That guitar is striking and beautiful. I usually prefer a traditional look but this could start a new trend, maybe you were inspired by Ramzi's Jorge de Zofia. I definitely like it better than the traditional rounded cut away. Looking forward to hearing some sound coming out of it.
Andy built this guitar for me from my specs. Thanks for the cool comments and questions so far...
First off, I have to say Andy Culpepper is a Prince of Patience, and Dean of Detail!
He allowed me to fine-tune the design, including widening the upper bout, string spacing, and redrawing the cutaway area several times before I was happy.
I came up with the rosette idea to use a stained Maple Burl pen blank, and he executed my thoughts perfectly.
The scalloping and cutaway were inspired by the John Mclaughlin Shakti guitar, and a Gibson ES-175, though the scallops for me are purely for comfort and chordal ease.
The index finger on my left had is badly misshapen, which causes some notes to not ring out in full, and partial barre chords. The scallops will assist this problem.
To answer Ethan's question, even with extra high frets, I was having problems with muted notes.
I hope I like the port!!!
Here is a link of Andy playing it.
Andy Culpepper -> RE: "Luthiers share your creations" thread (Oct. 31 2016 23:41:53)
Lorenzo, I will get a couple more pictures of the higher frets, you should hear from me soon.
Thanks, Cervantes. Jorge's guitars are pretty sweet looking but on this one we wanted to go for a shallower cutaway, which I like as it preserves more of the top.
Thanks for posting Heavy!
Andy Culpepper -> RE: "Luthiers share your creations" thread (Jan. 4 2017 23:48:11)
I should have the cutaway set to go soon, but for now here's another roja that was designed as a classical/flamenco crossover guitar. I think it handles both well, sounds a bit more classical with no capo and more flamenco capoed up. I'll get some pictures of this one up soon.
Andy Culpepper -> RE: "Luthiers share your creations" thread (Jan. 6 2017 23:56:58)
The customer is a wood collector who sent me most of the materials, including the Andaman Padauk back and sides, Cuban Mahogany neck and fingerboard, and Sycamore for the rosette, bindings, etc. He also designed the rosette.
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Andy Culpepper -> RE: "Luthiers share your creations" thread (Jan. 18 2017 19:50:42)
Here's the cutaway guitar from the previous page finished. I have to retake some pictures because they didn't come out well. I think I need to take a photography class [:)] Anyway the guitar sounds really strong, clear and separated. I'm starting to like soundports more as I learn how to balance them in the construction.
yes, i also like the sound and look of your rojos very much, although i really dont understand the aesthetics of the florentine cutaway. how do prevent the colour of the padouk diffusing into the maple bindings while polishing? greetings, ben
Andy Culpepper -> RE: "Luthiers share your creations" thread (Jan. 19 2017 15:57:04)
Hi Ben, when you're using any back and side wood that "bleeds" including Padauk, most Rosewood, etc. you have to seal everything carefully with shellac before bodying. I use a folded-over piece of white t-shirt with shellac... the technique is hard to describe but you hit the whole edge of one side at a time, sealing both the binding and a bit of the side/back at once. The trick is not to shift the orientation of how you're holding the cloth and do it in one clean swipe, otherwise you would drag some color onto the bindings/purflings.
Here's the cutaway guitar from the previous page finished. I have to retake some pictures because they didn't come out well. I think I need to take a photography class [:)] Anyway the guitar sounds really strong, clear and separated. I'm starting to like soundports more as I learn how to balance them in the construction.
Andy,
Sounds great, what did you use for the recording? Sound quality is good. That guitar has some nice bass. Would you say Padauk is between Cypress and Rosewood? It doesn't sound as punchy as Rosewood and I like that.
Hi Andy, the guitar is very nice. What is your opinion about the soundport? What can it add in terms of sound other than a monitor effect for the player? Thanks.
Andy Culpepper -> RE: "Luthiers share your creations" thread (Jan. 24 2017 20:29:25)
Thanks Cervantes and Echi. I use a Tascam DR-40 recorder for the audio and iPhone for video. You could probably describe Padauk as between Cypress and Rosewood in some regards but it's definitely its own thing. It tends to want to be trebly but if you balance it out it just contributes a lot of strength and clarity. It's a wood that just naturally wants to be musical and can have a really expressive taptone.
The soundport I have to say is mostly just for the player. It enhanced this guitar a lot more from my perspective playing it than it did on the recording, but I don't think it hurts the sound on the audience end of things either. The first guitar I made with a soundport was loud but definitely more on the trebly side and a little too "open"/lacking focus for my tastes but I've made a couple since then that didn't have that problem.
hi andy, thanks for the explanation. i dont know if i get it right, probably its also possible to apply a first shellac coat via spraying. anyway you inspired my to begin a padouk roja myself (next to the lebanon cedar blanca and walnut negra im already working on ;). the tone of the wood itself is very promising (i have not had many woods in my hands that literally want to sound, are so resonant!). do you use padouk also for bridges? greetings, ben
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Andy Culpepper -> RE: "Luthiers share your creations" thread (Jan. 27 2017 0:26:13)
Ben, that wood looks nice. I have tons of Padauk bridge stock that I want to use but haven't used it yet. Customers tend to shy away from the color. I know there are some classical makers who use it as a bridge wood like Smallman. I think the light weight would work well for a flamenco.
I tried spraying shellac once but it's tricky. I don't think I had the right setup or technique and ended up with some drips that were visible as lines of darker color, had to scrape it off.
Joan Maher -> RE: "Luthiers share your creations" thread (Jan. 27 2017 7:03:10)
Yes I have a fair bit of padauk bridge wood, and used it a few times, Greg Smallman uses it always (interesting design as well).
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Joan Maher -> RE: "Luthiers share your creations" thread (Jan. 27 2017 8:09:17)
quote:
ORIGINAL: Andy Culpepper
I had this idea for what I thought would be a good thread and you guys can run with it if you want to or not.
Basically: Guitar porn/pictures of finished work.
The reason for collecting a bunch of people's work in one thread would be to make it fun for players/other builders to look through at different guitars, and just to have a communal place where we go to show off and talk about our latest projects.
I will start with one and if no one else is interested in the idea the thread will just die a natural death [:D].
Looks like it was a great idea for a thread Andy! Definitively one of the most popular.
Very pleased to say that in the coming weeks Andy will be starting a Negra build for me. Seeing all his amazing photos and videos in this thread merely reaffirms that I have selected the right luthier for this project (with absolutely no slight intended to all the other amazing luthiers who have shared their beautiful art on this thread).
This build will have significant sentimental value to me and I can hardly wait to watch it progress and see the finished product.
But in the meantime, keep posting those amazing musical creations.
Later Rob
Joan Maher -> RE: "Luthiers share your creations" thread (Jan. 31 2017 18:14:29)
Excellent!!
Andy Culpepper -> RE: "Luthiers share your creations" thread (Feb. 3 2017 23:27:27)
Hey Rob, just saw your post! Good to see you on here.
Here are a few pictures of the finished Florentine project finally.
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Joan Maher -> RE: "Luthiers share your creations" thread (Mar. 17 2017 14:17:50)
quote:
Florentine
Lovely looking guitar Andy.
Joan Maher -> [Deleted] (Mar. 20 2017 11:40:59)
Post has been moved to the Recycle Bin at Mar. 21 2017 15:38:49
Andy Culpepper -> RE: "Luthiers share your creations" thread (Apr. 8 2017 1:06:59)
Gracias Joan.
Another new guitar day. Cedar top Negra with Sloane tuners and a slight orange tint on the top. Sound is just starting to open up. I used some really nice Indian Rosewood quartersawn all the way across. The customer requested the headstock design to match his father's old guitar.
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Wow! For your "Basic Model Blanca" those are some premium sounding gutsy, throaty bass notes. It possesses an intangible value, that moves me to dance.
Thanks for noticing, Rick. The only differences between my Basic model and my regular or Primera, are cosmetic: No purfling, no dots on the ends of the Pegheds, possibly less beautiful rosette. This guitar is one of my best--in terms of sound and playability. They seem to get better every time, which is gratifying.
This video may have better sound quality, taken with my other camera:
Thanks, John. Yes, Peghed tuners. They're reasonably priced, look nice, are easier to install than the kind that require slots, and they make it so easy to change strings.
