Ensor Guitars- Black & White Guitar
 

Let's get a new guitar started shall we. This one is going to be a little bit different in its aesthetics. Usually I work some sort of color and visual statement into a guitar. This one on the other hand is going to revolve around the name of the back and sides- "black and white" ebony. So everything on the guitar is going to be monochromatic (at least monochromatic in a wood way) with the exception of one detail- a large inlay scene up the fingerboard and headstock by Craig Lavin. This should be a fun build.

General Specs:

ES Shape and cutaway
Black & White ebony b/s
BC Spruce Top
Ebony fingerboard, bridge, headstock overlays, and binding
Maple and Wenge multi-ply neck

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4239/3...78cc4c29_c.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4204/3...f3a24ca4_c.jpg

4 piece back:
https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4265/3...07eaef3d_c.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4252/3...2fc4855d_c.jpg

Stick around, this should be fun.

That's some sweet bookmatching on the back--wow!

I have been watching for your next build. I will try to follow along. Can't wait to see it when it all comes together. That is cool looking ebony! mtl

Definitely going to be fun to watch! Count me in!

Can the back be the new front, I Luuuuurve it!

Me too! You know, if you brace it right, Ebony makes a great soundboard!

:D

Steve

Speaking of soundboards, I'm wondering what BC Spruce is? And I can't wait to see that neck! I love maple necks!
Steve

I think that would be Bear Claw Spruce, at least that looks like what I'm seeing.

After looking at the pics again, I'm sure you're right. Probably Sitka then.
Steve

Bear Claw Sitka. But things are a changin'. We're now going to be using carpathian spruce instead.

I'd love to hear a sample clip, Steve. Can you post one of yours with an ebony top? ;)

Bending is always fun. In fact it's one of my favorite parts of building- that and carving. When tackling a new wood, it can be a bit nerve wracking though. I've bent other ebonies, so at least I'm not starting from ground zero.

I set my initial bend with a side bending press. I always touch up those bends by hand afterwards to make sure everything fits without needing to force it.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4262/3...dc583e8f_c.jpg

I also always bend cutaways by hand. This allows me to adjust for different neck widths when needed. Bending a new wood into a cutaway can be a very religious experience. To say I was sweating a little bit is fair or even an understatement. But all is well. The wood played along and the sides are now bent to their final shape.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4258/3...dd588e27_c.jpg

Chris, Nice work so far. I like that piece of wood a lot. When I saw it at your shop I thought is was quite nice and would make in interesting guitar. I like your choice on the venetian cutaway...just about everything else I see (and own) are florentine...nice change.

I'm sure this will be a really nice guitar!

As has become the standard on my guitars, this guitar will have a radial rosette. At the client's request, it'll be a bit wider than my standard- nothing absurd though.

I was able to use the cut offs of the back to make the tiles for the rosette. This ensures a perfect color match.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4216/3...c7d72e88_c.jpg

And now a glimpse at the new top (carpathian) with the rosette and purfling installed:

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4244/3...12dc530c_c.jpg

Cutting circles seems like a pretty straight forward task. In reality, it requires some precision- at least to get the type of tight fitting, accurate cuts I've come to expect from my tools. So I upgrade my circle cutter recently. It was easy. It just required me to do multiple prototypes, buy a milling machine, and learn how to mill metal. But hey, now I can dial in my cut to the thousandth. The jig works with 3 different trimmers and 5 different bases. I think that should cover everything I'll need.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4255/3...69c9a5f7_c.jpg

A nice, simple sound port- just the way I like 'em:

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4233/3...2d15fc6d_c.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4226/3...e2fc2776_c.jpg

That bookmatch on the back is quite spectacular ... love it!