Brondel A2 build for TAMCO UK

[Simon Fay]

I really love Laurent's work. Unique, exquisitely crafted, and elegant in every regard.

[Trevor M]

[Laurent Brondel]

Thank you Simon, I am honoured.

A pic of the rosette and back strip to give an idea of the general trim:

[Trevor M]

[Trevor M]

[Pat Foster]

Originally Posted by The Acoustic Music Co (TAMCO) UK

Laurent,

It appears that this ramp imparts a curve to the rim such that the back has a simple arch (vs. a compound dome) with its single axis perpendicular to the centerline of the body. Do you use it for both the head and tail ends?

Pat

[Laurent Brondel]

Originally Posted by Pat Foster

It appears that this ramp imparts a curve to the rim such that the back has a simple arch (vs. a compound dome) with its single axis perpendicular to the centerline of the body. Do you use it for both the head and tail ends?

Hi Pat. yes the back has a 5" lateral arch, and this little jig is used to shape a very slight longitudinal arch.
The top has a 5" lateral arch as well, but is dead straight from head to tail. The neck block area is shaped at a very, very low angle (1/2º maybe) to impart the proper neck angle.

[El Conquistador]

Originally Posted by The Acoustic Music Co (TAMCO) UK

OHHHHHHHH!




OOOOOOOH!


AAAAAH!

I am liking this!

Steve

[Trevor M]

[Pat Foster]

Originally Posted by Laurent Brondel

Hi Pat. yes the back has a 5" lateral arch, and this little jig is used to shape a very slight longitudinal arch.
The top has a 5" lateral arch as well, but is dead straight from head to tail. The neck block area is shaped at a very, very low angle (1/2º maybe) to impart the proper neck angle.

Interesting. I've just begun using a flat top too, with a mild dive across the upper bout for the neck angle. I like the difference in sound, looser and responsive (here we go with the sound descriptors). Had you built with a dome earlier on? What did you find in the change of your sound?

Thanks for the info.

Pat

[Laurent Brondel]

Originally Posted by Pat Foster

I've just begun using a flat top too, with a mild dive across the upper bout for the neck angle .../... Had you built with a dome earlier on? What did you find in the change of your sound?

Pat, I do not build with a flat top at all, except when I build a pre-war Martin interpretation. My top is on a flat plane longitudinally, but arched laterally. There was a thread a year or two ago where I went into this in detail, with sound samples:
Double 000 build

This is my 5' lateral arch on the top:


And a Martin interpretation (flat-top):


The flat-top approach is not really flat: shaped braces (30' arch) are glued to the top on a flat surface making it, I guess, built under tension. String pull adds a very gentle dome. I (and others much better versed than me in Martin's history) believe it was the method used before the modern era.

The flat-top is more gratifying and envelopping for the player, the tone is shifted slightly more to the bass registers. My arched plates design is more powerful, with better projection, note separation and fatter trebles, but the player is less envelopped by this halo of sound, if that makes sense.

I did build my first 20 or so guitars with the modern radiused plates, and moved on pretty rapidly.
I much prefer the arched plates design, followed by the traditional, pre-war, Martin design.

Some more pics from the current build:

[Pat Foster]

Very interesting.

Thanks, Laurent.

Pat

[Billy Boy]

Exquisite craftsmanship...thank you for sharing this build journey with us...

[KevinLPederson]

Hi Trevor and Laurent - NICE build!!

I saw this router bit in your thread.



thought you might like to check out this router bit.



Its a spiral compression bit - costly little bugger though.

However, you can do uphill downhill climb cuts...pretty neat. Less chance for "blow out" when rounding your corners.

Have a great day.

Kevin.

[Laurent Brondel]

Originally Posted by Billy Boy

Exquisite craftsmanship...thank you for sharing this build journey with us...

Thank you Billy.