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RE: Small signs of life (in reply to jshelton5040)
So, a picture of something that hopefully is a bit less polemical than a soundport. So, I decided to add my own personal touch to the bridge tie block. I know very well that its not 100% perfect, but at least its made by me and not imported from Korea or Russia where its been mass produced.
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RE: Small signs of life (in reply to jshelton5040)
I have been French polishing myself the last 9 years. I had Antonio Ariza hijo French polish my guitars in the period 2004 - 7. I dont hate FP, but its not my favorite thing to do. I like to do everything myself, because it gives better control and you learn a lot about your work when you finish yourself. This with starring at the guitar during 20 hours and watch how all imperfections pop up underneath the shellack is a good learning process.
RE: Small signs of life (in reply to jshelton5040)
A Blanca ready for French Polish I will start the FP when I have strings on the two other guitars that I´m building.
So, the two flamenco guitars that I have built this winter both have soundports. But that doesnt mean that I only build flamenco guitars with soundports. Actually I think that some 65 -70% of the flamenco guitars that i have built the last years have been without soundports. I personally prefer guitars with soundports, but I also like a good guitar without a soundport and I will start the building of such a blanca this spring.
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RE: Small signs of life (in reply to jshelton5040)
Well, Pundi64 I started having problems with my fingers and at the same time I was tired of how flamenco as an artform funcioned in Andalucía where I lived. And so went back to playing the violin/fiddle and now my focus is there.
RE: Small signs of life (in reply to jshelton5040)
This is a blanca #135. 100% my personal taste. Cypress back and sides, German spruce top and a soundport. Thats how I like them the most. Take a good look at the beautifull "baybearclawing" on the soundboard. Yummi.
I will take a short break from the workshop, but will start the building of another blanca, this time without a soundport, within a couple of weeks.
There are more pictures on my blog
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Well, Pundi64 I started having problems with my fingers and at the same time I was tired of how flamenco as an artform funcioned in Andalucía where I lived. And so went back to playing the violin/fiddle and now my focus is there.
While giving up playing the guitar, you have certainly, headed into another realm, of perfection, your guitars are a beautiful works of the art.
Wow Anders, a beautiful guitar! Very nice bearclaw indeed. Like that a lot too... 15 years spanish guitarbuild experience sure shows off. You will carry that with you, the good times and the bad times. Happy to see you are on the right track, it is not easy to start over again in a "new" native county.
One minor curious question. If you sand down the bearclaw part, is that as soft as the non-bearclaw part?
In stones while sculpturing, if it looks like that, that "bearclaw" part is harder than te rest, and while sanding, it needs a bit more pressure to get it equal as the rest.
Now I`m varnishing my guitar nr.3.... Im wondering for the result..
So do I every time I finish a guitar. Its what makes it interesting. Allinstruments have their little souls and getting to know that soul is what makes me keep on building.
Thanks everyone for your encouraging words about my work. It sure helps.
Peter, this with the bearclawing being softer or harder, I havent thought about in that way. I have never sanded a bearclaw part and not the surrounding non bearclaw parts. I just sand, tap, twist and listen to some kind of podcast inbetween when I dont listen to the instrument I´m building.
RE: Small signs of life (in reply to jshelton5040)
Hi Joan, not Stephen but i thought i could answer. You can buy the Grandtunes directly from Schaller´s website. The cheapest ones (nickel plate) are around 120 eur, iirc.
Here is my personal opinion if I may: It seems you have reached a new level. The guitars look very elegant, harmonious and flamenco.
I like the very pale, natural colour; I guess just a little colour in the finish to match the spruce to the cypress?
For me your guitars have always had a no frills aesthetic but I think that the tie block inlay is just the right level of decoration and adds to the elegance.
RE: Small signs of life (in reply to jshelton5040)
Again, thanks a lot everyone. Actually, the only difference is the tieblock inlay. Everything else is just like it was before I moved. And there´s no color in the 2 spruce soundboards. But I have a fresh feeling in my building. Theworld outside my windows look different. More noice, from the outside, cars, lorrys, tractors but also a lot more natural light from a big window facing north and being on the 2nd floor. And wooden floors make feet happy. But besides that, its just a guitar I made.
I know very well that its not 100% perfect, but at least its made by me and not imported from Korea or Russia where its been mass produced.
May I ask, if you know that it's not perfect, why don't make them perfect? I know that luthiers may be on a tight Schedule to make it somewhat economical...
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