Shane Briggs Commission

[Kitbuqa]

PART 1: INTRODUCTION - A NEW COMMISSION

Hello everyone,

Early this year I commissioned a build from a domestic builder by the name of Shane Briggs, based in Melbourne, Australia.

This is after having dipped my toe with Trevor Kronbauer with an Engelmann Spruce/Cocobolo TDK. You can find the 'NGD' post here:

http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...d.php?t=347779

Funny thing is, I considered a potential build with Shane before going with Trevor. Put it down to a stronger Australian Dollar at the time, and still finding my way around the local luthiery scene.

While the Kronbauer was great sounding, I needed another guitar that was dryer sounding. Not surprisingly, the Engelmann Spruce/Cocobolo had overtones which suits some playing styles.

In searching for another guitar, I did consider options such as a commission from Daniel Brauchli in Tasmania, well known for his Weissenborns. I also considered a Taylor Cedar/Mahogany 514CE (2008) that was really great sounding(!).

Ultimately, I decided to go with Shane. I was impressed by his dedication to the craft, his openness to new ideas and techniques - depending on desired tonal goal. Plus, he's a great chap! Only in his mid 20's, he can only get better from here. I feel privileged to support just one of these 'stepping stones' in his luthier career.

I intend this thread to be an informative journey so please excuse my rambling, long-winded excursion into 'build geek-out'. For the sake of readable digestion, I'll be breaking posts into thematic parts.

Most of you will be unfamiliar with Shane, but he had the great opportunity to be an exhibitor at last year's '2014 Holy Grail Guitar Show' in Berlin rubbing shoulders with well-known luthier luminaries in this forum.

He brought with him a lovely modified OM with Italian Spruce/Madagascar Rosewood and a harp guitar .

As for how they sound, you can find clips here:
1) OM
2) Harp Guitar.

He has other videos on his youtube channel.

Next part, the materials!

[Kitbuqa]

PART 2: Materials (and more)

Shane and I decided to go with the following specifications:

Neck: Figured Victorian Blackwood (Acacia Melanoxylon)
Back and Sides: Figured Victorian Blackwood (Acacia Melanoxylon)
Soundboard: Italian Spruce

Once the specific set/lumber is confirmed I will post the pics. I can guarantee you they are absolute visual knockouts in line with their tonal properties!

However, I have posted pics of some candidates below!

These materials have interesting stories in and of themselves.

The Blackwood is old stock that's been stored and dried for 30 years by a fellow who intended to use it for furniture building but:

a) Never got around to it
b) Too old to make use of it

If I'm not mistaken, it's from the Otway Ranges where a lot of the good stuff grows.

The Italian Spruce is sourced from a tone wood supplier who has family ties to the historical region where it grows. This means Shane gets to personally select and sort through Spruce that's been harvested during the traditional moon-phase (I know some of you think of this as hokey so please spare me your snarky sarcasm); properly processed and dried.

So there you have it.

Aged and seasoned tonewoods personally sourced and selected by the luthier.

Can't get any better than that! Here's a Italian Spruce/Wenge OM in action!

IMG_2279 by Imperialsilk, on Flickr

set2 by Imperialsilk, on Flickr

[BenjaminPaldacci]

Shane is a wonderfull builder and a great guy! Awesome choice sir!

[Kitbuqa]

Hey Ben, I've been following your Instagram postings! Congrats on your new website by the way.

I also enjoyed your blog on Japanese luthiers. It was a FANTASTIC read.

[BenjaminPaldacci]

Oh thank you so much! The world is really small hahaha!

I'll follow your thread with great attention for sure! This Tasmanian BW is incredible!

[TomB'sox]

I currently have a build going on this site as well and have an inlay on the butt wedge of Victorian Blackwood (acacia melanoxylon) that is about 3/8 of an inch by 3/8 of an inch in size. I doubt it will add too much to the tone hahah...but was chosen to give the guitar wood from every continent with the exclusion of Antarctica....I also have an Italian Spruce top purchased from a luthier who actually harvested the tree, so also very good provenance.

This sounds like a great build and I will be following closely. Congrats on your choices.

[invguy921]

Gorgeous Blackwood! Should be absolutely stunning under finish.

[Kitbuqa]

PART 3: SO BEGINS THE FIRST STEPS

IMG_3533 by Imperialsilk, on Flickr

IMG_3541 by Imperialsilk, on Flickr

IMG_3489 by Imperialsilk, on Flickr

[Kitbuqa]

Bending the sides.

IMG_3603 by Imperialsilk, on Flickr

Nice matching pair

IMG_3606 by Imperialsilk, on Flickr

Putting the sides in the mould.

IMG_3596 by Imperialsilk, on Flickr

Clamp it up.

IMG_3636 by Imperialsilk, on Flickr

Setting it in place. Although not shown as a separate pic, it is a double side and is shown by the difference in figure on the outside and inside.

IMG_3649 by Imperialsilk, on Flickr

Tailblock and Neck block in place - out of the mould and enjoying a bit of sun in the Yarra Valley (wine-producing region).

IMG_3688 by Imperialsilk, on Flickr

As you can tell, it's going to be a bolt-on neck.

IMG_3701 by Imperialsilk, on Flickr

[Kitbuqa]

Slight chronological deviance. Here are back and sides before the sides get moulded.

IMG_3581 by Imperialsilk, on Flickr

Where aesthetics were concerned, I decided to go for something Art-Deco inspired and played around with various ideas in AUTOCAD.

Back inlay - iconic wave motif.

Untitled by Imperialsilk, on Flickr

Headstock inlay combining the 'burst' motif with the 'wave' motif in the back inlay.

Untitled by Imperialsilk, on Flickr

Multi-striped Rosette design - something understated and elegant.

Untitled by Imperialsilk, on Flickr

Wedge end utilising the pickup pin as part of the design.

Untitled by Imperialsilk, on Flickr

Marking it out on the back.

Untitled by Imperialsilk, on Flickr

[Kitbuqa]

As mentioned, Shane buys his tops from a local tone wood dealer who uses family connections to source and import Italian Spruce harvested and dried the proper way (no kilns).

This means Shane gets to personally select and sift through the tops himself rather place himself at the mercy of the tone wood lottery by ordering blindly from tonewood dealers overseas.

Being joined

Untitled by Imperialsilk, on Flickr

Rough cut and ready to roll

Untitled by Imperialsilk, on Flickr

Agreeing on the rosette scheme.

Untitled by Imperialsilk, on Flickr

Test fitting the rosette.

Untitled by Imperialsilk, on Flickr

Glue it in.

Untitled by Imperialsilk, on Flickr

Backstrip inlayed in the back before the main detail.

Untitled by Imperialsilk, on Flickr

[colins]

Looking very nice...love the inlay ideas.

Shane is an exhibitor at the Melbourne Guitar Show in a month, I will have to check him out - http://www.guitarmakers.com.au/makers/#SHANEBRIGGS

Col

[Kitbuqa]

Hey mate,

I was considering going but as I am recovering from a herniated disc, I don't think I would survive a 5 hour journey on a plane! Especially with sensitive nerves as it is!

This project (and Aussie Rules!) and my faith has been keeping my spirits up!

I hope you have a blast. Shane is such a great bloke to chat to you. And not just about guitars.

[dcn]

Very cool - can't wait to see those AUTOCAD designs come to life, especially the headstock.

[Kitbuqa]

Hi folks, been awhile since I've updated, but here we go!

1) Hide gluing the braces on.

Untitled by Imperialsilk, on Flickr

2) Adding solid kerfing to the sides.

Untitled by Imperialsilk, on Flickr

3) Marking out the sound port, circular and simple!

Untitled by Imperialsilk, on Flickr

4) Soundport in with neat ebony binding

Untitled by Imperialsilk, on Flickr

5) Oh, and the back inlay!! Matching Art Deco styling!

Untitled by Imperialsilk, on Flickr

6) And the back getting it's first coat of shellac in the interior

Untitled by Imperialsilk, on Flickr