Ramón -> Flamenco 13...She's done! (Aug. 6 2006 22:50:54)
|
Okay….. She’s done! (sorry, this is kind of long..) Spent most of yesterday tuning the guitar in to finish; re-checked the frets, re-crowned where I had to file again, then I did my final sanding and hit the polisher. That done (and inspected by Bob), who was quite impressed at the finish quality and look of the KTM-9 water-based lacquer. It really does finish out quite like French, and the top (French’d) came out beautiful. I then set the pegs (peheads.com), which were a bit of a pain in the ass, and I ended marking the back side of the head in spots. Damn…Well, can’t see it, anyway, but still….. Maybe one day I’ll fix it. Not bad – just not perfect.. Then set the flamenco tap plate. THIS is a royal pain in the ass, and you better get it right the first time, ‘cause it ain’t comin’ off! Got it on right, but the cutting around the sound hole is less than perfect, but I cleaned it up a bit and it’s more than acceptable, now. I also did set a thin strip behind the bridge to protect from string-pop. Mixed feelings about that, but if a string goes, it’s less noticeable than a big hole in the top! I also believe in the theory of NOT butting the tap plat to the bridge, so I used a thin purfling strip to offset from the bridge by about 1mm. Made the head and saddle nuts…..and it was time to string. I used a thin straight edge that fit into the string slot to check my heights, and then I strung carefully. After a few strings were brought to tension, I checked my heights. Removed the saddle, and lowered a bit. Brought it up to tension again, and all looked good, so I finished the stringing. Head nut height is perfect, and I’m just under 3mm off the 12th on the low E, with the 'perfect buzz' when hit hard. Off the soundboard, I’m right about 9mm, which is higher than many shoot for, but the plans were 10mm, and I’m very comfortable with those dimensions, as I have long fingers. The headnut is 54mm wide, with the high E offset from the edge of the fretboard 5mm. Takes a bit of getting used to, but I like it because the E doesn’t slip off the edge when you pull a note on the far string. Sooooooooooooooooo??!! So how does she sound? Well, the first notes seemed slightly odd (maybe I was just terrified and excited?), but within minutes she began to settle in and open up quickly. She has TREMENDOUS power – which will make a great, unaided accompaniment guitar, and she’s now showing she has that dry, punchy, ‘Spanish sound’, which is what I so hoped for....and yet she is very 'even' across the strings. Even the G has great punch, without compensation. So I got home, and I brought it over to my neighbor, Randy Pile, a concert classical guitarist, who owns one of ‘Little Pepe’s’ (Romeros) guitars, and 5 Miguel Rodriguez (plus about 5 other guitars). His friend, Gurd Wuestemann, another touring concert virtuoso, is visiting… They are both rather stunned! Both at the workmanship and finish, and the playability and sound of the guitar. Gurd is also a builder and cannot believe what I’ve done on a first effort (I’m all smiles!!!) They both play a bit of flamenco, but love the tones and power, and all the way up the neck, nothing is dead. Gurd played a piece right up to the 19th and said; “Amazing – and it’s only a few hours old!” Gurd told me that he has seen many $4000 instruments by builders that don’t compare (the workmanship), and he does not praise lightly, as he is sponsored in part by Robert Ruck, and knows what a good guitar takes. Me? Wow….It’s almost surrealistic to me. “I built THIS guitar”???? You know? It doesn’t quite seem real! Lol…. Weird. I’m kind of blown away that it’s receiving the kind of praise it is, already, but I look at the whole package and it’s hard to see the process as having come from my hands. I told luthier Bob Hein this when we finished, and he said; “You had the guidance, but it was your skills and patience (something I'm short on...) that made this as good as it is”… Not trying to boast here, as I’m in a bit of a daze, but just trying to give you guys (and girls) a better idea of what the whole thing is/was like. Like ordering a guitar online or something; no way to know exactly what you will get. You can even hear these soundclips they add, but still….Hard to translate into words. UPDATE: I wrote this this morning, then went to a flamenco dance class to accompany. 2 other guitarists there, Agustin ‘El Moro’, who is left-handed, is the main guitarist, and was floored at the power and tones in the guitar. Just had his mouth open the whole time!… lol….I don’t know what to say, other than it was a LOT of hard work, incredible thanks to Robert Hein for the opportunity, patience, guidance, and the use of his shop. I just went out and bought 2 Gift Certificates at his favorite restaurant and another bar and grill, trying to say thanks in some small way. Luthiers??? I have SOOOO much respect now for what you guys accomplish on a consistent basis! Painstaking work! Hope I was entertaining, and passed along some possible info to others. Again, thanks to all with the feedback, to Tom at La Falseta, for his help and taking the time to share, and to Tom Blackshear, for drawing these plans. I will one day soon – when I have access – possible record something for the board.. Muchas Gracias! Rand Hogen (my name!) Ramón
Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px
|
|
|
|