RE: The building of a Swedish flamenco guitar

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Stephen Rees

Posts: 32
Joined: Oct. 4 2007
From: Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire

RE: The building of a Swedish flamen... (in reply to TANúñez)

Good thinking Batman !!!

I use a couple of spring-loaded props, like miniature versions of my "Go-Bars", ...........But Now ......!!!

Nice one !

_____________________________

Stephen Rees - UK
www.reesguitars.co.uk

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 18 2008 5:29:42

TANúñez

Posts: 2559
Joined: Jul. 10 2003
From: TEXAS

RE: The building of a Swedish flamen... (in reply to Per Hallgren)

quote:

Genius!

No. Just doing my job.

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Tom Núñez
www.instagram.com/tanunezguitars

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 18 2008 5:52:18

Per Hallgren

Posts: 241
Joined: Jul. 1 2006
From: Sweden

RE: The building of a Swedish flamen... (in reply to TANúñez)

More serious, I like magnets for different repair situations but they are also a little bit scary to use since they are so strong. I have more than once accidentally lost control over a magnet when gluing a crack and the magnet has bounced the top. And I can imagine my drawer with the bridge gluing cauls with 15 cauls and 30 rare earth magnets. Double sided tape is not so slick maybe but it has worked for me.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 18 2008 6:39:43

TANúñez

Posts: 2559
Joined: Jul. 10 2003
From: TEXAS

RE: The building of a Swedish flamen... (in reply to Per Hallgren)

I know what you mean Per. I still use double stick tape most of the time. I just try to use as little as possible. Just enough to hold the caul down which doesn't take much.

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Tom Núñez
www.instagram.com/tanunezguitars

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 18 2008 6:52:33

Stephen Rees

Posts: 32
Joined: Oct. 4 2007
From: Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire

RE: The building of a Swedish flamen... (in reply to Per Hallgren)

Per, Many thanks for a great photo-essay and a superb contribution to the foro .... I've enjoyed being a fly on the wall of your workshop for the past several days, and always interested to see how others do things.....Much appreciated !

Did you shoot all the photos yourself? ... they work really well !

All the best,
Steve

_____________________________

Stephen Rees - UK
www.reesguitars.co.uk

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 18 2008 9:30:15

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: The building of a Swedish flamen... (in reply to Stephen Rees)

quote:

Did you shoot all the photos yourself? ... they work really well !

I agree, I agree.

Thanks for the caul tips I will try.

_____________________________

Blog: http://news-from-the-workshop.blogspot.com/

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 18 2008 22:23:46

Per Hallgren

Posts: 241
Joined: Jul. 1 2006
From: Sweden

RE: The building of a Swedish flamen... (in reply to Stephen Rees)

quote:

Per, Many thanks for a great photo-essay and a superb contribution to the foro .... I've enjoyed being a fly on the wall of your workshop for the past several days, and always interested to see how others do things.....Much appreciated !

Did you shoot all the photos yourself? ... they work really well !

You're welcome Stephen. Yes, I took all the pictures myself which sometimes got me feeling very silly running through the workshop while the timer ran on the camera to have time to take a pose with a vvveeery concentrated face and the tool in the correct position...

By the way, I tried to visit your website but couldn't enter. The first page is looking very good, nice layout and pictures. What's inside?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 19 2008 3:26:42

Per Hallgren

Posts: 241
Joined: Jul. 1 2006
From: Sweden

RE: The building of a Swedish flamen... (in reply to Anders Eliasson)

Anders, I will make the next bridge with 12 holes. Thanks for pushing!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 19 2008 3:28:06

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: The building of a Swedish flamen... (in reply to Stephen Rees)

I think you´ll like it. Just remember to make the holes off - set, this way you wont weaken the tieblock.

_____________________________

Blog: http://news-from-the-workshop.blogspot.com/

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 19 2008 19:55:07

Stephen Rees

Posts: 32
Joined: Oct. 4 2007
From: Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire

RE: The building of a Swedish flamen... (in reply to Per Hallgren)

Ahhh, my website ..... or my webpage as I call it .......yes, that's it at the moment !

R-e-a-l-l-y must finish writing it soon ........ ( prefer to be in the workshop though

)

_____________________________

Stephen Rees - UK
www.reesguitars.co.uk

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 19 2008 21:26:28

Per Hallgren

Posts: 241
Joined: Jul. 1 2006
From: Sweden

RE: The building of a Swedish flamen... (in reply to Stephen Rees)

Stephen, I know what you mean. I think it is both difficult and boring to write for my website. My English part is "under construction" since several years....

One thing I find difficult is to try to find words that is neither blowing me up like a baloon or denying the fact that I actually has been a full time professional for more than 15 years. I once saw a website where the luthier was presented as "the most famous living luthier in England"...well, that is not my way to say things, I hope...

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 20 2008 0:29:25

Stephen Rees

Posts: 32
Joined: Oct. 4 2007
From: Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire

RE: The building of a Swedish flamen... (in reply to Per Hallgren)

Per, I have the same problem ...... I find it very difficult to "blow my own trumpet" and I have thought that I may ask someone else to write it for me.
Whichever way, I think it is important to have some form of presence on the web these days ....... even only one page with a phone number !!
Cheers

_____________________________

Stephen Rees - UK
www.reesguitars.co.uk

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 20 2008 2:49:43

flamenco_9

Posts: 214
Joined: Jan. 15 2004

RE: The building of a Swedish flamen... (in reply to Stephen Rees)

thank you Per it was very usefull!!
you are very accurate Luthier.
whish we can hear the result.
can you tell us more about this.

Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px

Attachment (1)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 21 2008 10:21:53

Per Hallgren

Posts: 241
Joined: Jul. 1 2006
From: Sweden

RE: The building of a Swedish flamen... (in reply to flamenco_9)

You have been looking at the Swedish photo essay...well I actually started to write something in English for the Foro but stopped after an hour because of laziness. The pictures and the text is about the resonances in a guitar. I will eventually get myself together and write something about it some day but not today. Time is short for the moment.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 21 2008 17:58:03

Tom Blackshear

Posts: 2304
Joined: Apr. 15 2008

RE: The building of a Swedish flamen... (in reply to Per Hallgren)

Hi Per, I realize this post is several months old but I just joined the list. I enjoyed your pictures a lot. I see that you are getting a little older; like myself :-)

I hope things are well with you. I noticed that you were building a domed top. I normally build a flat top with the Reyes style since it has a very melodic and full sound to begin with. There is a certain articulation I get with the playing action for thumb and left hand ligado when the top is built flat. Have you tried this technique?

Note: there is a little rise behind the bridge that is curved due to the slight tapering around the edges from the bottom toward the lower bout at the bridge line but in front of the bridge it is totally flat as is the whole upper bout; actually, a little concave due to the even thickness of the finger-board, from the nut to the 19th fret.

Tom Blackshear

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 16 2008 14:30:03

Per Hallgren

Posts: 241
Joined: Jul. 1 2006
From: Sweden

RE: The building of a Swedish flamen... (in reply to Stephen Rees)

Hi Tom, you're right. I am getting older. Soon I have completed my first half century. Still waiting for the wisdom though... Are you still building?

The dome in the top is very small and I use it mainly of climate protecting reasons. This guitar is going to the extreme north of Sweden where the winter climate is extremely dry. Laying a straight edge across the top show a rise of 1.5 mm across and almost nothing lenghtwise, exactly as the Reyes guitar I have had for pattern. The guitar sound and play well and I am satisfied with it.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 17 2008 5:44:02

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: The building of a Swedish flamen... (in reply to Stephen Rees)

I agree with Per.

Why build flat when you can achieve the sound you are looking for by doming the guitar slightly?
It has a lot of advantages IMHO

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Blog: http://news-from-the-workshop.blogspot.com/

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 17 2008 7:40:48

Sherman

Posts: 26
Joined: Apr. 15 2007

RE: The building of a Swedish flamen... (in reply to Stephen Rees)

Ok I am easily impressed when it comes to guitars, but this was great. Especially appreciated the intricacies apparent with the binding. Really great Per. I should have ordered a couple of years ago! This is the style of guitar I like, (cypress back and sides) although played in classical style. Very responsive generally I think.
Sherman

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 20 2008 22:55:46

Per Hallgren

Posts: 241
Joined: Jul. 1 2006
From: Sweden

RE: The building of a Swedish flamen... (in reply to Sherman)

Thanks Sherman. I agree in that the spruce/cypress combination is a great one, no matter if it is a flamenco or classical. They have a special allure. I build them different though, naturally.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 21 2008 7:53:08

Tom Blackshear

Posts: 2304
Joined: Apr. 15 2008

RE: The building of a Swedish flamen... (in reply to Per Hallgren)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Tom, you're right. I am getting older. Soon I have completed my first half century. Still waiting for the wisdom though... Are you still building?

The dome in the top is very small and I use it mainly of climate protecting reasons. This guitar is going to the extreme north of Sweden where the winter climate is extremely dry. Laying a straight edge across the top show a rise of 1.5 mm across and almost nothing lenghtwise, exactly as the Reyes guitar I have had for pattern. The guitar sound and play well and I am satisfied with it.

quote:

.............."

Yes, I'm still building and I have decided to take a few orders but not over a year out since I don't prefer to be stressed on a regular schedule past that point.

I understand what you are saying about expansion and shrinkage of the top but I have found that the top will take a lot of shrinkage due to its relationship with the cypress sides and back. It's not so much the shrinkage but a rapid drying out that causes problems. You practically have to fill the wood with water and then dry it rapidly to have a cracking problem. I have built guitars in 45 % humidity and they went to 0-20 % with no problems. But one player in Boston, with steam radiators for heat, had a cracking problem due to rapid changes in the humidity. Btw, that particular guitar had a slight dome in its top and was over 10 years old when it happened.

I think that the reason for flat tops for the Reyes is that the 2003 Reyes I examined had it. It's no mystery that Reyes experimented with a lot of designs over the years but I think the main reason for his flat top now is that he sees a certain articulation with it. Everything I examined was flat in front of the bridge area, going across the top. And then of course there are different sizes, shapes, and tapering conditions on all of the fan braces that cause this certain articulation.

I would also like to add that I really find your shop one of the most workable areas I've ever seen and I wish I had something even close to it.

_____________________________

Tom Blackshear Guitar maker

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 21 2008 15:21:28

xirdneH_imiJ

Posts: 1889
Joined: Dec. 2 2006
From: Budapest, now in Southampton

RE: The building of a Swedish flamen... (in reply to Per Hallgren)

Per, are you still around?
Any chance to see the pictures again?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 22 2010 11:21:04

Per Hallgren

Posts: 241
Joined: Jul. 1 2006
From: Sweden

RE: The building of a Swedish flamen... (in reply to xirdneH_imiJ)

I removed the photos from Photobucket from where they were linked because they generated a lot of private e-mail and phone calls. They were posted at two other forums too and altogether it was too much. You can see the pictures here:

http://www.hallgrenguitars.com/Per_Hallgren,_Guitarmaker/The_workshop.html

or here if you speak Swedish:

http://www.hallgrenguitars.com/Per_Hallgren,_Gitarrbyggare/Verkstaden.html

Hope you can enjoy them anyway.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 23 2010 18:30:12

xirdneH_imiJ

Posts: 1889
Joined: Dec. 2 2006
From: Budapest, now in Southampton

RE: The building of a Swedish flamen... (in reply to Per Hallgren)

many thanks Per!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 23 2010 21:19:04

buleria74

Posts: 135
Joined: Jan. 23 2010

RE: The building of a Swedish flamen... (in reply to Per Hallgren)

hej Per,

thanks for the posting, I am happy to see you in this foro,

I will visit you after Christmas,

hälsningar från Skåne.

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Flamenco no tiene mas que un escuela, transmitir o no transmitir !

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 25 2010 19:22:29