NK Forster Guitars - "soundboard topography" experiment

[N K Forster]

Couldn't decide - sapele or maple? Maple or sapele? Then I had a brainwave - both! Highly figured sapele on the outside, lovely clean birdseye maple on the inside.



Nigel

www.nkforsterguitars.com

[printer2]

I think he has gone mad. (Cue in demonic laughter.)

[N K Forster]

Logged into to photobucket to find everything deleted. 400+ photos. If anyone has any ideas how to fix this please let me know. Slightly frustrating. I've emailed Photobucket but they've gone rather quiet on me.

Nigel
www.nkforsterguitars.com

[N K Forster]

Wel, some images reappeared today but not all. Baffling.
Anyway, on with the show - laminated backs this week - Birdseye maple/spruce/sapele.



nigel
www.nkforsterguitars.com

[N K Forster]

Last year I made a couple of instruments with this technique of laminating a spruce sounboard between harder decorative woods. The recent Model D and a guitar bouzouki. One I made with a heavily curved back, like a Sobell. The other was made with an arch, like a jazz guitar or a violin. I liked both very much and I'd struggle to say what sonic effect arching compared to inducing a heavy curve has.

But here is the arched one. This is what the backs of these two guitars will be like, but in sapele/birdseye maple rather than pommele bubinga.



nigel

[N K Forster]

That's the backs on. Those with a keen eye might notice these are cutaways.



Nigel

www.nkforsterguitars.com

[MC5C]

With thick sides you use no lining or kerfing? Extremely clean look, if so!

Brian

[N K Forster]

Correct. With thick laminated sides, you don't need linings. Or side reinforcements. With a laminated arched back, you don't need the centre seam cover strip either. It all makes for a nice clean job.

nigel

www.nkforsterguitars.com

[N K Forster]

A little more progress...









I like that last one - You can see the soundboard arch clearly and the spruce lamination used to make the arched back. The two seem to visually compliment one another well.

Nigel
www.nkforsterguitars.com/blog

[Dion James]

Originally Posted by N K Forster

That's the backs on. Those with a keen eye might notice these are cutaways.



Nigel

www.nkforsterguitars.com

Love the clean looking inside. The birds eye is a nice touch! This is a similar technique to the one I've been using for the last couple of years, given to me by Jeremy Clark. What's the radius on your top?

[Dion James]

Originally Posted by N K Forster

Last year I made a couple of instruments with this technique of laminating a spruce sounboard between harder decorative woods. The recent Model D and a guitar bouzouki. One I made with a heavily curved back, like a Sobell. The other was made with an arch, like a jazz guitar or a violin. I liked both very much and I'd struggle to say what sonic effect arching compared to inducing a heavy curve has.

But here is the arched one. This is what the backs of these two guitars will be like, but in sapele/birdseye maple rather than pommele bubinga.



nigel

Great photo!

[N K Forster]

Originally Posted by Dion Bews

Love the clean looking inside. The birds eye is a nice touch! This is a similar technique to the one I've been using for the last couple of years, given to me by Jeremy Clark. What's the radius on your top?

Only the centre portion of the top has a radius, and I've no idea what it is, I just copied my own 1890's Howe Orme.

Nigel
http://www.nkforsterguitars.com/blog...tar-howe-orme/

[Michael Watts]

Originally Posted by magirus

Although a complete novice who just started learning to play in January, I find these custom build threads very interesting. Having watched some of your videos I can say it's good to hear a Northern accent in them. Of course I may be biased, living a 15 minute stroll away from Durham Cathedral...

In which direction?