Yamaha C40 - extreme make over

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Yamaha C40 - extreme make over - guitar edition

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Haithamflamenco

Posts: 927
Joined: Mar. 6 2007
From: Bahrain

Yamaha C40 - extreme make over - gu...

Oleee, gitanos,

I am doing some experiments on a yamaha C40 guitar, fully laimnated top and bakc and sides,

I take the skin off ( poly lequre) and thining the nech, sand one layer of the top and reduce the bridge hight,

there is 50% imrpovemnet in the sound, sounds really unique . loool

now, I want to sand the braces or change the way they stick on the back of the baord,

I want to open the back of the guitar, how can I do that?

using steam?? or there is anotehr method,

I will post photos later.

Note: I know Luthiers its a waste of time

from this:

now

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 18 2013 12:37:34

keith

Posts: 1108
Joined: Sep. 29 2009
From: Back in Boston

RE: Yamaha C40 - extreme make over ... (in reply to Haithamflamenco)

boy, us folks here in new england are spending our time shoveling and way too much time stuck in a snowstorm during rush hours. i would love to trade shoveling and three times the normal commute home for frankensteining a cheap yamaha. enjoy the project. by the way, i would imagine the glue used is pretty tenacious--doubtful it is hide glue.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 18 2013 16:30:42

El Kiko

Posts: 2697
Joined: Jun. 7 2010
From: The South Ireland

RE: Yamaha C40 - extreme make over ... (in reply to Haithamflamenco)

quote:

I take the skin off ( poly lequre)

very adventurous , i did something similar once but i only took the poly aff the sound board and left the back and sides hard , thinking it would actually bonce the sound out better ... a little bit of work on the neck and new bone bridge and neck pieces ... big improvement on volume and treble i noticed ....

i was thinking of trying a more in depth makeover of an old negra next year ... depends on time thouhg ..

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 18 2013 17:37:09

NewPlayer

Posts: 141
Joined: Nov. 29 2012
From: San Francisco

RE: Yamaha C40 - extreme make over ... (in reply to Haithamflamenco)

This actually sounds like a fun project. I have an old ply Esteve Classical that I might work on too.. Let us know how it goes Haitham.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 18 2013 20:42:13

KMMI77

Posts: 1821
Joined: Jul. 26 2009
From: The land down under

RE: Yamaha C40 - extreme make over ... (in reply to Haithamflamenco)

quote:

I want to open the back of the guitar, how can I do that?

To Begin, You will need a bed and a knife from the kitchen drawer.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 19 2013 2:06:41

Flamingrae

Posts: 220
Joined: May 19 2009

RE: Yamaha C40 - extreme make over ... (in reply to Haithamflamenco)

I think it's not such a wild idea. Dont get me too wrong it's a labour of love and probably about the same time of finishing (polish and tweek) a new guitar. My back burner project for when I have nothing do to (fat chance) is a cheap Alhambra. Picked up in Jerez rather than take a guitar over and it's bog standard classical with mahogany back and sides. I'm going to whip the back off and do any adjustments that I can before taking the height of the ribs down and this time give it some proper bindings (yeh, that cheap) before a final finish. Even on my first I used furniture polish which realising the error of my ways, stripped it off three years later and fp'd. What a difference. It's all a major repair job and not commercially viable but it does improve things , no doubt about that.
Best of luck.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 20 2013 13:50:02

Arash

Posts: 4497
Joined: Aug. 9 2006
From: Iran (living in Germany)

RE: Yamaha C40 - extreme make over ... (in reply to KMMI77)

quote:

ORIGINAL: KMMI77

quote:

I want to open the back of the guitar, how can I do that?

To Begin, You will need a bed and a knife from the kitchen drawer.

here is a faster way to get rid of the back side

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 20 2013 14:51:25

escot

Posts: 28
Joined: Jan. 2 2013

RE: Yamaha C40 - extreme make over ... (in reply to Haithamflamenco)

Just make sure you add these as well... along with lots of bridge sanding and bridge hole lowering, use the toothpick fill technique. I did this with my first beater off craigslist and while there no comparison to an proper flamenco guitar, it at least makes it playable. Good luck.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 20 2013 20:03:14

Haithamflamenco

Posts: 927
Joined: Mar. 6 2007
From: Bahrain

RE: Yamaha C40 - extreme make over ... (in reply to Haithamflamenco)

back

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 24 2013 11:24:32

Haithamflamenco

Posts: 927
Joined: Mar. 6 2007
From: Bahrain

RE: Yamaha C40 - extreme make over ... (in reply to Haithamflamenco)

update 1

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 25 2014 6:48:43

Haithamflamenco

Posts: 927
Joined: Mar. 6 2007
From: Bahrain

RE: Yamaha C40 - extreme make over ... (in reply to Haithamflamenco)

media luna head stock

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 25 2014 6:56:33

Haithamflamenco

Posts: 927
Joined: Mar. 6 2007
From: Bahrain

RE: Yamaha C40 - extreme make over ... (in reply to Haithamflamenco)

grain filler and sound port

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 25 2014 7:02:09

Haithamflamenco

Posts: 927
Joined: Mar. 6 2007
From: Bahrain

RE: Yamaha C40 - extreme make over ... (in reply to Haithamflamenco)

sound port support - oval shape failed

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 25 2014 7:05:36

Leñador

Posts: 5237
Joined: Jun. 8 2012
From: Los Angeles

RE: Yamaha C40 - extreme make over ... (in reply to Haithamflamenco)

I'm certainly no Luthier but that sound port did seem a bit large.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 26 2014 6:56:25

estebanana

Posts: 9413
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: Yamaha C40 - extreme make over ... (in reply to KMMI77)

quote:

To Begin, You will need a bed and a knife from the kitchen drawer.

Please don't watch this this video to learn how to remove a binding. Not even funny/. That is just pure butchery.

Also don't locate your workshop where you wash and dry clothes.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 26 2014 12:06:06

Graham_B

Posts: 283
Joined: Jul. 10 2007
From: Leigh, Lancashire, UK

RE: Yamaha C40 - extreme make over ... (in reply to Haithamflamenco)

At least with the 'mother of all soundports' you can easily work on the bracing without taking the back off

Are you using wood filler on the soundboard and sides?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 26 2014 13:51:05

Haithamflamenco

Posts: 927
Joined: Mar. 6 2007
From: Bahrain

RE: Yamaha C40 - extreme make over ... (in reply to Haithamflamenco)

Ok, not an encouraging posts as usual ,

This is human nature u pointed the negative but what about the Conde headstock !!

Any way, this is my kitchen , and I don't have a place yet for a workshop, sanding ,painting etc.. Is outside this place,

As u notice in the picture I failed to make the sound hole in oval shape and I wrote that ,

It's my learning processes and I had this idea long time ago, I really enjoy it, btw , the guitar is done i just post those pictures and I will continue posting the rest,

Ya I used wood filler, this guitar is not a abrazo brazilian rose wood with spruce top, it's just an plywood Yamaha c40 even the soundboard is a plywood, and it had a big place where the owner dig the board with his nail, no globe was installed ,

Please don't compare this work to its, u are pro luthiers , and I am only experimenting with my small knowledge and skills

If u have an Instagram account please follow:

Bahrainguitarshop

Ole

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 26 2014 16:22:31

Leñador

Posts: 5237
Joined: Jun. 8 2012
From: Los Angeles

RE: Yamaha C40 - extreme make over ... (in reply to Haithamflamenco)

Sorry, didn't mean to be negative. Media luna head stock on a yamaha is a funny idea, I like it.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 26 2014 16:40:27

Haithamflamenco

Posts: 927
Joined: Mar. 6 2007
From: Bahrain

RE: Yamaha C40 - extreme make over ... (in reply to Haithamflamenco)

Thanks, it's a crazy project and all luthiers the know its a waste of time ,

But I don't know , I just felt I must take my chance to do this crazy idea

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 26 2014 16:43:29

Graham_B

Posts: 283
Joined: Jul. 10 2007
From: Leigh, Lancashire, UK

RE: Yamaha C40 - extreme make over ... (in reply to Haithamflamenco)

I recently modified the bridge (filled, lowered and re-angled the string holes, 12 hole conversion, deepened saddle slot) on an old guitar and so I will be interested to see how you do yours.

I'm pleased you are enjoying the process and look forward to seeing the final result

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 26 2014 16:47:17

Morante

Posts: 2230
Joined: Nov. 21 2010

RE: Yamaha C40 - extreme make over ... (in reply to Haithamflamenco)

Animo Haitham: I have been through this process too. It is great fun, you are not harming anyone or anything and learning a lot in the process. Olé.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 26 2014 17:15:03

estebanana

Posts: 9413
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: Yamaha C40 - extreme make over ... (in reply to Haithamflamenco)

You went too far. You should have left the ribs without a sound port and left the head stock alone too.

Knowing where to stop is probably the most important lesson to learn. If you had just wrapped it up after thinning the top and lowering the bridge it would have been great!

1. That sound port is about four times too large and it won't work now. All it is a giant air leak. Sound ports become ineffective when the diameter is over 1-1/4" at most. All you needed was a 7/8" diameter hole on that guitar.

2. What you should have done was just refinish the guitar. If you had not gotten into a fever for modification and simply thinned the top slowly by learning how to use a scraper you would have learned a great deal.

3. You should have made a hand held binding & purfling cutter and learned to do a binding job on this guitar.

4. You could have learned to find the center of the soundhole by blocking it up with scrap and then used a popsicle stick compass and Exacto blade to to cut a few simple rosette channels that hit the fingerboard. You could have given it a simple B-W-B rosette with matching binding and purfling.

Next time ask before you just cut soemthing to ribbons.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 27 2014 1:12:37

Haithamflamenco

Posts: 927
Joined: Mar. 6 2007
From: Bahrain

RE: Yamaha C40 - extreme make over ... (in reply to Haithamflamenco)

Thank you Stephen,

I will do that in my new project

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 27 2014 5:02:42

constructordeguitarras

Posts: 1694
Joined: Jan. 29 2012
From: Seattle, Washington, USA

RE: Yamaha C40 - extreme make over ... (in reply to Haithamflamenco)

Amazing how close you got the headstock to the Conde!

Please tell us about the rosette (which disappeared). Was it a real wood inlay, just very thin?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 3 2015 12:26:03

Ricardo

Posts: 15151
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Yamaha C40 - extreme make over ... (in reply to constructordeguitarras)

quote:

ORIGINAL: constructordeguitarras

Amazing how close you got the headstock to the Conde!

Please tell us about the rosette (which disappeared). Was it a real wood inlay, just very thin?

All rosettes are stickers I thought?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 3 2015 19:47:09

constructordeguitarras

Posts: 1694
Joined: Jan. 29 2012
From: Seattle, Washington, USA

RE: Yamaha C40 - extreme make over ... (in reply to Ricardo)

quote:

All rosettes are stickers I thought?

Argh!

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www.edluthier.com
www.facebook.com/ethandeutschguitars
www.youtube.com/marioamayaflamenco
I always have flamenco guitars available for sale.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 4 2015 12:12:44

estebanana

Posts: 9413
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: Yamaha C40 - extreme make over ... (in reply to Ricardo)

quote:

All rosettes are stickers I thought?

Well the more expensive ones are hand airbrushed really.

Do your guitars have hand air brushed rosettes, or do you have common stickers?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 4 2015 23:26:06

Haithamflamenco

Posts: 927
Joined: Mar. 6 2007
From: Bahrain

RE: Yamaha C40 - extreme make over ... (in reply to Haithamflamenco)

quote:

Amazing how close you got the headstock to the Conde! Please tell us about the rosette (which disappeared). Was it a real wood inlay, just very thin?

the rosette is a sticker called decal waterslide print ,

Yamaha use it to cut the cost of the plywood guitar to the minimum,

u can find some on this link:

http://www.dukeluthier.com/Classical-Page-Two_c24.htm

but I know its useless for you guys unless U are doing a restoration for those kind of guitar,

ok, my friend as me to convert his C40 to look like a conde hermanos

so i will continue posting the progress photos,

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 5 2015 9:23:58

Haithamflamenco

Posts: 927
Joined: Mar. 6 2007
From: Bahrain

RE: Yamaha C40 - extreme make over ... (in reply to Haithamflamenco)

So after sanding, I start staining the wood , I used teack oil for the neck to give it more golden color and for the body I used NC stain

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 5 2015 9:44:08

Haithamflamenco

Posts: 927
Joined: Mar. 6 2007
From: Bahrain

RE: Yamaha C40 - extreme make over ... (in reply to Haithamflamenco)

so I was brushing the stain little bit thick on the back and sides, traing to make it look like a rosewood

after staingin I start it wet sanding the stain very lightly to smoth the rough surface as I can and I strted to add epoxy, I bleive I used the wrong type of eboxy which is the normal very light Superglue