RE: new build for a 1987 Reyes style flamenco (Full Version)

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Tom Blackshear -> RE: new build for a 1987 Reyes style flamenco (Oct. 14 2018 16:59:31)

quote:

quote:

Sometimes in the past I would cut a little too deep for the end block design and then have to use wider purfling



I did that once.


Ethan,

Man, it must have been a slow day to mention this, but what it means is that you have to be a better builder than this writer :-)

I have made this mistake several times, as I only changed my technique this current build to avoid it.

Actually, I don't consider myself to be a better builder than you but an intuitive voice analyst who seeks to bring out certain qualities of vowel tones that are interesting to the players.

In other words, I'm seeking to make the perfect sound and articulation in a guitar that would cause me to quit building and go back to playing this incredible instrument. But it seems that every time I get close to it, some one talks me out of it, so I have to go back and build another one :-)



Tom Blackshear -> RE: new build for a 1987 Reyes style flamenco (Nov. 4 2018 20:07:47)

Hello again,

This is the up date to where the guitar is in its construction. As usual, everything is going slow but good with the building process.




Tom Blackshear -> RE: new build for a 1987 Reyes style flamenco (Nov. 9 2018 14:10:13)

Just a short note:

Carlos Rodriguez Quiros has a Blackshear Miguel Rodriguez style for sale on reverb.com and from my personal view, is an incredible guitar.

https://reverb.com/item/16698978-tom-blackshear-classical-guitar-rodriguez-concert-model-2013-french-polish



Tom Blackshear -> RE: new build for a 1987 Reyes style flamenco (Dec. 25 2018 2:40:17)

Christmas Eve and all is well with the building process, even though this is taking a longer period of time to get things done.




Tom Blackshear -> RE: new build for a 1987 Reyes style flamenco (Dec. 27 2018 15:22:31)

I think it's about time that I reiterate some things about my learning curve.

Most of it has been learned from the Spanish master builders through a period of 58 years and nothing that I do to adjust tonal quality is much different, only in the sense of my own feel for the building process.

Most of the tonal essence is all in the top and this is controled by bringing the top's thickness into compliance with the rest of the instrument's set pattern.

True, the guitar operates as a whole, but the top is the main generator, with how the tension is set with the accommodation of how it marries with the string torgue, action, and such.

To get this all in balance, is the key to a good guitar.

This is the reason that I've tried to pass this information along for builders to try out for themselves. Serious students of this process have E-mailed me to say that it works.

Manuel Adalid in Valencia Spain, who visited my shop, shortly for 2 years in a row, seemed to agree with the information, saying that it opened up his motivation to build the very best guitars he could for the duration of his career.

So I feel that I have been associated in some ways, to be a help in the process of qualifying guitar tone for those who feel the need to develop certain top techniques.

When I finish this current guitar I've been working on; for too long, I'll try and share any new ideas I gain from its birthing process.



Tom Blackshear -> RE: new build for a 1987 Reyes style flamenco (Jan. 7 2019 15:39:35)

Update:

I have the back glued on and now its time for the binding-purfling.

This may be the final guitar built under my present label, that I've used for many years.

And it's up in the air if I'll continue to build in Juan Cadena's shop.

I think it's all going to depend on what the market does for the economy.

As any serious builder needs to have economic in-put.

Right now, it's a buyer's market and the trend is to drop your price and compete with other new builders and suffer a loss in income due to an over-built market.

I don't care for those odds, even though I feel a passion to keep on building.

So, what to do?



flyeogh -> RE: new build for a 1987 Reyes style flamenco (Jan. 7 2019 17:18:57)

Tom, I remember on a diving course the instructor was stressing how getting to the surface slowly was of great importance. Someone asked what if you ran out of air. He said you better get up top quick as “I’m fairly sure you cannot breath water”.

Needs must.

I remember when I had my Anders made I was surprised how luthiers survive. So much time invested in each guitar. But equally the 2000 Euros I invested was a big decision for me at the time (2005). I now see 5000 Euros for something similar (here in Spain where the economy is way down). I know that is good value for the time, skill and passion, but I’d be reluctant to spend that, and see many in the UK who are would be owners but just do not have that sort of cash. Whether it's China/Trump, brexit or bank crashes everyone seems a bit guarded even when credit is cheap.

ps. Would like to say your insights into the build process are not just helpful to builders. I don’t know one end of a chisel from tuther, but I sure find it interesting. Hopefully, even if you need to stop for a while you will return. Good luck.



Tom Blackshear -> RE: new build for a 1987 Reyes style flamenco (Jan. 9 2019 18:38:26)

quote:

Whether it's China/Trump, brexit or bank crashes everyone seems a bit guarded even when credit is cheap.


I see this as being quite possible due to the present economic conditions world wide. And I think one reason my instruments sell, at all, is their being collectable.

I've tried to keep the prices stable with the number of guitars, at a collectable level. But there is no doubt a drop in the buying potential due to loss of buying power.

But there is always going to be those who want the very best; Cadillac, Mercedes, Rolls Royce, who are going to buy what they want.

I remember years ago someone called out my prices as being too much due to my making copies of Spanish masters models. Then some thinking person chimed in and told him that my prices were a fraction of the then working models of the Spanish masters.

So, what is the gripe about building replicas, it's done all the time with the violin family, as well as guitars. There are some currently built Hauser style copies that sell for more than my guitars.

All I can say here is that there are some people who don't realize what it took for me to gain a certain position of acceptance toward market value by slowly raising prices for the past 58 years.

I'm not complaining the least bit, for I know everything is going to balance out in the end. And I'll have to make a choice whether or not to continue building my passion.



RobF -> RE: new build for a 1987 Reyes style flamenco (Jan. 9 2019 23:28:24)

quote:

Right now, it's a buyer's market and the trend is to drop your price and compete with other new builders and suffer a loss in income due to an over-built market.

I don't care for those odds, even though I feel a passion to keep on building.

So, what to do?

I say keep on building at a comfortable pace and sell your guitars at a price you feel is reasonable. You’ve paid your dues.



Tom Blackshear -> RE: new build for a 1987 Reyes style flamenco (Jan. 10 2019 13:58:11)

quote:

ORIGINAL: RobF

I say keep on building at a comfortable pace and sell your guitars at a price you feel is reasonable. You’ve paid your dues.



I hear you loud and clear. I have this one 1987 Reyes replica that I need to finish up and then I'll see if there is enough interest to keep building.

I'll try and send some more pictures of the finishing stages before too long.



Tom Blackshear -> RE: new build for a 1987 Reyes style flamenco (Jan. 29 2019 18:28:00)

Here is the latest video of binding purfling. Next is the top.......





SephardRick -> RE: new build for a 1987 Reyes style flamenco (Jan. 29 2019 21:56:21)

Beautiful grain pattern.



Tom Blackshear -> RE: new build for a 1987 Reyes style flamenco (Feb. 1 2019 16:17:49)

quote:

ORIGINAL: SephardRick

Beautiful grain pattern.



I bought this from LMI in California. It has a nice pattern to it. Most all of my wood and tools come from LMI.

This build is taking quite some time but so far it's going without much trouble.

The neck angle is straight in line with the box so I may have to taper the fingerboard rather than keep it the same thickness from the nut to the 19th fret, like in the past.

I've done some different adjustments to the top, and I'm getting impatient to see how it's going to turn out. I'll try and explain it when the guitar is finished.



Tom Blackshear -> RE: new build for a 1987 Reyes style flamenco (Feb. 25 2019 15:10:35)

I've turned the guitar over and I'm working on the top binding and purfling now.

I'll try and glue the binding/purfling today and then sand the sides, back, and top to its correct thickness tomorrow.

I'm happy with the build, so far.

I'll ask my wife to take a short video tonight.

In the meantime here is an intermission riff by Pedro Bacan, one of my favorite guitarists, who is no longer with us, but his music lives on.

https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=tightropetb&p=pedro+bacan+flamenco#id=1&vid=155f9ee9162a9014423216d247b10917&action=click



Tom Blackshear -> RE: new build for a 1987 Reyes style flamenco (Feb. 27 2019 20:07:17)

Welcome back...............

Here is the latest work on the top with gluing the binding/purfling.

The top and back are complete and now the process of scraping the sides smooth and then sanding to the desired over-all smoothness before gluing on the bridge.

I usually sand with 150 to 180 to finish




JasonM -> RE: new build for a 1987 Reyes style flamenco (Feb. 27 2019 22:09:23)

Looking good Tom. Your one step ahead of me, I just finished the back binding and purf. Did the neck angle come out flat?



Tom Blackshear -> RE: new build for a 1987 Reyes style flamenco (Mar. 1 2019 11:34:20)

The neck angle came out flat with the box so I'll probably have to taper the fingerboard a little to compensate the string action.

This has been a basic rule for most flamenco guitars, as far as I know.

On the other hand, many classical guitar necks are lifted at the nut to provide a natural taper, raising the string action, while keeping the fingerboard an even thickness.

Every builder has his own ideas about it.



Tom Blackshear -> RE: new build for a 1987 Reyes style flamenco (Mar. 8 2019 13:52:17)

Well, something is happening to the tap-tone that is ringing, like tapping on crystal.

Don't know if this is good or bad; have to wait and see what happens.

I'm going to have to relieve the top thickness a little to see if this goes toward a more earthy sound.

Strangely enough, the top Key is set at G-F# already.

There are two things I did differently on this from the original. I lowered the bottom harmonic bar below the sound hole to 1/2 inch high and I worked the back like the Miguel Rodriguez taper from top to bottom, which puts a lot of stress on the box.



constructordeguitarras -> RE: new build for a 1987 Reyes style flamenco (Mar. 9 2019 0:35:37)

Tom--Your videos show a guitar with binding and purfling on it. Just like all the guitars that have been completed. It would be interesting to see how you attached that binding and purfling.



JasonM -> RE: new build for a 1987 Reyes style flamenco (Mar. 9 2019 14:11:15)

That’s interesting about the tap tone. Right now my top is at a G and sounds really musical. My mentor Luthier thinks this is going to sound really good!



Andy Culpepper -> RE: new build for a 1987 Reyes style flamenco (Mar. 9 2019 14:32:42)

quote:

Actually, I don't consider myself to be a better builder than you


An amazing display of humility [:D]

I like the looks of that Spruce though.



Tom Blackshear -> RE: new build for a 1987 Reyes style flamenco (Mar. 9 2019 14:34:23)

quote:

It would be interesting to see how you attached that binding and purfling.


Well, I'll have to do another guitar for that but the basic job is done with tape instead of rope. I heat bend the binding to the exact shape and fit it to the sides then glue it and tape it tight. Then leave it overnight and scrap it down the next day.

The top purfling goes on first and cleaned up, then the binding/purfling is fitted next.



Tom Blackshear -> RE: new build for a 1987 Reyes style flamenco (Mar. 9 2019 14:45:28)

The spruce is perfectly set with its cross grain rays all over the top. Definitely a nice piece of wood.

And Ethan is most likely a better builder since my main techniques go toward sound production with antiquated tools and such. If I wasn't about ready to retire, I would upgrade my tools and building jigs quite a bit.



Tom Blackshear -> RE: new build for a 1987 Reyes style flamenco (Mar. 22 2019 14:00:03)

Hello, right now I have the top taped off with a sealer coat of shellac and when this dries I'll install the bridge.

The top seems awfully stiff but the tuning key for it is G-F# when the bridge is installed. So now is the time for the "wait and see," if the top is going to settle in with its tonal performance, like I hope it will.

The top thickness is about 2.3 mm, with a little relief around the center under the bridge.

Richard Jernigan will come to my shop tomorrow with his Arcangel Fernandez flamenco guitar so I can finish drawing the plan for the Guild of American Luthiers.

Hopefully, we can get this plan published for you.



constructordeguitarras -> RE: new build for a 1987 Reyes style flamenco (Mar. 22 2019 14:43:59)

quote:

The top thickness is about 2.3 mm, with a little relief around the center under the bridge.

Tom--
I'm surprised not to hear that the top is thinner around the edges, which I find key to the sound I aim for. It also seems to be a natural consequence of leveling the binding/purfling on the top. So I am curious how you achieve that leveling.



Tom Blackshear -> RE: new build for a 1987 Reyes style flamenco (Mar. 22 2019 15:17:15)

quote:

I'm surprised not to hear that the top is thinner around the edges,



I haven't gotten to that part yet, as I regulate the articulation and tension by relieving the center a little. The point here is to not get into a rush and relieve the sides until the guitar has been strung up for about a week. My basic analogy is to have the correct tension in the center to improve string torque before I finalize the top when it is strung to concert pitch..

You might call this "Leveling out the tonal/tension balance" if needed.

Sometimes I have built a Conde style with this method to where it needs no side taper on the edges, but mainly in and around the center relief, with the top thickness being about 1.7 center to 1.9 mm around the outside edges, with medium stiff Engelmann spruce.

The last Conde style I made for Carlos Rodriguez Quiros was fantastic. I modified it a little for his classical playing but after awhile he had a professional flamenco guitarist visit his home and this player sounded incredible on it.

However, I think I'll go back to the original 1968 style strut thickness to get a sharper edge to the tone.



Tom Blackshear -> RE: new build for a 1987 Reyes style flamenco (Mar. 28 2019 15:00:54)

Today, I talked again with Juan Cadena, and he has received a CNC set up for the guitars he wants to build in his newly remodeled shop. He has scheduled a fellow to come show him how to use it.

He is excited to get started with the building process. We are taking it slow, with a starting build of about 4 o 5 guitars before we go to the market for wider exposure.

The guitar we built in my shop turned out well, and this will be the prototype for the future presentation; for the start up line of instruments, with other models added later.

Now, here's the problem: We have only one speed for quality on this project, and that is the highest quality we can build. This means that the guitars will compete with just about any price-line in the market.

But how do we treat the average player with a limited income, to buy one of these instruments? That is going to have to be figured out with great discernment, and it may take some time to accomplish.

However, where there is a will, there is a way.



Tom Blackshear -> RE: new build for a 1987 Reyes style flamenco (Apr. 6 2019 21:56:26)

This particular guitar may be my last build for the 58 years I've been a guitar maker. I've spent close to a year building this #329 model and I feel close to completely retiring after this one. The asking price is $15,000 Those who are interested in purchase can contact me at tguitars@texas.net

The picture will quickly dissolve so you will have to stop it on You Tube if you want to see a bigger picture.




Tom Blackshear -> RE: new build for a 1987 Reyes style flamenco (May 7 2019 4:56:39)

Well, things are not going good with the finger board taper. I've already destroyed two boards and really feeling the pain of having to figure out the taper. I talked with Brune about it and what he told me was more work than I can handle right now.

So I called Lucio Nunez and he agreed to come take a look at it, since he has a machine to handle the taper. I've got a good idea but no tools to handle the job since I gave a lot of tools away for my shop cleaning.

The point is that I haven't tapered a board for quite a while. So this one is necessary for me to get another opinion. I don't want to waste another Fingerboard.



constructordeguitarras -> RE: new build for a 1987 Reyes style flamenco (May 8 2019 17:47:44)

I'm glad you can get help when you need it. If you aren't getting the right help, some of us on the forum might be able to help. Best of luck.



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