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  #1  
Old 06-08-2017, 07:10 AM
CaE CaE is offline
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Default 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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Old 06-08-2017, 07:27 AM
Nemoman Nemoman is offline
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That's some sweet bookmatching on the back--wow!
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Old 06-08-2017, 08:08 AM
Mark Lew Mark Lew is offline
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Originally Posted by Nemoman View Post
That's some sweet bookmatching on the back--wow!
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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Old 06-09-2017, 03:33 AM
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Definitely going to be fun to watch! Count me in!
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Old 06-09-2017, 03:45 AM
LSemmens LSemmens is offline
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Can the back be the new front, I Luuuuurve it!
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Old 06-09-2017, 08:18 AM
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Steve Kinnaird Steve Kinnaird is offline
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Can the back be the new front, I Luuuuurve it!
Me too! You know, if you brace it right, Ebony makes a great soundboard!



Steve
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Old 06-09-2017, 09:13 AM
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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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Old 06-09-2017, 10:15 AM
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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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Old 06-09-2017, 10:40 AM
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I think that would be Bear Claw Spruce, at least that looks like what I'm seeing.
After looking at the pics again, I'm sure you're right. Probably Sitka then.
Steve
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Old 06-14-2017, 06:24 AM
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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
Bear Claw Sitka. But things are a changin'. We're now going to be using carpathian spruce instead.
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Old 06-14-2017, 06:25 AM
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Me too! You know, if you brace it right, Ebony makes a great soundboard!



Steve
I'd love to hear a sample clip, Steve. Can you post one of yours with an ebony top?
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Old 06-14-2017, 06:30 AM
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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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Old 06-14-2017, 06:35 AM
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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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Old 06-19-2017, 06:29 AM
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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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Old 06-20-2017, 04:51 AM
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That bookmatch on the back is quite spectacular ... love it!
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