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The challenge issued by my school teacher
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cRobson12
Posts: 288
Joined: Dec. 8 2010
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The challenge issued by my school t...
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Hey everyone, I don't really know how to start the explanation for this so I will try my best. I am in my graduating year for highschool and semester 2 just started and I only have one course for the rest of this semester which is manufacturing technology. My wood working teacher has become a good friend and I have known him since my minor years and I have been building and working with wood along side and under his eye for quite some time. Anyways, he talked to me today and issued me "challenge" so to speak. He asked me if I wanted to build a guitar, and that I would be the very first to do so in all of his years of teaching. I have played for him before so he knows that I am into flamenco and what not (which is why he asked me if I wanted to do this). He told me if I am up for the challenge he would pay for all of wood that I need, and of course I said I would try my best. Also he says that I have excellent wood working skills which is always a plus. I did a lot of research today and I have concluded that my shop class has almost everything that I need to build the guitar (tools and machines), except for the machine that uses heat to bend the sides. So I will have to go out of my way to find one. I would also have to build the jigs and the solera. I am aware of how hard something like this is, I have almost 6 months and 7 hours a day 5 times a week to work on this and even If I don't finish I will have the summer to do it. What do you guys think? Do you think I will be able to do it? Of course my eyes are set on making a flamenco guitar, so I will have to purchase the plans. Any recommendations on which one I should purchase? If this challenge gets into action I will be posting pictures a long the way. I have already found a few books online about classical guitar building. I have no knowledge of luthier work so I will be asking a lot of questions along the way. Feel free to post anything relevant, ideas, comments, etc. I will anything you guys have to say!
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Date Feb. 2 2011 3:51:47
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RE: The challenge issued by my scho... (in reply to cRobson12)
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you sound like your already making it great to hear and sounds awesome kudo's to you and your teacher...a generous supportive offer.. many fine luthiers here....bug them for info....
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Date Feb. 2 2011 14:11:02
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cRobson12
Posts: 288
Joined: Dec. 8 2010
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RE: The challenge issued by my scho... (in reply to cRobson12)
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Here is what I have on my list so far. I could not get any information from my school teacher today as we were hit by a huge snow storm today and got snowed in so to speak. Sides: Alaskan yellow cedar Top: SPRUCE, Engleman Finger board - EBONY, Macassar Finish - french polosh Model - santos @ Sean quote:
You can find the Santos Hernandez plan on the net, it is a basic 7 fan design probably the easiest to start with. The only thing missing from most plans and from books on classical guitar construction is proper neck angle setup which is very different from classical guitars. Knowing how the doming of the top, desired string height above the top and desired action(string height from first and 12th fret all relate is mandatory before assembly begins. Good luck on your build, just be warned it's very addictive That sounds fantastic, I will do some research on the Santos. I figured these books would be missing a lot of important things so I will most deffinitly need some proper instruction on the neck angle setup and the "doming of the top". Could you explain to me what this means? And thanks, truly noted on the addictiveness (I haven't even started yet and thats all I can think about) @SEden quote:
Well as Sean said the main thing is getting the guitar geometry correct. If you are getting the solera from la falseta that work will be done for you. Get your self a plan to follow. The Santos plan as mentioned is simpe to follow and can pretty much be turned into anything you want by adding to it. I am still debating whether or not I buy the solera or make it myself, it would be really cool if I made it. However, I would have to make sure everything is perfect. [(I tend to obsese over perfection a lot of the time) @Anthony quote:
wow, that sounds like fun! are you allowed to buy a kit? i think the woods are expensive. does your shop teacher know what he is getting into? Yeah I hope it will be! Yeah I told it would be expensive, so he does. I will also pitching in many hundreds of dollars just because I want too. And for the kit I am allowed to do whatever I want, I am keeping the kit in mind but if I do buy one I would feel like I would simply be assembling it and not actually making it so I don't know if I want one. Still another thing to keep in mind though! @Ruphus quote:
Phantastic opportunity! Take the chance, even if the teacher might withdraw because of the ridiculous prices for materials, buy them yourself; just don´t let it pass by. Just my 2cents. Will do my friend! I won't blame him if he does but I will still do it whether or not he backs out or not. He knows what he is getting himself into already though. @AlVal quote:
you sound like your already making it great to hear and sounds awesome kudo's to you and your teacher...a generous supportive offer.. many fine luthiers here....bug them for info.... Haha in my head its already done And yes I will send him your regards. Oh yes I plan on bugging them until they snap (haha). @Anders quote:
You can make a bending iron. for almost free. My first one was a stainless steel pipe found in a container. Inside a 100 watt bulb. I still use it for some things like purfling, fine bending of sides etc. Its been with me for 84 guitars and I havent had to change the bulb yet. My fantastic sidebender machine, I made out of some wood, and stuff and its heated by a 500 watt bread toaster. It has lasted some 70 guitars so far. A solera can be cheap. Takes a day or so to make. Good luck... And of course, DO IT!!!!! The santos plan sounds well, but it is a small guitar. The Barbero plan by Lewis from LMI makes for a more modern and versatile instrument. But its a confusing plan if you are not into plans. Alright thanks for the info. I assume all that I need to do to make one of these is make the jig of the sides, make a structure to hold it, and use a weight to bend the wood while heating it? If possible Anders would you be willing to send me a picture or a plan for a solera? It would be extremely helpful, i think The Santos sounds really tempting and so does the Barbero. I have been taking advance courses in autocad so I think I can understand confusing plans. I am not sure though. I am sure both guitars have their ups and downs, which one do you recommend I build? (asking everyone who is reading). @Sean quote:
Yes the Santos although larger then a Torres is small by todays standards but the plan can be found free of charge and it is a simple 7 fan design without a bridge strap and is easily modified. You won't find a simpler design out there and although it is small in size depending on the finish you put on it can be quite loud, enough to drive neighbours to complain if you live in an apartment lol. In the end though a plan is just a tool, you could make your best ever guitar from the worst plan and your worst from the best of plans, if there was such a thing. I would recommend asking any questions you need answers to here because a flamenco guitar is built different then a classical and most books and info on guitar building are for classicals which can lead you down the wrong path. In the end though once you string her up blemishes and all you will be hooked so be warned. Free of charge you say? >:) And very wise words, that will stick with me. I don't really have any questions as of right now, but I am sure they will be coming in by the dozens when I start @Diazf quote:
If you go on ebay and look up Darren Hippner under vendor name of 'luthierwoodsupply' you can buy a spanish cypress back and side set for a good price. He has a few listed and they've been going for about $40 a set. I've bought a bunch and it's really nice wood. Also if you search tonewood there are other fairly priced maple, rosewood, zebra wood, cocobolo. etc sets as well. Thank you for this, I have already added stuff to my wish list for later when I decide on everything. And thanks everyone for showing an interest! I can't wait to get started
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Date Feb. 2 2011 19:38:36
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cRobson12
Posts: 288
Joined: Dec. 8 2010
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RE: The challenge issued by my scho... (in reply to TANúñez)
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@TANunez I am located in Newmarket, Ontario (Canada) which is about a half an hour drive from Toronto. Wow thanks for your generosity! I would really appreciate if you did that for me. I will be sure to PM you when I work everything out. You help means a lot to me! I already checked out LMI and it seems that their kits only ship within the US, I think. Is that 450 dollars ontop of the kit in materials? I made a shopping cart on www.madinter.com with everything that I need and the price is about 400 dollars. Is there anything I am missing if I am not buying a kit? (excluding the tuning machines, saddle, nut, rosset, fret wire and finish) I have the following in the cart: Cypress back and sides, german spruce top (1st grade wood), rounded guitar kerfed lining, kerfing, soundboard braces, back braces, bridge interior reinforcement, Set of First Brazilian Cedar Neck Blank and Heel Block, Ebony/cypress Purflings, Indian Rosewood Headplate, and indian rosewood bridge blank.
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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Feb. 3 2011 2:41:10
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