New guitar Spruce/Padauk

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Andy Culpepper

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

New guitar Spruce/Padauk

Hi all, I guess I'll abandon the old thread as things seem to get buried or unnoticed...so here is my latest flamenca, brand new and just strung up today and getting picked up tomorrow. Spruce and Andaman Padauk (Coral), one of my favorite combinations. This thing has teeth, muy flamenca. Rosette handmade.

The pegs are planetary pegs from Pegheds with real Rosewood grips. They are discontinued but he still has some in stock.

Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px

_____________________________

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

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 16 2017 23:51:29

jshelton5040

Posts: 1500
Joined: Jan. 17 2005

RE: New guitar Spruce/Padauk (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

Andy, that's a beautiful top. It appears to have zero run out. May I ask where you bought it and what kind of spruce?

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John Shelton - www.sheltonfarrettaguitars.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 16 2017 23:57:47

Andy Culpepper

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

RE: New guitar Spruce/Padauk (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

John, that's from Akustik. Caucasian Spruce. A lot of what they send is really good, though some is a little on the dense side.

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

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 17 2017 0:13:14

jshelton5040

Posts: 1500
Joined: Jan. 17 2005

RE: New guitar Spruce/Padauk (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Andy Culpepper

John, that's from Akustik. Caucasian Spruce. A lot of what they send is really good, though some is a little on the dense side.

I suspected as much. They are an excellent supplier with good prices but I agree with you about the weight of some of the tops.

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John Shelton - www.sheltonfarrettaguitars.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 17 2017 14:26:36

jalalkun

Posts: 276
Joined: May 3 2017
From: Iraq, living in Cologne, Germany

RE: New guitar Spruce/Padauk (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

I really like your clean and simple design, it's kind of your trademark.

still need to have a listen.

Do you have a close up on these rosewood peg buttons? I'll be having the same pegs on my new guitar and I wonder if they harmonize with the rest of the headstock.

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My name is Jalal.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 18 2017 9:35:31

Andy Culpepper

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

RE: New guitar Spruce/Padauk (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

Thanks, Jalal. Hope this picture helps.

Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px

_____________________________

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

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 18 2017 23:30:38

jalalkun

Posts: 276
Joined: May 3 2017
From: Iraq, living in Cologne, Germany

RE: New guitar Spruce/Padauk (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

Thanks for the picture Andy

it looks good, guess it's goona look great. Chuck Herin picked the darkest rosewood buttons he had in his stash because the luthier making my guitar doesn't want the colors of the peg and the button to deviate, he actually wanted to have them in the same color as the peg itself (which in this case would have been an ebony button, the teller buttons look classy and elegant) but since they're discontinued he didn't have any of the ebony buttons anymore.

By the way, your guitar sounds really boomy, I wonder what it's gonna sound like in a year or two

great work.

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My name is Jalal.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 19 2017 15:16:10

Richard Jernigan

Posts: 3430
Joined: Jan. 20 2004
From: Austin, Texas USA

RE: New guitar Spruce/Padauk (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

The guitar is beautiful. It sounds great. I don't think that's just because your playing has improved so much from when I first heard you.

Keep up the good work!

RNJ

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 19 2017 22:52:45

Andy Culpepper

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

RE: New guitar Spruce/Padauk (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

Thanks Richard! I intend to keep it up

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

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 21 2017 0:01:25

Ruphus

Posts: 3782
Joined: Nov. 18 2010

RE: New guitar Spruce/Padauk (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

Hey Andy,

That rosette in your avatar ... Is it an order from a customer from Papa New Guinea?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 21 2017 18:57:19

Andy Culpepper

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

RE: New guitar Spruce/Padauk (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

Ruphus, haha...no just a friendly midwestern guitarist. He came to my shop and everything, didn't even try to roast me over a fire.

Here's a shot of the whole guitar ready for finish...that cute little fella wanted to pose with it.

Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px

_____________________________

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

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 23 2017 0:51:54

Ruphus

Posts: 3782
Joined: Nov. 18 2010

RE: New guitar Spruce/Padauk (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

Looking at leftie axes makes me dizzy. Everyone needs to cherish his little squares. ;O/

Proven to be having a rather set outline in guitar design yourself, you in the same time have no reservations with meeting customer´s aesthetic preferences, including the willingness to trying out new materials.
I like that, not just in terms of obliging shop policy, but as indicator for self-confidence that in the end thumbs gauge will always ensure a resonating standard.

Suppose you will not make demo vids with playing leftie guitars, will you? hehe |OD
Besides, there is a didactic suggestion for moments in time when students feel to be having gained too little of progress. Which is the advice to turn the guitar around and try playing left handed. It shall remind of how things felt when one picked up the guitar first time.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 23 2017 13:50:39

Andy Culpepper

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

RE: New guitar Spruce/Padauk (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

Ruphus, yes I'm always happy to work with people to make something unique as long as it's still in good taste. The skulls were kind of a "**** it, let's do it" thing but I think it looks cool.

I did string the guitar up already and it was very interesting to try to lefty. Pretty much like starting over from scratch as you say. I played it upside-down for a while just to check out the sound, but you realize that the angle of attack on the strings being different changes the sound quite a bit. Not being able to do real rest stroke picado on the 1st string for example. I probably won't be making any videos with this one...

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

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 24 2017 23:42:25

Ruphus

Posts: 3782
Joined: Nov. 18 2010

RE: New guitar Spruce/Padauk (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

Personally, I think that any kind of design has its place. Whether a draft that shows relation to historical shape or stays within historical pattern, or designs that relate to general aesthetics ... From rat design (which I think to have not seen yet, but would like to) to moderate bling. To me both, purist style and diversions are legit.

And sometimes even over decoration (like that incredibly carved specimen lately made by an architect who built an axe for his daughter) persuades for the amazing technique alone.

As long as playability and sound are appealing too, who is to complain.

Only when a grand master is in his last makes -like currently one in Granada- I would find it a waste if he was hypothetically spending much of time for deco. (Which in fact he is not doing, just besides.) For, in such a case, I believe, it be great if he just put out in numbers and consistent quality still as much as possible.

PS:

BTW, Andy; Could you think of building a rat design guitar?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 25 2017 4:21:42

Andy Culpepper

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

RE: New guitar Spruce/Padauk (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

Hmm I don't know if I would go that far... I would just build it and let the customer deface it, preferably without sending me any pictures

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

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 26 2017 23:28:31

Ruphus

Posts: 3782
Joined: Nov. 18 2010

RE: New guitar Spruce/Padauk (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

I was thinking of rat design emulated under a common finish.
You know remotely like below, only not as large scaled like with inlay, but merely as painted / stained image (under finish) of a worn and patched up appearing guitar.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 27 2017 12:44:24

Andy Culpepper

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

RE: New guitar Spruce/Padauk (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

Wow...not really my style but looks incredible.

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

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 27 2017 23:17:07

Ruphus

Posts: 3782
Joined: Nov. 18 2010

RE: New guitar Spruce/Padauk (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

Yep, not my style either.

I would need to engage photoshop for to get through what I mean, but it´s been quite a while ago since having used it, and it would be too awkward trying to get into it.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 28 2017 9:55:25

Jeff H

Posts: 39
Joined: Jan. 21 2004

RE: New guitar Spruce/Padauk (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

Andy,

I am asking this question as a former exotic wood broker/hustler specific to musical instrument trade..
What characteristics to you ascribe to Andaman Padauk as compared to mainland?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 2 2017 3:20:52

Andy Culpepper

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

RE: New guitar Spruce/Padauk (in reply to Jeff H)

quote:

Andy,

I am asking this question as a former exotic wood broker/hustler specific to musical instrument trade..
What characteristics to you ascribe to Andaman Padauk as compared to mainland?

It's a little lighter in weight (the stuff I have) and has a little more pinkish/salmon undertone I would say. But tonally it's pretty similar to good quality African.

_____________________________

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

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 2 2017 13:07:58

Jeff H

Posts: 39
Joined: Jan. 21 2004

RE: New guitar Spruce/Padauk (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

Thanks Andy,

That's a very fine guitar. !

It was long thought Andaman was superior to African, and in fact the scuttlebutt
was there was in fact no more Andaman available..
and African passed off as Andaman.

I have some genuine Andaman... as you stated, lighter, not only in weight but in its
initial color. Mine is about 35 years old I bought a bit of it off the docks in Oakland/
Alameda, Calif back around 1982. I think I'll have a look at it and see if the color has
changed. I do recall mine having less pronounced pores.

It is also harder and stiffer than the stuff currently available, but I am a fan of padauk
and like it as well for its own characteristics.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 3 2017 22:33:18