:18

Stu

Posts: 2523
Joined: Jan. 30 2007
From: London (the South of it), England

RE: No 10 (in reply to Flamingrae)

hey rae, and others... do you add the sound port after? or is that all done before bending those sides? I cant see evidence of it in you picture of the guitar in the mold. So seems its all done after.?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 21 2021 7:48:42

Flamingrae

Posts: 220
Joined: May 19 2009

RE: No 10 (in reply to Stu)

quote:

do you add the sound port after? or is that all done before bending those sides? I cant see evidence of it in you picture of the guitar in the mold. So seems its all done after.?

Stu - Check photo's - I do after everything is in place. Not a good idea to do before as you risk breaking the ribs. However, if you find a better way - go for it! This works for me. Then you cut the port.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 22 2021 0:23:36

Flamingrae

Posts: 220
Joined: May 19 2009

RE: No 10 (in reply to constructordeguitarras)

quote:

What you've done with the soundboard is probably responsible for the loudness.

Thanks Ethan, it's useful to get another opinion on that. You've made some good guitars and I've followed the posts so I value the input. Thanks a lot.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 22 2021 0:26:42