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RE: Tom's tutorial Manuel Reyes Flam... (in reply to Jeff H)
quote:
For your current build, are you going to use a Brazilian rosewood bridge?
No, I'll stay with EIRW, as it is a little more homogeneous than Brazilian and it matches the guitar's sides and back. I like the way the guitar's voice comes out, with a little more earthy quality.
RE: Tom's tutorial Manuel Reyes Flam... (in reply to Tom Blackshear)
I went ahead and installed the fingerboard with a 20th fret on the treble side; strung up the guitar without frets and tuned it a little to balance the bass and treble together.
It has good balance but the volume is a little lower than the 2003 model, which probably means I'm going to have to thin out the top some more.
However, if I thin the top then this puppy will definitely be more flamenco rather than an acceptable crossover. Perhaps I can get my wife to take a video later today.
RE: Tom's tutorial Manuel Reyes Flam... (in reply to SephardRick)
quote:
After watching your latest video, did you say the bridge is temporary?
Care to elaborate?
Due to the fact that this my first build with the 1987 Reyes style, I have found that it needs to be re-surfaced a bit to bring down the key, more toward G-F#. Also, I believe the articulation will be better helped by doing this.
I will remove the bridge with a focused heat device, keeping the heat away from the center seem and then re-surface the top to be more compliant with the timber and volume.
But first, I'll install the frets and play it for awhile before I attempt to change anything.
RE: Tom's tutorial Manuel Reyes Flam... (in reply to SephardRick)
The crazy thing here is that taking the surface down a bit to about 2 mm has not given much of a lower key, with the new bridge installed, just balancing the top toward F# from its normal G tuning.
So I'm going to have to go inside and do a little strut polishing to bring it down further. But I'll go ahead and install the frets first, before I do any polishing of the fan braces.
This further work will most likely cause a few things to happen; better articulation, tension, and inter-dimensional quality of the tone. It's a lot of work but I love it when a plan comes together :-)
RE: Tom's tutorial Manuel Reyes Flam... (in reply to Tom Blackshear)
I have the guitar strung up and playing and it is definitely different from the 2003 model.
I don't think I like it as much but it has certain elements of sound that appeal although it has less ability to pump air. It's almost like playing on a stiff board.
This instrument reminds me a little of the Conde style that I build a few months ago. It has some melody but it's not open like the 2003 model. It's more like a player will have to pound the living daylights out of it so it will open up.
This is what happened to the Conde style, although I can't say this is what will happen to this guitar..........
........strangely enough, everything is even with good vibes but it doesn't have the sustain of the 2003 model. The top is about 2 MM so I don't want to go thinner; just wait to see if it opens up with age; if the volume improves.
If it does, then it will be a different kind of air pump because of the plans different pattern. This is definitely a stiffer top.
I'll try to get my wife to do a sound video this week end.
OK, I just went out to the shop and put a temporary tap plate on it and it did focus the sound to be more manageable, so this part is good, but I still think the guitar is too much for my weakened style of playing.
OK, a day later..... and I checked the guitar with the practice tap plate on, and it is turning out to be a good instrument with some slight adjustment to the top timber.
It's crazy how these things develop; even my wife likes the tone now, and says it has power to spare. Honestly, this craft keeps me guessing all the time. I think the addition of the tap plate helped it a lot.
RE: Tom's tutorial Manuel Reyes Flam... (in reply to Tom Blackshear)
Sounds very crispy indeed, when finished, French polished, frets set, etc, please post the final sound tape. Like I said sounds crispy and alive, ready to bust out at the seams, and be played. Thanks Tom.
RE: Tom's tutorial Manuel Reyes Flam... (in reply to Tom Blackshear)
Things are going slow and I might not have the guitar totally finished before this forum shuts down. However, the sound is starting to come out nicely and more solid to its core. I would like to investigate its quality compared with Richard's Arcangel Fernandez flamenco guitar, (which is very good), just to see what the differences are.
Posts: 3452
Joined: Jan. 20 2004
From: Austin, Texas USA
RE: Tom's tutorial Manuel Reyes Flam... (in reply to Tom Blackshear)
quote:
ORIGINAL: Tom Blackshear
Things are going slow and I might not have the guitar totally finished before this forum shuts down. However, the sound is starting to come out nicely and more solid to its core. I would like to investigate its quality compared with Richard's Arcangel Fernandez flamenco guitar, (which is very good), just to see what the differences are.
Sounds interesting Tom. At the moment we are in Mexico. I won't be back in Austin until November 18. There will probably be a get together of the extended family at Thanksgiving. Maybe we can get together beteween Thanksgiving and Christmas. I'm sure I would enjoy meeting your new guitar in person.
RE: Tom's tutorial Manuel Reyes Flam... (in reply to Richard Jernigan)
quote:
Sounds interesting Tom. At the moment we are in Mexico. I won't be back in Austin until November 18.
I'll try and finish it off but I can't promise that date yet. I still have the top and fingerboard to finish off. The back is fully filled and the sides are being filled as we speak, but the top and fingerboard will be time consuming, to say the least. The top finish and tap plate will determine the final tone.
RE: Tom's tutorial Manuel Reyes Flam... (in reply to Richard Jernigan)
Richard,
I continue to finish out the guitar. Some things are happening to slow the process a little but right on track with the finish. I'll try to get a picture for this coming week-end, to show the finish progression.
I have a guitar building class to teach after the first of the year so I hope to be finished with it before then.
Also, I have a guitar builder from Puerto Rico coming here December the 8th to see about relocating to San Antonio. My understanding from classical guitarist Carlos Rodriguez, in Puerto Rico, is that he is an accomplished builder.
So things are starting to look interesting for me to keep building for awhile. And I look forward to drawing a copy of your Arcangel Fernandez flamenco guitar, possibly for the Guild of American Luthiers showcase.
RE: Tom's tutorial Manuel Reyes Flam... (in reply to Tom Blackshear)
Well, the latest news is that he will come for a fine-tuning class Dec the 8th for 4 days and then return home to build for awhile before making a decision to move to San Antonio; due to health issues with his mother.
I was looking forward to his move here but we'll wait for another day, as he now has electricity back on and sufficient shop space to work in.
RE: Tom's tutorial Manuel Reyes Flam... (in reply to Tom Blackshear)
Hi Tom. That’s a lovely finish on the top, I like the hue a lot. I think you’ve indicated in the past that you first spray a coat of tinted shellac followed by the padding work. Do you seal the top with clear shellac before applying the tint coat?
If you feel like doing a pictorial/tutorial on your tinting process, I sure you’d have a receptive audience. Very nice work.
RE: Tom's tutorial Manuel Reyes Flam... (in reply to RobF)
quote:
Do you seal the top with clear shellac before applying the tint coat?
Yes, but with very little wash coat, then spray a few coats of tint to color then let dry for a few days. Then spray a few light coats of clear to seal in the color, then French polish after the finish is very dry; about a week after spraying.
One thing about the dry spray is that you will have some very small dry bumps in the finish but once you start French polishing, the surface will build up thicker and you can sand the surface smooth after the first polish coats with 800 wet and dry paper; being careful not to sand through the color.
I try to dry spray as much as possible rather than put on real wet coats; using very thin shellac; just enough to hold the color together....same with the clear coats.
RE: Tom's tutorial Manuel Reyes Flam... (in reply to Tom Blackshear)
Thanks Tom. I like the results you get.
I’m not set up to spray inside so I’ll give it a try in the spring when I can bring the work outside. I’ve successfully polished with dark shellac before and can get it on evenly by following a fairly strict application pattern but I suspect spraying a tint coat followed by padding with blonde might be an easier way to get consistent results. It sure works nicely for you!