#1
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Ensor Guitars- Black & White Guitar
Let's get a new guitar started shall we. This one is going to be a little bit different in its aesthetics. Usually I work some sort of color and visual statement into a guitar. This one on the other hand is going to revolve around the name of the back and sides- "black and white" ebony. So everything on the guitar is going to be monochromatic (at least monochromatic in a wood way) with the exception of one detail- a large inlay scene up the fingerboard and headstock by Craig Lavin. This should be a fun build.
General Specs: ES Shape and cutaway Black & White ebony b/s BC Spruce Top Ebony fingerboard, bridge, headstock overlays, and binding Maple and Wenge multi-ply neck 4 piece back: Stick around, this should be fun.
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Chris Ensor |
#2
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That's some sweet bookmatching on the back--wow!
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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) |
#3
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I have been watching for your next build. I will try to follow along. Can't wait to see it when it all comes together. That is cool looking ebony! mtl
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2005 Larrivee D-03E Sitka/Mahogany 2014 Santa Cruz OM/PW Sitka/Rosewood 2015 Breedlove Masterclass Concert Engleman/Myrtle 2018 Larrivee Custom OM-10 Rosewood/Alpine Moon Spruce/Torch inlay 2018 Taylor 524ce LTD NAMM Show all-walnut |
#4
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Definitely going to be fun to watch! Count me in!
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Life is like a box of chocolates .... |
#5
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Can the back be the new front, I Luuuuurve it!
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Maton CE60D Ibanez Blazer Washburn Taurus T25NMK |
#6
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Me too! You know, if you brace it right, Ebony makes a great soundboard!
Steve |
#7
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Speaking of soundboards, I'm wondering what BC Spruce is? And I can't wait to see that neck! I love maple necks!
Steve
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"Naturally torrified, & unnaturally horrified, since 1954" |
#8
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I think that would be Bear Claw Spruce, at least that looks like what I'm seeing.
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Life is like a box of chocolates .... |
#9
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Quote:
Steve
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"Naturally torrified, & unnaturally horrified, since 1954" |
#10
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Bear Claw Sitka. But things are a changin'. We're now going to be using carpathian spruce instead.
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Chris Ensor |
#11
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I'd love to hear a sample clip, Steve. Can you post one of yours with an ebony top?
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Chris Ensor |
#12
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Bending is always fun. In fact it's one of my favorite parts of building- that and carving. When tackling a new wood, it can be a bit nerve wracking though. I've bent other ebonies, so at least I'm not starting from ground zero.
I set my initial bend with a side bending press. I always touch up those bends by hand afterwards to make sure everything fits without needing to force it. I also always bend cutaways by hand. This allows me to adjust for different neck widths when needed. Bending a new wood into a cutaway can be a very religious experience. To say I was sweating a little bit is fair or even an understatement. But all is well. The wood played along and the sides are now bent to their final shape.
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Chris Ensor |
#13
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Chris, Nice work so far. I like that piece of wood a lot. When I saw it at your shop I thought is was quite nice and would make in interesting guitar. I like your choice on the venetian cutaway...just about everything else I see (and own) are florentine...nice change.
I'm sure this will be a really nice guitar!
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"A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold." Woody (aka: Mike) FOR SALE: Kinnaird Brazilian!! |
#14
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As has become the standard on my guitars, this guitar will have a radial rosette. At the client's request, it'll be a bit wider than my standard- nothing absurd though.
I was able to use the cut offs of the back to make the tiles for the rosette. This ensures a perfect color match. And now a glimpse at the new top (carpathian) with the rosette and purfling installed: Cutting circles seems like a pretty straight forward task. In reality, it requires some precision- at least to get the type of tight fitting, accurate cuts I've come to expect from my tools. So I upgrade my circle cutter recently. It was easy. It just required me to do multiple prototypes, buy a milling machine, and learn how to mill metal. But hey, now I can dial in my cut to the thousandth. The jig works with 3 different trimmers and 5 different bases. I think that should cover everything I'll need. A nice, simple sound port- just the way I like 'em:
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Chris Ensor |
#15
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That bookmatch on the back is quite spectacular ... love it!
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David Wren |