My third build - Curly Bubinga Tornavoz

[OC1]

Here is my third build a gorgeous curly (figured is correct) bubinga classical tornavoz (that is a bass-reflex build into the soundhole). It is not often you see such a nice bubinga set. I purchased this wood from Sergei DeJonge. There is another guitar (classical jazz) made from the same tree and it is in UK.

I have to take some better pictures as it is dark here and as this wood is just so beautiful.
This guitar has been done completely from scratch at home in my basement.
Details:
sides and back: solid curly bubinga
top: cedar
neck: mahogany, bolted dovetail
fingerboard: ebony 650 mm
bridge: rosewood with bubinga
binding: light bubinga
finish: French Polish
options: snap-on armrest (bubinga)





The gorgeous deep colors are amazing when in daylight:


Tornavoz in the soundhole


I have the whole process docummented so I can drop some pictures from building. This took about 4 weeks.

[bubbaprime]

very, very nice...

[soberdave09]

wow,that's one nicccccccccccccccccccccccccccce guitar

[fitness1]

that is absolutely stunning.....looks like a shallower body?

I LOVE the way the light bubinga binding contrasts, and it's incredible on the fingerboard (something you don't see on nylons much and wish you would more!!!)

Great job....how about a sound clip?

[WhistlingFish]

A fitting end for some beautiful woods - beautiful guitar!

With all due respect to classical guitar builders, it's refreshing to see someone injecting a little visual creativity into classical guitar design. It seems there's a strong adherence to convention in the world of classical instruments, cosmetically speaking at least. This one certainly breaks the mould!

[chas52]

beautiful guitar.
how do you like your takamine an10? I like mine so much that I bought a second one.

[hnuuhiwa]

Third build? Four weeks? And it turns out like that!!! Awesome

[SteveS]

Very nice looking guitar! That is wonderful bubinga!

[OC1]

Originally Posted by chas52

beautiful guitar.
how do you like your takamine an10? I like mine so much that I bought a second one.

Oh, I love the AN10 - I went to buy a Martin and come home with AN10 - it was absolutely above any other guitar they had in store, I wanted the Martin, never cared about takamines at all, but in all the honesty after playing all guitars for 3 hours, had them play for me, tried different spots in room - just couldn't buy the Martin, the AN10 was simply better in any way. It is japanese build.
I am now playing my own guitars, but whenever I look at the AN10 in my room I simply say darn!, look at the absolute micrometer precision it is build with - I wish one day my builds can come close (with precision) to it.

[OC1]

Almost everything with this build was getting wrong and I felt more like repairman than builder. I put braces few months ago but the change in humidity took its toll and bent the back and top really concave (the opposite way than it should be), so I had to knock down the braces at which point the back cracked (now it is totally invisible). I bent the cutaway which was more curved originally but the sides cracked on the cutaway, I had to do less curvy one. But bending the binding was even more challenging - that thing was cracking just by looking at it.

Here are some details:

Volute on the back of head


Rosewood bridge with bubinga and bone

[stratlord]

That's some beautiful bubinga, but I really love the spalted rosette!

[chas52]

Originally Posted by OC1

Oh, I love the AN10 - I went to buy a Martin and come home with AN10 - it was absolutely above any other guitar they had in store, I wanted the Martin, never cared about takamines at all, but in all the honesty after playing all guitars for 3 hours, had them play for me, tried different spots in room - just couldn't buy the Martin, the AN10 was simply better in any way. It is japanese build.
I am now playing my own guitars, but whenever I look at the AN10 in my room I simply say darn!, look at the absolute micrometer precision it is build with - I wish one day my builds can come close (with precision) to it.

awesome OC1.
I got sick of tuning my AN10 down a whole step to (play songs in a lower key) and then back up to concert pitch. and was thrilled that I could find another AN10 (to leave tuned down).
what an amazing thing it is for you to be aspiring to build something of such excellence and beauty. good luck.
sincerely,
Charlie

[OC1]

Originally Posted by chas52

awesome OC1.
I got sick of tuning my AN10 down a whole step to (play songs in a lower key) and then back up to concert pitch. and was thrilled that I could find another AN10 (to leave tuned down).
what an amazing thing it is for you to be aspiring to build something of such excellence and beauty. good luck.
sincerely,
Charlie

I am not sure but I think the AN10 were discontinued while ago and are not easy to be found. It is almost incredible the sound difference between the japanese made takamine and any korean or chinese takamines.
But Martin is now producing theirs DXM in Navojoa Mexico... so it is going the same direction.

[OC1]

Originally Posted by stratlord

That's some beautiful bubinga, but I really love the spalted rosette!

This spalted wood is from Sergei deJonge stash... but he keep the best pieces (very colorfull!) for himself. I found place where they sell great maple burls - I will try that at some point in the future.

[chas52]

Originally Posted by OC1

I am not sure but I think the AN10 were discontinued while ago and are not easy to be found. It is almost incredible the sound difference between the japanese made takamine and any korean or chinese takamines.
But Martin is now producing theirs DXM in Navojoa Mexico... so it is going the same direction.

you're right, the AN10 were discontinued a while ago. I wonder why. they are so good. I have played some newer takamines at GC and wasn't all that thrilled with them.
I bought a Martin DX something or other from GC and then brought it right back. it didn't do it for me. then I found the other AN10 (at a small music store).