RE: Yamaha C40 - extreme make over

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RE: Yamaha C40 - extreme make over - guitar edition

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Haithamflamenco

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

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

the smell of the super glue was so strong so I was using a breathing mask

btw I spoke shave the neck and I reduce its thickness, the was super thick

so I was adding the epoxy to fill the wood grain and to level the brushed stain, layer by layer and sanding between them after drying,

my friend didn't like any from the decal waterslide rossette , and I dont have the skills to add a real rosette , so i started to Photoshop the conde hermanos rosette !!

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 5 2015 10:00:47

Haithamflamenco

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

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

so after wet sanding the epoxy I sprayed the NC sealer then I hand applied the NC lacquer,

I did all that in open area because the NC is very inflammable

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 5 2015 10:34:25

Escribano

Posts: 6415
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy

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

It's good fun to hack a cheap guitar. I have done it to several electrics and you can learn a lot in the process. Keep us posted.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 5 2015 17:54:04

SephardRick

Posts: 358
Joined: Apr. 11 2014

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

Yeah! Like the boss just said. Most us have experimented and refinished factory made guitars to some extent...

I really admire your guts. You are doing what most of us players only think about doing.

I say damn the torpedo and run...Just publish the details both good and bad.

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Rick

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 5 2015 19:01:38

Haithamflamenco

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

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

ole amigos, thanks,

at this stage I was facing the difficulties in finishing,

I was using brushing lacquer (Minwax clear brushing lecqure ) but it was think and heavy to brush, so I thinned it with NC thinner and didn't really brush it but wipe it,

using the superglue as a grain filler was not a good idea, its super glue is very thin you need maybe 20 superglue to file the back only, but it works good as sealer for the lacquer,

so I was wiping the thinned lacquer and leave it to dry and wet sanding between ,

I was working for long time on the finsihing, at the end I couldnt reach the glossy finsih I was looking for, I didnt have a buffer wheel so I was using my car polisher and dimond cut polish ,

I printed the rossete on a glosse self adhsive paper and I stick it on the top and I will cover later with the golpe

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 7 2015 6:13:46

Haithamflamenco

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

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

I installed the golpe over the top and the top of the printed rossete,

and installed a golden machine

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 7 2015 6:31:04

Haithamflamenco

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

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

final, still need some touch up

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 7 2015 6:41:18

Haithamflamenco

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

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

more photos,

I apologise I didnt take a good photo afte I finsih the guitar,

below is the before and after photo

ok,

what I did to the guitar is:

1.stripping the poly paint and refinsih the guitar with differnt color and NC lecque
2. modfy the head stock look like conde hermanos medi luna.
3. lower the action by lowering the bone saddel and the bridge.
4. reduce the thickness of the neck.
5.open a sound port.
6. add golpe.
7. stick a conde hermanos rose type rossete.
8. replace the machine head tunners.
9. add flamenco strings medium/hard
10. frets leveling.

difficulties:

1. removing the original finshin was the worst, its very hard and there is a thick layer ander the stain , Ibilive its a sealer, the paint remover couldnt remove it.
2. I faild to cut the sound port in oval shap like some flamenco guitar I dont want to mention its name

, so I end up with an oversize soundport.
3. filling the open grain was a night mare, using superglue is a filler is bad idea, but the super is medium is good.
4. couldnt reach the shiny glossy finsih, lag to tools and machines

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 7 2015 8:17:17

Haithamflamenco

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

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

some videos from my frined account M. Jabbari a talnted guitarist from bahrain :

http://instagram.com/p/wlM5BmoN5w/

http://instagram.com/p/xNPl9gINw9/

http://instagram.com/p/wfn4rzIN3d/

and the arabic/turkish mode that he inlove with:

http://instagram.com/p/xaZwEAIN_A/

and this is his channel on instegram:

http://instagram.com/jabbarim/

and this is my channel in instegram:

http://instagram.com/bahrainguitarshop/

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 7 2015 8:30:40

Ricardo

Posts: 14806
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

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

I always thought the C40 sounded darn good in the music store. This one sounds like a good conde!

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 7 2015 17:18:23

SephardRick

Posts: 358
Joined: Apr. 11 2014

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

So, Mr. H...

Tell me more about the whale hole (sound port) that you added. Are you pleased with the sound when practicing alone? Do you hear a difference?

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Rick

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 7 2015 21:44:38

Flamingrae

Posts: 220
Joined: May 19 2009

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

Wow, you have done loads and if this is your first go at this, you have done well.
I eventually got around to doing my Alhambra. Different approach to what you have done but some of the same difficulties so you can check these off for "your next project"

Removal of laquer - heat gun not paint stripper
Removal of back and about 10/12mm of the rib height. (It was a classical)
Lighten and re-shape internal bracing on the front and back.
Once back is back on, route and install proper bindings.
Re shape bridge - lower tie block, convert to 12 holes, add bone fittings and saddle.
Re shape heel then French polish the body.

I might have done more but when I discovered that the wood (if you can call it that) was laminate, I held fire.
Still pleased I did this and I'm sure you must notice a difference with your guitar. Loved the solution to the conde rosette - might have to watch copyright on that though.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 7 2015 23:38:43

Haithamflamenco

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

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

quote:

I always thought the C40 sounded darn good in the music store. This one sounds like a good conde!

ricardo

maybe sounded like a bad conde

quote:

So, Mr. H. Tell me more about the whale hole (sound port) that you added. Are you pleased with the sound when practicing alone? Do you hear a difference?

yes rick, as I said , it was my friend requested to make an oval shape, but I failed to make oval using a wring saw, I know is big, usually I make the sound port for this fully plywood c40 guitar about 2.5inch diameter , and its really making a different

here a video for a Yamaha c40 before the sound port

http://instagram.com/p/s_l9aqsgZ8/

after the sound port

http://instagram.com/p/s_mbWEsgaX/

the actual guitar in this post is fine with this big hole, but know I am considering to make a sliding door for it, so he can adjust the size of the port.

BTW I saw half section cut classical guitar in guitar shop in bahrain, Manuel rodregiz and still sounded good ,

this is the usual size i cut

quote:

I might have done more but when I discovered that the wood (if you can call it that) was laminate, I held fire.
Still pleased I did this and I'm sure you must notice a difference with your guitar. Loved the solution to the conde rosette - might have to watch copyright on that though.

flaminrae - thanks, woow, French polish amazing ,I wich checked out earlier that your guitar is laminated, dont worry about copy right, its just one project the son of mariano is following me in instgram and he didnt like those photos

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 8 2015 7:17:25

SephardRick

Posts: 358
Joined: Apr. 11 2014

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

quote:

I am considering to make a sliding door for it, so he can adjust the size of the port.

What a novel idea. An adjustable sound port to fine tune the port volume.

Thanks for sharing your results! I can't tell you how many times I wanted experiment with sound ports, but never got around to it.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 8 2015 16:20:54

Guest

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 28 2016 15:44:32

Haithamflamenco

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

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

quote:

this is a good post i have a yamaha cg122 these are solid top classical guitars they come in spruce top or cedar they have a super lightweight body lighter than any other yamaha classical model i have seen with a matt finnish and a standard 3mm at the 12th fret the bridge can be taken down a huge amount but i have only adjusted the saddle so far the string height to the body of the guitar at the bridge could go as low at 1 cm without any problem. for a guitar i already have this will be a good flamenco conversion i did plan to buy a proper flamenco but were i stay in a huge city there are no proper examples of a good cheap flamenco guitar.

go for it and enjoy

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 29 2016 6:06:35

fyr4efect

Posts: 50
Joined: Apr. 6 2014
From: Arizona

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

Wow. What a project !
Doing something similar to a Yam SF 172. Like you I figured "what the hell"
Sanded it today, mixed the FP crystals with alcohol today and will start FP tomorrow.
Didn't know the rosette was a decal until the sander took it right off.
Kinda like putting a chandelier in a mobile home but its fun.
Been years since I did any FP.
The rosette decal cost 5.95.
Cheers

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 5 2016 1:44:32

Erixon

Posts: 7
Joined: Nov. 28 2015
From: Forest of Dean, UK

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

Same here Ricardo, I used to own a CG130A back in late '90 and the guitar sounded like a crystal. Well balanced instrument. I can't believe I have let that guitar slip out of my hands... I ended up having to sell the guitar...

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 9 2016 12:42:46

Erixon

Posts: 7
Joined: Nov. 28 2015
From: Forest of Dean, UK

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

Love your makeover project Haitham, but I could use a soundbite, how it actually sounds. Can you upload a soundsample so I could hear what you have done?
I have done a similar "makeover/repair/reconstruction", although with a high end guitar - I took a big risk - all or nothing - with a vintage andalusian blanca. I have to say the process was a bit longer, I had to struggle with lack of time and finances, but at the end it has paid off very well. With one difference, I left my J.L.Bellido as it was and did not carve medialuna semi-circle into its head, lol :)
So I understand why people do such makeovers, specially when there is nothing to loose but only gain and during the process they learn a whole lot about the construction and see how things work.
Cheers mate.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 9 2016 13:06:20