Catalpa "spec" build

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by Larry Pattis

That dog is a "canardly."

And where does the dog get incorporated into the build?

Interesting post Bruce, thanks for the pictures accompanying it.

[Ruble]

Bruce,

Glad to see you posting over here. I have enjoyed watching your threads over at the 13th fret...


Chris

[timo]

Awesome dog. Rescue is where its at til there none to rescue.

[mhammond]

In the first picture the dog looks bored with the whole thing...

[Bruce Sexauer]

She's just a dog, I am the wood hound.

[Bruce Sexauer]

Well. It's a little less that a month since I started this thread, and now I'm getting going on the project. My day job right now is carving my 5th arch-top. It is going very well, but I can't apply myself to the carving full time due to the infirmities of age, or so I say. I am documenting that build too, but not here, you'll have to go to my website for that. I am loving the carve, but lets get on with this piece of "art".

Today I joined the plates. I took them from the more quartersawn side of the flitch, and they are close to perfectly quartered (one degree or so)for the middle 2/3rds, and not as much as 15 degrees off at the edge.

The Montreal Show opens today, and I have done that three times, so I am nostalgic. If you are considering going, do so, it is a great event. On the other hand, look at the work I'm getting done.


I've edited and hour later to show you the sides I thicknessed since this post, and now I am about to bend them! I hope the pin knot will flank the end graft and be entirely on top of the end block.

[lclyman]

Bruce,
It looks like you've decided on a size/shape for this guy..

What's it going to be.?

Larry

[Bruce Sexauer]

I am going with my OMish FT-15. It's been a while since I've made one, perhaps 8 months, and it is my most evolved design IMO. I feel that a 000 would be the conservative choice as I have had terrific luck with my all Koa 000's, but I jus' wanna make what I wanna make.

[aphillips]

It's got a great earthy down home look to it! I can't wait to see the finished product Bruce - nice job!

[Rollie]

I like the organic look of this one ... Are you going with multi scale frets ?

[WhistlingFish]

I love these build threads, but marvel at how much more special this one seems given that the process began with the luthier milling the tree at its source - with a chain saw no less!

Perhaps in the not-too-distant future, guitar aficionados will have no option but to more seriously consider alternative wood species such as this. Good on you Bruce for showing the way!

[Bruce Sexauer]

This is a high risk thread for me, I may well fail! But that just adds to the fun until I do, which I don't really expect to happen. In fact, the tapping after the first braces are shaped, below, gives me reason to be quite optimistic. There is good resonance, and it is quite easy to get it, too.

I put my braces on in three tiers, this allows me to correct to a certain extent if I seem to be off the mark. Some people pre-shape their braces and put them all on at once, but aside from efficiency and cleanliness, I see only disadvantages in that method.



Now it's ready for tier 2, the tone bars and finger braces.


I found the neck in one of the bigger chunks out in the shed. It's quartered along the fingerboard but runs off some toward the heel. Aesthetically not ideal, but structurally just fine, especially as I plan to put a plate on both sides of the headstock.

[JohnM]

Cool stuff Bruce. I don't know about you, but I love building guitars on spec. Free from restrictions and design and you just get to let creativeness flow whichever way it wants to.

[Mike_A]

Originally Posted by Bruce Sexauer

It is so unlikely that anything we do will break new ground! I had imagined I might be the first to even think of using this wood for a guitar, but now i find it's even mentioned in Wiki as a tonewood! Well, perhaps I'll be the first to use it for all plates AND the neck. No matter, really, it's just an excuse to make another guitar!

Roxie is a girl dog, so most of the billets will be safe enough! We got her thinking Red Heeler Cattle Dog, but we think we see Put bull in the brow and ears, and Golden Retriever in her pleasant demeanor. She is a rescue dog, and will never really believe she's safe, unfortunately. Despite this, she's the best dog anyone in my family has ever experienced. Do not provoke me, and I will not further bore you with dog pictures.

more pics of Roxie please!

maybe you should name the catalpa guitar Roxie... no no dont use Canardly pls...

[tekaitora]

These build pics are really such a treat, Mr. Sexauer! Looking at them makes me think that if Da Vinci had focused on building guitars, this is very much what it would have looked like - elegant. timeless, and sincere. Thank you!