#61
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Top!
Time to brace the top on this little guy. We deflect test all our brace stock and choose the stiffest pieces for the main X. Looser braces become tone bars, and the floppier stuff gets used for finger braces and soundhole reinforcement.
Although, we have found a good supplier of Sitka brace wood whose material from Prince of Wales island is wonderfully consistent, the stiffest pieces being the best we've found. Anyway, here's a shot or two: As you can see, we're going with a double X. It works well--quite well actually--for small guitars like this. It tends to heighten the fundamental which a small box needs. Does it behave differently from a single X with 2 tone bars? It does for us. Some of the upper end glitter is sacrificed, but as said before, the diminutive size of this body (size 1) kicks in plenty of upper end. It needs shoring up in the bass, and the double X aids this in our experience. Many thanks for looking, Steve |
#62
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Haha, yeah that's what I was assuming, hows that rotator cuff feeling?
__________________
PS. I love guitars! |
#63
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Thankfully I've been playing disc golf for 20 years, so I'm pretty good at twisting around. Also, I'm good at the Watusi.
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#64
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We (I) didn't get a pic of the finished top bracing. Ach! I could kick myself. Well, that won't work--too close to get enough force in the swing. I'll have to get Ryan to do the job. (He wears a lot of hats around here. And this is one of his favorite tasks.)
So, top is ready, sides are prepped, brace pockets cut--just need to sign and apply the label: And then, close the box: I love this step! Some flat pieces of wood have been transformed into a curvilinear charmer. It's starting to look like a guitar. Thanks for watching, Steve |
#65
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I love that oak Steve, nearly bear claw. Very cool.
T |
#66
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Tim! Nice to hear from you. Hope all is well.
Glad your studied eye approves the oak. Thanks, Steve |
#67
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Booking...
I'm on the next flight!
__________________
Martins 00-21, D12-20, D-45S, 000-21 Custom, D-18S (Ditson Ltd Ed)...yada yada... St. Kinnaird Koa, Af BW, Bubinga, Myrtle, Kauri [Robinson inlay], SR Parlor, RenOvation, Mango Xover, IR/CoBluSpr 00 Santa Cruz Quilt Mah "The Tree" Ltd Ed VA and Padauk Custom F Collings SJ Braz/Ger, 000-42Koa, UC3 Killer Koa Jeffrey Yong's Seismic 2011 Japan Earthquake Tribute and a Quilt Mah "The Tree" Olson |
#68
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Now the box is closed, we can address further embellishments.
In this first shot Ryan is routing the tail for its wedge inlay: And yes, we have a jig for this, but Ryan prefers the freehand approach. No nets for him when he walks a tight rope! So when that trough is plowed, the wedge is carefully fitted and glued, being secured with band clamps and a block to apply pressure: And the finished inlay with some shellac rubbed on: That wedge ^ is a piece of English Brown Oak burl. A friend of ours has amassed quite a collection of exotic veneers, sharing with us from time to time from his bounty. I've been hoarding a few precious scraps of this beautiful wood he so kindly gave, waiting for the right project. This is it. The piece yielded this wedge, and a rear overlay for the peghead. Thanks for looking, Steve |
#69
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Bridge building
While we work to finish the box, you might enjoy seeing the bridge for this little guy. Digging through our Ebony pile, we found a very attractive blank with some brown marbling running right down the center. Construction commenced with laying out the blank, routing saddle slot and drilling string holes. Here it sits awaiting scooping the wings:
Wings scooped: Pyramids begun: Facets completed: Sanded and polished: Should look handsome on this wee parlor. Thanks for watching, Steve |
#70
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Great looking bridge, guys! This is really shaping up to be a sweet little guitar...
__________________
2013 Stehr Auditorium (Carpathian/Myrtle) 2015 Stehr Auditorium (Adi/BRW) 2020 Baranik Meridian (Blue Spruce/Manchinga) 2020 Wilborn Arum (Tunnel 14/Coco) 2021 Kinnaird Graybeard (BC Cedar/Bog Oak) 2022 Kinnaird CS Student Build (Adi/Padauk) 2023 Kinnaird FS (Italian/Koa) |
#71
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Quote:
We appreciate you dropping by...and signing our guest book! Steve |
#72
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Love the look of that Oak.And the bridge with light grain colour through it !
In the UK its amazing how much old Mahogany + Oak (( Chest of drawers..Wardrobes etc )) is taken to the tip. Almost all the Antique/Junk shops that used to be,have shut down around here. If havent seen - Some white Oak L&H https://youtu.be/aZutfzLNvvQ?t=9m30s |
#73
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Thanks for the interesting link, mahoriver. My grandfather's guitar was quite similar to the L&H that was restored in that video. (I wouldn't have done quite the invasive work he did, but it was a masterful job. And that little guitar was loud!)
Also thanks for the kind word. Always nice to meet another enthusiast for the old stuff. Steve |
#74
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And speaking of old stuff--there was a merchant at the Arlington guitar show last October with some fascinating pieces:
That one caught my eye. The merch said this was a "Ciani", an unfamiliar name. As he told the story, there was a school of Italian craftsmen working in this style, producing guitars for several of the larger firms. Heavy into the use of marquetry, fancy inlays, etc. It was the bridge that really interested me: A pyramid bridge of sorts, but the inside face is formed by the scoop sweeping from the body. Our bridge is patterned after such, and I prefer it a bit more. Now I wish I had bought that guitar... *sigh* Steve |
#75
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We've gotten some rewarding work accomplished on this little guy.
Routing the purfling/binding ledges: Which step eventuates in this: And this: We got the bindings scraped flush today. Like the oak parlor before it, this guitar gets American Holly bindings. Pics of that in a bit. Thanks, Steve |