Jack Spira bouzouki build
 

Last September I contacted Jack Spira in Australia about having a bouzouki built. I wanted a zouk that could stand up as a solo instrument and not sound too tinny as zouks can in the upper registers. We had some very interesting conversations and finally settled on a tiger myrtle/cedar combination. Here we are in April and the work has begun.

This is the cedar top and tiger myrtle b/s set.
http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/v...160121_001.jpg


Here's the tiger myrtle wetted down.
http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/v...d/DSCN2426.jpg
http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/v...d/DSCN2427.jpg

The rosette is going to be a tiger myrtle ring with inner and outer abalone rings. The binding is going to be an inner strip of tiger myrtle with an outer strip of ebony.

The tiger myrtle ring for the rosette being cut and fitted.
http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/v...d/DSCN2609.jpg
http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/v...d/DSCN2610.jpg
http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/v...d/DSCN2611.jpg

I'll post more as the build progresses.

That is some nice Tiger Myrtle! In fact it looks like you almost have the whole face on the back.

Looks outstanding.
You're a lucky person, I believe Jack is a busy builder with quite a waiting list.

Cool, curious to watch this play out!

Oh this is gon' be gooooood.

Thanks. I have to ask... the phrase "whole face" isn't one I've heard before. What does that mean? If I had to guess, I'd guess it means from bark to sapwood. Am I close?

It wasn't too bad of a wait and it allowed time to converse about the details and it gave me time to think about the aesthetics.

And speaking of aesthetics, I'm going to have two inlays on the fretboard. I haven't decided where to place each, but I did a mockup picture on a guitar fretboard just as an example... "síocháin" is the Irish word for peace.

http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/v...ild/inlays.jpg

Jim that myrtle is so 'tiger' you can almost hear it growl! Beautiful wood! Makes me want to drive up to JS shop and have a look in person.

Thanks for this thread,
Col

That wood is amazing. My guess is he was referring to the fact that you can almost see a Tiger's face in the wood. The eyes are just being cut out from the shape and there is a nose coming down from the eyes ending in nostrils in the middle of your back. Just my guess, we will wait for Ryan to clarify to see if I was right :D:D:D

I like your guess better than mine.

Yeah, it looked like a tiger's face to me. A luthier's Rorshach test. :)

It looks like the eyes are right along the upper portion of the back with a long cat's nose down the middle capped with a sly grin. Yes, a little craziness runs in the family.

Now that it's been pointed out, I see it. Pretty cool.

Just stick with us, one of us has a history of seeing all sorts of strange stuff in wood grain hahaha!

Jack's work is wonderful. I have owned 3 of his guitars. My favorite is still a custom model that I still have.
Enjoy it!

Jack sent along some new pictures today showing the work he did on the tiger myrtle rosette.

Getting ready to add the lines.
http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/v...d/DSCN2620.jpg

And then the abalone.
http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/v...d/DSCN2621.jpg

The rosette completed.
http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/v...d/DSCN2622.jpg

I'm ready for my closeup, Mr. DeMille!
http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/v...d/DSCN2624.jpg

If you move that back outline up a little you will get the Tigers eyes and it nose. You'd have the entire face staring at you.