RE: new build for 68'Conde style flamenco

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RE: new build for 68' Conde style flamenco

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Tom Blackshear

Posts: 2304
Joined: Apr. 15 2008

RE: new build for 68' Conde style fl... (in reply to RobF)

Thanks,

I've noticed that sometimes Paco Lucia would change out his third string with a black string to help blend the treble strings together, perhaps to make things flow more evenly.

This shortening of the 3rd strut on the '68 Conde style could have achieved the same or similar result. Even Manuel Reyes had his way by tapering the third strut to achieve a similar result.

It's obvious that changing the sizes, shapes and tapers, of the fan brace pattern, does strange things to the tonal properties of the top.

I'm surprised by seeing things happen, even with 30 plus years experience with this technique.

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Tom Blackshear Guitar maker

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 17 2020 17:23:07

RobF

Posts: 1611
Joined: Aug. 24 2017

RE: new build for 68' Conde style fl... (in reply to Tom Blackshear)

I thought this might be an appropriate place to put this link, since you’re doing a Conde build...

Here is Felipe Conde playing a 1957 Conde peghead from his collection:

https://www.facebook.com/100001285015492/videos/3038412909544846/

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 19 2020 0:38:44

rolando

Posts: 1
Joined: Jan. 10 2008

RE: new build for 68' Conde style fl... (in reply to Tom Blackshear)

Hi Tom, I saw you rounding the fan brace of the sixt string.
Are the other fan braces also rounded?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 19 2020 17:48:55

Tom Blackshear

Posts: 2304
Joined: Apr. 15 2008

RE: new build for 68' Conde style fl... (in reply to rolando)

quote:

Hi Tom, I saw you rounding the fan brace of the sixth string.
Are the other fan braces also rounded?

I think you might be referring to the video where I did all the struts round for a player.

This particular build will go back to the original pyramid on top of the braces.

My player friend is a classical guitarist so I wanted to add a little sweeter sound to the voice for the previous build.

https://www.facebook.com/natalio.izquierdo/videos/10163271944050495/

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Tom Blackshear Guitar maker

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 19 2020 19:59:59

Tom Blackshear

Posts: 2304
Joined: Apr. 15 2008

RE: new build for 68' Conde style fl... (in reply to Tom Blackshear)

Hello, I may have failed to mention this but last week-end I had my gall bladder removed. It was real bad and had to be removed.

I'll try and keep you posted when I'll be back in the shop.

I can communicate a little but no shop work until things get better.

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Tom Blackshear Guitar maker

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 5 2020 22:47:44

JasonM

Posts: 2052
Joined: Dec. 8 2005
From: Baltimore

RE: new build for 68' Conde style fl... (in reply to Tom Blackshear)

Wow Tom! I guess the hospital was pretty empty at least?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 5 2020 23:06:44

Tom Blackshear

Posts: 2304
Joined: Apr. 15 2008

RE: new build for 68' Conde style fl... (in reply to JasonM)

Yes, it was pretty empty as they are not doing any elective surgery, only life threatening at the moment.

Sorry for the interruption, it'll be a few weeks before I'm back in the shop.

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Tom Blackshear Guitar maker

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 6 2020 2:02:31

Andy Culpepper

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

RE: new build for 68' Conde style fl... (in reply to Tom Blackshear)

Best wishes for a speedy recovery, Tom.

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

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 6 2020 2:10:33

RobF

Posts: 1611
Joined: Aug. 24 2017

RE: new build for 68' Conde style fl... (in reply to Tom Blackshear)

Best wishes Tom. Get well.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 6 2020 2:34:12

Tom Blackshear

Posts: 2304
Joined: Apr. 15 2008

RE: new build for 68' Conde style fl... (in reply to RobF)

Thanks guys for your best wishes.

I'm going to sign off for a while and when things get better, I'll be back.

God willing.

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Tom Blackshear Guitar maker

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 6 2020 15:25:23

ernandez R

Posts: 737
Joined: Mar. 25 2019
From: Alaska USA

RE: new build for 68' Conde style fl... (in reply to Tom Blackshear)

Speedy recovery Tom!

My partner mentioned that yesterday was when we would have been flying down to California then Texas, Spring Branch on the Godalupe River to visit family. Had hoped to stop in for a visit until this virus came around and shaved our sound bars too damn thin :/

I've been laying around after foot surgery in a crazy amount of pain for days but it's getting better. Like you I don't just lay around and always am working with my hands. Now I'm learning patience... but not vary well. About ten more weeks then I get to learn how to walk again. My playing is getting better and my finger nails are looking almost as nice as yours look in your videos.

Looking forward to next year.

HR

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I prefer my flamenco guitar spicy,
doesn't have to be fast,
should have some meat on the bones,
can be raw or well done,
as long as it doesn't sound like it's turning green on an elevator floor.

www.instagram.com/threeriversguitars

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 7 2020 3:54:33

Stephen Eden

Posts: 914
Joined: Apr. 12 2008
From: UK

RE: new build for 68' Conde style fl... (in reply to Tom Blackshear)

Get well soon Tom you've got a guitar to finish!

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Classical and Flamenco Guitars www.EdenGuitars.co.uk

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 7 2020 13:18:46

Tom Blackshear

Posts: 2304
Joined: Apr. 15 2008

RE: new build for 68' Conde style fl... (in reply to Stephen Eden)

quote:

Get well soon Tom you've got a guitar to finish!

YES! tell me about it. Hopefully it will be next week to start it up again.

Here is a small video of me fine tuning a flamenco guitar for David Alford a few years ago, with one of many techniques I use for fine tuning a guitar top. This is the start of a process that can take a few weeks to accomplish, not wanting to try and rush things but gradually taking the time to get things right with the tone and articulation of the strings, etc.

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Tom Blackshear Guitar maker

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 16 2020 16:28:26

Tom Blackshear

Posts: 2304
Joined: Apr. 15 2008

RE: new build for 68' Conde style fl... (in reply to Tom Blackshear)

For those of you who would like to invite Al Carruth here to talk about fine tuning, I found his e-mail address, which is:

alcarruth@myfairpoint.net

and give him the courtesy of explaining how he can become a member of this list. Al is full of knowledge about guitar making.

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Tom Blackshear Guitar maker

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 16 2020 23:03:51

Tom Blackshear

Posts: 2304
Joined: Apr. 15 2008

RE: new build for 68' Conde style fl... (in reply to Tom Blackshear)

This is a fan brace dry fit to the Conde style 1968 flamenco guitar.

I'll try and glue the braces in a few days and then trim the fan braces to their standard sizes before gluing the top onto the sides and back.

Right now the braces are set to show their position on the top, without glue.

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Tom Blackshear Guitar maker

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 24 2020 16:38:40

Richard Jernigan

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

RE: new build for 68' Conde style fl... (in reply to Tom Blackshear)

It's good to see you back in the shop, Tom.

RNJ

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 25 2020 1:28:05

Tom Blackshear

Posts: 2304
Joined: Apr. 15 2008

RE: new build for 68' Conde style fl... (in reply to Richard Jernigan)

Thanks for the encouragement. Sometimes I think I'm making headway and then something happens to discourage it. But the plan is set good so I'll have to be careful to make it right.

I think the miracle will be in the actual finishing of the instrument, so I hope to make the fine tuning as clear as possible in the finish out.

The fine tuning technique is where the tonal result will tell. And this is simply a universal touch and feel process, regardless of who makes a guitar.

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Tom Blackshear Guitar maker

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 26 2020 16:08:46

Tom Blackshear

Posts: 2304
Joined: Apr. 15 2008

RE: new build for 68' Conde style fl... (in reply to Tom Blackshear)

I've cut the sound hole out and the next step will be to install the fan braces and after that, I will try to explain in detail, the fine tuning steps.

Once the top is done then all other steps are basically easy to work with.

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Tom Blackshear Guitar maker

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 9 2020 21:08:41

Tom Blackshear

Posts: 2304
Joined: Apr. 15 2008

RE: new build for 68' Conde style fl... (in reply to Tom Blackshear)

I'm starting to glue on the fan braces for the top. I'm using my own method not the box style with long sticks. As soon as I get them glued I'll start shaping the braces with an explanation how to do the primary tone before I get to the finish out with fine tuning.

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Tom Blackshear Guitar maker

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 14 2020 19:33:37

Tom Blackshear

Posts: 2304
Joined: Apr. 15 2008

RE: new build for 68' Conde style fl... (in reply to Tom Blackshear)

I still have to finish gluing the struts in but the 7 across are glued and crowned already, then I have to glue the bottom stiffeners and finish out the shaping then explain the fine tuning.

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Tom Blackshear Guitar maker

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 3 2020 19:55:37

Tom Blackshear

Posts: 2304
Joined: Apr. 15 2008

RE: new build for 68' Conde style fl... (in reply to Tom Blackshear)

Here is the 7 braces glued in and shaped on their tops and then I'll relieve them on each end and smooth them out before I glue in the two bottom braces and then try to explain the idea of fine tuning.

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Tom Blackshear Guitar maker

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 5 2020 20:33:08

Tom Blackshear

Posts: 2304
Joined: Apr. 15 2008

RE: new build for 68' Conde style fl... (in reply to Tom Blackshear)

Hello again, this is the latest video of the 1968 Conde build and its just about together with the top. The fine tuning info is shortly addressed with this one.

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Tom Blackshear Guitar maker

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 22 2020 19:53:53

Tom Blackshear

Posts: 2304
Joined: Apr. 15 2008

RE: new build for 68' Conde style fl... (in reply to Tom Blackshear)

Hello,

The upper horizontal bar has been glued and now I'll talk a little about the over all top function.

1. The original top of Ramon's guitar was about 1/16th " and this was very thin. About 1/16" in the center.

2. The two horizontal bars across the top were 5/8th" high with a little over 1/4" scalloped on the edges.

3. The fan braces were about 5/16ths wide and 1/8th" high with a pyramid in the center.

4. The bottom fan brace stiffeners were 3/32nd" high and 1/4" wide. All braces were scalloped on their end about 1" on both ends.

I feel the top thickness was a little too thin so I'm building the top thickness at about 2 to 1.9 MM thick and lowering the horizontal bars to about 9/16th" high with a little under 1/4" scallop on the edges.

This way the load (torgue) on the top will even out its over-all tonal quality without managing to damage the tops equilibrium with age.

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Tom Blackshear Guitar maker

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 31 2020 21:50:38

Tom Blackshear

Posts: 2304
Joined: Apr. 15 2008

RE: new build for 68' Conde style fl... (in reply to Tom Blackshear)

Well, this is getting to be embarrassing. I had to order EIRW for the guitar build instead of cypress due to some building problems.

LMII bent the sides for me, so when I receive the wood it will go a little faster on the build.

Boy! Trials and tribulations :-)

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Tom Blackshear Guitar maker

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 31 2020 14:38:58

Ricardo

Posts: 14797
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: new build for 68' Conde style fl... (in reply to Tom Blackshear)

quote:

LMII bent the sides for me, so when I receive the wood it will go a little faster on the build.

I’m thinking with pre-bent sides you have a very small window for installing them before the wood tries to straighten?

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CD's and transcriptions available here:
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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 31 2020 15:04:54

Tom Blackshear

Posts: 2304
Joined: Apr. 15 2008

RE: new build for 68' Conde style fl... (in reply to Ricardo)

quote:

I’m thinking with pre-bent sides you have a very small window for installing them before the wood tries to straighten?

That won't be too hard to handle in my shop. My bending iron is caked with rosewood stain so I had to forget the cypress on this build.

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Tom Blackshear Guitar maker

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 1 2020 14:12:27

Tom Blackshear

Posts: 2304
Joined: Apr. 15 2008

RE: new build for 68' Conde style fl... (in reply to Tom Blackshear)

Just received the back and sides from LMII so I'll let the sides set up about a week and then put them in the mold.

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Tom Blackshear Guitar maker

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 6 2020 23:10:29

Tom Blackshear

Posts: 2304
Joined: Apr. 15 2008

RE: new build for 68' Conde style fl... (in reply to Tom Blackshear)

Lucio Nunez is on his way over to see about making me a more educated guitar mold system for this current build of the 1968 Conde style flamenco.

My current mold lacks some attachments that help stabilize the pattern, so I've decided to up-grade the set up; not so much that I couldn't build the guitar without complications but that this alteration just makes it easier to handle.

right now I have the sides cut and sized for the mold.

Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px

Attachment (1)

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Tom Blackshear Guitar maker

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 22 2020 17:41:03

Tom Blackshear

Posts: 2304
Joined: Apr. 15 2008

RE: new build for 68' Conde style fl... (in reply to Tom Blackshear)

Here is the mold made by Lucio Nunez for my 1968 Conde style flamenco build. I will start building again as soon as possible. The jig at the top is made for a top build right side up to hold the neck in place.