Catalpa "spec" build - Page 9

Playn4thedog · #**121** 08-28-2010, 09:11 PM

Question why do you scrape out the finish for the bridge rather than mask it? Is it for consistency of the finish lines I always thought that once wood was finished you could never get rid of it without removing the layer of wood. I do have to say whatever it is it worked, listening to the first sound clip the last chord that you strummed projected beautifully the mix of tomes during the decay were amazing, especially considering previous statements on a "dead room". Congratulations on taking a chance most would agree that it worked.

Bruce Sexauer · #**122** 08-29-2010, 09:44 AM

It is not my experience that traditional guitar finishes penetrate top to any meaningful degree. In fact, I use a sealer which dries very quickly and is intended to both prevent penetration AND increase finish bond. Simple Shellac is one example of such a sealer .I simply scrape it off with a steel edge and there is very little degrade to the wood surface.

I totally agree that this guitar's tone develops unusually quickly. The miracle is that the decay is so slow! That is to say that the sustain is quite good. The first part I attribute to the extreme light weight of the wood which means it's inertia is easily overcome by the strings. The second part I'd have to make something up.

I hadn't thought I'd post this, but it answers some questions about the quality of the bass, and if my memory is good the link'll work:
http://mojoluthier.com/Music/Johnson-Catalpa.m4a
The m4a extension can be changed to mp4 and it'll work, if it's a problem for you.

Bruce Sexauer · #**123** 08-29-2010, 09:47 AM

Rereading I see I didn't answer the why question. I don't make my bridge until the neck is on and the frets are in. My system is so variable that I cannot be sure where the bridge is going and how high it will be until the guitar is virtually done. That's "why".

Above link didn't work. I fix it when I get to my main system tomorrow.

OK. I explored and discovered that it is an mp4, so:
http://mojoluthier.com/Music/Johnson-Catalpa.mp4

Playn4thedog · #**124** 08-29-2010, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Sexauer

Rereading I see I didn't answer the why question. I don't make my bridge until the neck is on and the frets are in. My system is so variable that I cannot be sure where the bridge is going and how high it will be until the guitar is virtually done. That's "why".

http://mojoluthier.com/Music/Johnson-Catalpa.mp4

makes perfect sense thanks.

stuartb · #**125** 08-29-2010, 01:16 PM

Bruce,

Enjoyed the sound files!

Grew up with two Catalpas in my back yard. Lovely tree. Great to find out it has some fascinating tonal qualities.

best,

Stuart

Playn4thedog · #**126** 08-29-2010, 06:20 PM

Finally looked up what a catalpa tree looks like, with the huge annoying seedpods we have several in the neighborhood, glad to see something useful coming from them other than slick roads.

Bruce Sexauer · #**127** 08-29-2010, 07:16 PM

I'd be interested in hearing about any Catalpa one of you may happen upon which has any indication of figure. This can often be seen on the outside of a tree. Mine has enough figure in it to suggest that there could be fully flamed examples out there. Love to have some.

Bruce Sexauer · #**128** 11-01-2010, 11:18 AM

Here's the end of my part in this story:

Dear Bruce
" Actions Speak Louder than Words "
I recently visited the Luthiers Invitational in Woodstock N.Y.
It was a great show featuring some of todays best available hand built
guitars as well as some mind boggling performances. I would recommend this show
to anyone that wants to have a great time, even non guitar players.
I had the opportunity to purchase almost any instrument at the show
and it goes without saying that there were many exceptional and "one of a kind "
guitars available. After playing just about everything there (which took the best
part of the two full days of the show) , I made my choice.
It was your very experimental all Catalpa FT-15 (OM) that I chose.
Catalpa is a domestic wood that I'm pretty sure has never before been
used for guitar building before so you went ahead and built the entire
guitar out of it !!! A bit risky to say the least. Well your experiment was a
success as my actions support, this is the guitar I left with.
"Blondie" ( I name all my guitars ) is a top notch guitar in every way, extremely light,
has exceptional clarity, amazing volume! and most of all is more "FUN" to play than
any guitar I've ever owned ! Possibly because she responds at the lightest touch of
the pick and her entire guitar resonates as I play, I can feel each note
bouncing off the back of her almost weightless body and shooting out the front
like bullets leaving the barrel of a gun .
Blondie doesn't sound like a pre-war Martin or a Gibson J-200 etc. etc. and this is
a good thing , she sounds like herself, very unique yet extremely musical.
Please keep experimenting !!
Thanks Again Tom Tsouris

Howard Klepper · #**129** 11-01-2010, 12:14 PM

I got to play this guitar at Woodstock. It was an eye opener about the potential of alternative woods. Very lively. Sounded like a Sexauer, strangely enough!

cpabolting · #**130** 11-01-2010, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Sexauer

Rereading I see I didn't answer the why question. I don't make my bridge until the neck is on and the frets are in. My system is so variable that I cannot be sure where the bridge is going and how high it will be until the guitar is virtually done. That's "why".

Above link didn't work. I fix it when I get to my main system tomorrow.

OK. I explored and discovered that it is an mp4, so:
http://mojoluthier.com/Music/Johnson-Catalpa.mp4

Funny, some scrape it and some tape it! I guess to each his own.

lclyman · #**131** 11-01-2010, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Howard Klepper

I got to play this guitar at Woodstock. It was an eye opener about the potential of alternative woods. Very lively. Sounded like a Sexauer, strangely enough!

So did I..and my comments are exactly the same..!!

I did a luthiers demo performance with Bruce and he played the Catalpa for a few of the tunes..it sounded just fantastic..

I think Tom is trying to corner the market on Bruce's guitars..!!

LC

Bruce Sexauer · #**132** 11-01-2010, 06:30 PM

I had the Catalpa around the shop for a couple of months, and while it lacked a little bit of the lushness of some of my other guitars, it had something else of high value. My other guitars got very little use while it was here, and I find I am missing it. Putting my finger on the exact qualities it had is challenging, but the main thing is instant response, I think. The guitar weighed very little, and so there was not much static inertia to overcome. It was as loud and as balanced as anything else I've made lately. It was really fun to play, a high return on player investment. OMG; I'm going to have to make another one!

hreboredo · #**133** 11-01-2010, 08:09 PM

Bruce, I think one additional testament to the guitar was that someone was willing to give up one of your Pernambuco guitars to get their hands on it. Having played the Pernambuco guitar you had at Healdsburg that Catalpa must have been something else!

hreboredo · #**134** 06-10-2011, 11:25 AM

Was just reading this article in the NY Times and thought of this guitar.

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/20...-catalpa-tree/

Wonder what the owner is doing with the tree.

pgilmor · #**135** 06-11-2011, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hreboredo

Wonder what the owner is doing with the tree.

I'd be willing to bet the tonewood mafia has already "disappeared" it, or at least I hope so. Hate to see beautiful trees go to waste.