Custom Doerr Solace build

[charlieD]

Tom's making good progress. We made a couple of small but significant design choices today: the final spec for the rosette, which will be a single 1/4-inch ring of cross-grain cocobolo, surrounded by multiple ebony/maple purflings. The other choice was the veneer for the front of the headplate. Tom sent photos of some options, and we both thought this one went best with the back and sides.



Thanks to Islandguitar (Fred) for officially naming this build The Starry Night Guitar! I added a photo of Van Gogh's "Starry Night" painting to the first batch of photos in the thread.

And now I really gotta go learn Don McLean's song "Vincent", aka "Starry, Starry Night".

[islandguitar]

LOVE IT! Go for it Charlie!

(the headstock is looking beautiful)

[Tom Doerr]

Thanks everyone for the compliments I certainly appreciate it. Charlie has been great to work with and I am very excited to start this guitar. I think what I am most excited about is building a cedar top with my Solace model. I have never done a cedar top with the Solace so that will be fun to try that out for the first time. Thanks for following this thread and I'll be sending Charlie so more pics shortly

[CoolerKing]

Really stunning coco set. I'm looking forward to following along!

[charlieD]

The cedar/cocobolo Solace is taking shape and the pieces are starting to look like a guitar. Tom's been working on the double sides, which have been profiled, bound and bent.

The sides are being bound in ebony, with thin maple purflings. The shoulder bevel will also be in ebony.



Tom's side bending apparatus looks like a piece of modern sculpture. Or else a medieval torture device.



One side bent, the other being bent.



The pieces are beginning to resemble a guitar-shaped object.



A preview of the sides and back juxtaposed.



This promises to be a great-looking guitar.

[islandguitar]

Just beautiful, Charlie!

[SuperB23]

That Cocobolo is really exceptional!!! I can't wait to hear this one in person!!!

[Martin_Nut]

Charlie,

I am working WAY too hard, otherwise how could I have missed the beginning of your Doerr build? What a great looking start, and such a beautiful set of tonewoods! Love it so far, especially the use of Coco and Cedar - any Rosewood with Cedar ranks way up high on my list of likes. And a Doerr Solace I am betting will be a perfect companion to your Legacy. Looking forward to following your build closely - thanks for posting!

John H.

[charlieD]

This week saw a lot of progress on the Solace build. Tom completed assembly of the sides, with neck block, tail block and linings in place. He also finished the soundhole rosette.

The side pieces joined in the mold, with neck and tail block glued and clamped. The wood on the inside of the side pieces is pau ferro, also called Brazilian ironwood and Bolivian rosewood. Sandwiched with the cocobolo outside, Tom says it makes a stiffer and more durable side. Looks great, too.



A view of the bass side. I like the lighter-colored area around the waist. The contrast with the ebony shoulder bevel and ebony binding will very dramatic when it’s all under finish.



Kerfed lining glued and clamped.



Lining clamped all around, and a view of the back.



Clamps off, kerfed support strips in place, the soundbox is taking shape.



Hands on work, routing the channel for the rosette.



Rosette in progress: quarter-inch ring of cross-grain cocobolo. But we’re not done yet!



Gluing in the maple and ebony ringlets that will surround the cocobolo ring.



Rosette completed. Tom does truly elegant work.

[islandguitar]

Hi Charlie!
You made my day! Been waitin' on whether or not you'd have any pics of progress.....Tom's come through big time!
What a great guitar this is turning out to be. Thanks for sharing!
Fred

[Michaelmsg]

Great looking set of cocobolo. This will turn out to be a beautiful guitar.

Can you explain what the purpose of three different types of linings is? I understand the one for the arm bevel but why the difference in the other two?

Thank you

[drcmusic7]

I love watching Toms builds. Looks like it's turning out beautifully so far too.

Kindly,
Danny

[charlieD]

Michaelmsg, good question about the linings. The lining for the treble side of the top looks like a different wood from the lining for the back. I know Tom has carefully engineered all the construction details for maximum responsiveness, so I'll leave the technical explanation to him. Thanks for checking in!

[Tom Doerr]

Originally Posted by Michaelmsg

Can you explain what the purpose of three different types of linings is? I understand the one for the arm bevel but why the difference in the other two?

Thank you

For the back linings I use the triangle Spanish cedar for three reasons. One is the smell, two it's easier to install with the arch of the sides and three because I like the looks of them when you look in the guitar.

The top bass side linings I have a laminated Spanish cedar lining to accommodate for the Ryan-style bevel. The treble side I use reverse kerfed bass wood simply because I haven't found a place that offers them in Spanish cedar. But with these two top linings they give a very rigid surface for the top to glue on to and I prefer that.

[Michaelmsg]

Thank you kindly for the explanation on the linings.

I have heard how some builders use Spanish cedar, basswood, mahogany or other species because of the effects of tone. Have you ever noticed a change of tone because of your choice in linings? I don't know how much theory is involved with this or how much fact is involved.