1st blanca build

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1st blanca build

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Gimar Yestra

Posts: 298
Joined: Jan. 19 2011
From: The Netherlands

1st blanca build

hello everyone,

let me introduce myself first, im Gimar Yestra from the netherlands.
I've been building guitars for about 6 years now, mostly electrics, so this flamenco is going to be a completely new experience for me in terms of construction.

Ive been studying the building process of flamenco guitars for a while now, but I will most likely have some questions along the way.

I drew up a model based after a gerundino flamenco guitar, tweaked it a bit to my personal liking.

enough talking, pics

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 6 2011 21:02:55

Gimar Yestra

Posts: 298
Joined: Jan. 19 2011
From: The Netherlands

RE: 1st blanca build (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

picture of the rough cedar neck

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 6 2011 21:05:09

Gimar Yestra

Posts: 298
Joined: Jan. 19 2011
From: The Netherlands

RE: 1st blanca build (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

cypress back and german spruce top

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 6 2011 21:06:59

rodrigovalt

Posts: 296
Joined: May 1 2011

RE: 1st blanca build (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

Hello Gimar! the woods looks really nice my friend, also I like a lot the headstock design. Looking forward to see more pictures, good luck with your new project!

Rodrigo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 6 2011 22:22:49

Andy Culpepper

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

RE: 1st blanca build (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

Looking good. I'm sure you will have all the technical skills needed to pull this off.
Of course the thicknessing and bracing of the plates will be the main thing that's different from a steel string (and the Spanish foot).
Are you going to copy the bracing from a Gerundino as well?

One minor point: when it comes to actually cutting the golpeador, make sure it goes down a little farther on the treble side.

Oh and study how Spanish makers shape the heel!! I can't stand how most steel string makers do it when they make a Spanish guitar

With a big fat part at the top. Make it one graceful curve from bottom to top.

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

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 6 2011 22:34:54

estebanana

Posts: 9351
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: 1st blanca build (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

quote:

Oh and study how Spanish makers shape the heel!! I can't stand how most steel string makers do it when they make a Spanish guitar With a big fat part at the top. Make it one graceful curve from bottom to top.

Snob!

Nice drawing Gimar.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 6 2011 23:53:57

Gimar Yestra

Posts: 298
Joined: Jan. 19 2011
From: The Netherlands

RE: 1st blanca build (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

thanks Rodrigo, I'll keep posting updates on the build, it might be a slow build though.

@ Deteresa1

Im just going to trust my intuition on the thickness and bracing, it has proven me right on most previous builds, and if it turns out bad I will learn from it.

I had the chance to inspect and play a '88 gerundino blanca, and compare them to a Anders Eliasson negra , and a conda A26 blanca. I liked the gerundino the most so I might brace it based on that guitar, or maybe in the style of Barbero.. I'm not completely sure yet.

Thanks for the tip on the golpeador, I have only played the guitars mentioned above, so im not too aware of those little players details.

I'm going to try to make the heel as much like flamenco guitars I've seen as possible, I feel it has to look elegant delicate since every aspect of a flamenco guitar is.

Making money as a full time guitar maker hasn't payd of yet :D so im going for a prefab rosette for this build.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 7 2011 0:04:43

Sean

Posts: 672
Joined: Jan. 20 2011
From: Canada

RE: 1st blanca build (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

You mean like one of these Andy? I don't know if it makes access to the upper frets any easier as claimed but at least its not a nasty cutaway.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 7 2011 18:57:33

Andy Culpepper

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

RE: 1st blanca build (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

dude you're killing me with that

horrifying!

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

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 7 2011 20:19:28

Sean

Posts: 672
Joined: Jan. 20 2011
From: Canada

RE: 1st blanca build (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

Hahaha thats ok its not mine, a little too Gibson for my tastes.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 7 2011 22:51:19

estebanana

Posts: 9351
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: 1st blanca build (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

Good lord that's ugly. Glad Andy made it.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 7 2011 22:57:12

Andy Culpepper

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

RE: 1st blanca build (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

I hate practical design elements.

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

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 7 2011 23:11:16

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: 1st blanca build (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

Good luck with your build and be carefull with that pointy top. Dont bang it into lamps etc.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 8 2011 7:27:02

Stephen Eden

Posts: 914
Joined: Apr. 12 2008
From: UK

RE: 1st blanca build (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

Just looking at your neck that you have there. It is hard to tell so excuse me if you have done it already. It looks like the head may end up a bit on the chuncky side. Usually a head stock is about 20mm including vaneers. If you have to plane the head now to get that bit right it will move all of your neck measuements. I tend to glue the head vaneers on first then set out the measurements of the neck that way you cant go wrong easily.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 8 2011 12:19:13

Gimar Yestra

Posts: 298
Joined: Jan. 19 2011
From: The Netherlands

RE: 1st blanca build (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

SEden,

I haven't glued the veneer on yet, after that I will final thickness the headstock from the back side, so all the measurement stay in the place I want them to be.

@ Anders,

I'm actually thinking of changing the headstock a bit, I made a little mold of the headstock today to see how it would work out, and I think the detail work is a bit too small to make it clearly visible after the headstock is finished.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 8 2011 12:31:30

Andy Culpepper

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

RE: 1st blanca build (in reply to Anders Eliasson)

quote:

be carefull with that pointy top. Dont bang it into lamps etc.

Ask Anders how he knows..jaja. we pointy headstock people have to be careful of a lot of things, like gouging yourself in the stomach while it's clamped in a vise. (ask me how I know)

You can plane the back of the headstock but the line at the base of the head piece will migrate up.. not that big of a deal but I like to have it directly opposite the end of the headplate veneers

I think the headstock design is good though, it looks good from a distance and you'll get the full detail close up.

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http://www.andyculpepper.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 8 2011 12:54:32

kozz

Posts: 1766
Joined: Feb. 26 2009
From: Eindhoven NL

RE: 1st blanca build (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

quote:

I had the chance to inspect and play a '88 gerundino blanca, and compare them to a Anders Eliasson negra , and a conda A26 blanca. I liked the gerundino the most so I might brace it based on that guitar, or maybe in the style of Barbero.. I'm not completely sure yet.

Sounds you've been around Hoorn?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 8 2011 15:59:46

Gimar Yestra

Posts: 298
Joined: Jan. 19 2011
From: The Netherlands

RE: 1st blanca build (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

yes I have kozz :P

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 8 2011 16:10:11

kozz

Posts: 1766
Joined: Feb. 26 2009
From: Eindhoven NL

RE: 1st blanca build (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Gimar Yestra

yes I have kozz :P

Lol! Goodluck with the building process!

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 8 2011 16:24:49

Gimar Yestra

Posts: 298
Joined: Jan. 19 2011
From: The Netherlands

RE: 1st blanca build (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

thnx kozz, Im doing as best as I can,
Are you a friend of peter?

glued on a madagascar peghead veneer, I like how it kinda of looks like 2 spooky eyes.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 8 2011 19:06:03

Gimar Yestra

Posts: 298
Joined: Jan. 19 2011
From: The Netherlands

RE: 1st blanca build (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

I also finished thickness planing the cypress back, it's 2.2 mm now. It didn't seem like a very stiff piece, not perfectly quartered etc, so i dont feel like going any thinner at this point.

maybe someone who has some experience with cypress backs can give me some comment?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 8 2011 19:10:28

Sean

Posts: 672
Joined: Jan. 20 2011
From: Canada

RE: 1st blanca build (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

I wouldn't worry about thinning the back further your in the range, so go with your instincts.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 8 2011 20:37:51

stephen hill

Posts: 300
Joined: Feb. 16 2004
From: La Herradura, Granada, Spain

RE: 1st blanca build (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

quote:

Gimar Yestra

back looks good to me, and some nice quartering. follow stephen edens advise, good maker

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http://www.spanishguitars.co.uk

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 8 2011 21:51:32

Andy Culpepper

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

RE: 1st blanca build (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

looks great, the pegs will show off that nice veneer

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

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 9 2011 1:08:37

Sean

Posts: 672
Joined: Jan. 20 2011
From: Canada

RE: 1st blanca build (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

I built my first flamenco with Monteray Cypress also, it was good stuff and I'm sure it would be more popular if it looked more like Spanish.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 9 2011 20:34:52

Gimar Yestra

Posts: 298
Joined: Jan. 19 2011
From: The Netherlands

RE: 1st blanca build (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

Sean, are you refering to the cypress im using?? I have no idea what type of cypress it is actually. Curious if anyone could tell me something about it.

got the back braced today, I love the combined color of cypress, spruce and cedar together.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 9 2011 22:03:38

Andy Culpepper

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

RE: 1st blanca build (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

Where did you get it from? it could be Mediterranean, I have seen some Med. Cypress that was that dark. Some of the quartersawn places look like Mediterranean

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

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 10 2011 0:18:51

Sean

Posts: 672
Joined: Jan. 20 2011
From: Canada

RE: 1st blanca build (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

The unbraced pic especially really seems to show off a lot of short little lines that run east to west and the colour, looks like Monteray Cypress to me.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 10 2011 0:55:34

Gimar Yestra

Posts: 298
Joined: Jan. 19 2011
From: The Netherlands

RE: 1st blanca build (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

I got it off a dutch guitar maker who sells tonewood on the side.
He got a log offered years ago from a retired harpsichord maker.
He bought it, cut it and stored it.

thats about all I know

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 10 2011 0:56:02

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: 1st blanca build (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

I sometimes get some cypress from Andalucia which is pretty dark and smells A LOT.

I very, very seldom go below 2,2mm on a cypress back

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 10 2011 7:29:05