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-   -   Chasson Auditorium, German/Wenge (https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=185399)

Kent Chasson 05-24-2010 11:00 PM

Chasson Auditorium, German/Wenge
 
I have a client who was hoping to come by and check out the construction of his guitar in progress but the timing didn't work out. I thought this would be a good substitute.

He wanted something as easy as possible to fret with shorter stretches so we settled on a 24" scale length and are making it 13 frets to the body to keep the bridge in about the same spot as a 25.4" scale with a 14 fret neck.

Specs:

-Auditorium Body
-German Spruce/Wenge
-Florentine cutaway
-Cocobolo bridge, fretboard and headplate
-Snakewood binding
-24" scale length
-K&K Pure Mini pickup

These are "it's 10:00 pm and I want to be done for the day" photos. I'll get some better ones up as we go along.

http://www.chassonguitars.com/images...strem_mold.jpg

http://www.chassonguitars.com/images...strem_wood.jpg

K III 05-25-2010 04:32 AM

Kent,
apart from being impressed how clean your shop is, I really like Wenge when it is quartersawn. It is just amazing how straight the grain is, wonderful. I have a bunch of Wenge furniture at home and it is actually annoying how it looses color when exposed to the sun, but I guess that is not an issue if you keep it in the case.

Karl

Steve Kinnaird 05-25-2010 10:11 AM

Good looking, Kent!
But what I really like is your purple wall!
How regal.

Steve

gregg 05-25-2010 12:44 PM

Dang Steve, I could't take my eyes of of that purple wall either:D As usual Kent everything you work with turns out beautiful!!

Cheers,
Greg

Kent Chasson 05-25-2010 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K III (Post 2235696)
Kent,
apart from being impressed how clean your shop is, I really like Wenge when it is quartersawn. It is just amazing how straight the grain is, wonderful. I have a bunch of Wenge furniture at home and it is actually annoying how it looses color when exposed to the sun, but I guess that is not an issue if you keep it in the case.

Karl

Wenge will lighten a bit over time with UV exposure but not as much as Walnut from what I've seen. And I've never seen that happen on a guitar, only on stuff that gets left in direct sunlight for years.

Greg and Steve, I beg your pardon, that is not purple! That is the designer color "Evening Plum Sunset" and I picked it out special. Out of a free pile. ;)

It does liven up the place.

Steve Kinnaird 05-26-2010 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kent Chasson (Post 2236632)
Greg and Steve, I beg your pardon, that is not purple! That is the designer color "Evening Plum Sunset" ...


Yes...yes...I can see that now...


;)

Steve

Kent Chasson 06-08-2010 10:03 PM

Making progress. I made sure not to include the colorful wall in theses shots.

The top with rosette. You can barely see it in this shot but this top has some incredible silk.

http://chassonguitars.com/images/estrem/top.jpg

The rosette is snakewood....

http://chassonguitars.com/images/estrem/rosette.jpg

And the body with lining and side braces....

http://chassonguitars.com/images/estrem/body.jpg

Thanks for looking. More next week...

El Conquistador 06-08-2010 10:49 PM

Oh man, I am liking that snake wood.
LC

mcozma 06-09-2010 08:49 AM

This certainly looks like it's going to be one classy guitar.

How does Wenge sound?

gregg 06-09-2010 09:24 AM

Nice one Kent, I really like the rosette, might try that look on one soon......

Greg

drcmusic7 06-09-2010 03:48 PM

Kent,

I love what you're doing with your rosettes. Well done, sir!

Kindly,
Danny

Brackett Instruments 06-09-2010 03:51 PM

Nice Rosette!!!!, but everyone noticed that. I also like your kerfing. I make mine, but I'd never thought of cutting the kerfs on both sides. I bet it's easy to install, and stiff once installed.

Kent Chasson 06-09-2010 07:34 PM

Thanks all.

Mcozma, I love the sound of wenge. It has a glass like tap tone unmatched by any wood I've used with the exception of Brazilian and Honduras rosewood. I've got some clips of an Engelmann/Wenge Classic model I could email you if you like.

Woody, good eye! I like it because it goes around compound curves with no problem. And yes, the cap really stiffens things up. I used to use solid lining but that was a real pain to brnd around compound curves. This is much lighter weight and about as stiff as the solid ones I used to use. It's kind of an adventure to make though. Because it's so flexible in both directions, it's even harder to rip into strips than conventional lining.

cadam5150 06-12-2010 08:09 AM

Hi Kent,

There are many rosettes I have seen, this one is very pleasing to me. Would like to have this design on my guitar...

Cheers.

dberch 06-12-2010 09:01 AM

I have a Engleman/Wenge OM that I absolutely love.

Brock Poling 06-12-2010 09:05 AM

That is cool! I love Wenge (lots of splinters though).

Those linings are cool too.

Kent Chasson 06-12-2010 03:11 PM

aDAM, good to see you here. I was going to mention this rosette to you. It will look great in your Cedar.

Brock, yes, between the splinters and the spring-back, it's never a dull moment. But as you know, it's worth it.

Thanks for looking.

Simon Fay 06-12-2010 09:10 PM

I too, am a big fan of Wenge -- it has an incredible taptone. And Kent, with your impeccable artistic sense, this is going to be a truly special instrument!!!

Kent Chasson 06-28-2010 05:04 PM

Gotta love snakewood binding.....

I'll get some shots of the neck soon and it should be ready to finish next week.

http://www.chassonguitars.com/images/estrem/estrem4.jpg

I'm sure Taylor builds entire guitars in the time it takes me to make 3-way miters on these cutaways.

http://www.chassonguitars.com/images/estrem/estrem3.jpg

http://www.chassonguitars.com/images/estrem/estrem2.jpg

http://www.chassonguitars.com/images/estrem/estrem1.jpg

cpabolting 06-28-2010 05:23 PM

Very very nice!

gregg 06-28-2010 05:59 PM

That's beautiful Kent...Man, LOOK at those pores:D

Greg

Acoustom 06-28-2010 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregg (Post 2270506)
Man, LOOK at those pores:D

Greg

I was thinking the same thing, and I've heard that Wenge was very porous but I've never seen it before. How will you take care of that Kent? Just looking for some Luthier wisdom here. ;)

Kent Chasson 06-29-2010 09:45 AM

Thanks all. Yes, wenge has pores you could drive a truck through! Fortunately I have a great finisher who will fill those with epoxy and spray a nice, thin, level, mirror finish on top.

Acoustom 06-29-2010 09:49 AM

Cool. So you don't just use a sealer, you actually fill them with epoxy first, then use the sealer, then the finish. I can't wait to see how this comes out. I'm really liking the look of Wenge. It reminds me of Indian Rosewood, but much classier looking.

aphillips 06-29-2010 10:32 AM

That's a great looking guitar- I love the binding!

dylanheeg 06-29-2010 10:43 AM

Wow, great guitar!

I love the way your GA looks with the florentine....perfect

SteveS 07-02-2010 09:18 AM

Kent,
Beautiful workmanship!
I love the rosette.
Maybe I should take a vacation this summer, drve up the coast and stop in for a visit. :)

Kent Chasson 07-02-2010 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A027298 (Post 2271106)
Cool. So you don't just use a sealer, you actually fill them with epoxy first, then use the sealer, then the finish. I can't wait to see how this comes out. I'm really liking the look of Wenge. It reminds me of Indian Rosewood, but much classier looking.

Yes, some wood requires less pore filling than others but I don't recall building with anything that requires no pore filling. Except for top woods but even then, rosettes with wood in them often require something. Epoxy is a great filler in that it adheres well to wood and finishes, it doesn't shrink much, and it doesn't alter the color of the wood. Some pore fillers are meant to be a contrasting color. You often see a dark pore filler in mahogany.

I built cabinets and furniture for a living before I built guitars and I used to hate the idea of filling pores. I always thought a flat, glossy finish looked like plastic. I appreciate both now. On furniture, an oil finish with no pore filler preserves the organic look of the wood. A mirror gloss on a guitar really allows you to enjoy the depth and chatoyance in the grain.

Kent Chasson 07-02-2010 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dylanheeg (Post 2271170)
Wow, great guitar!

I love the way your GA looks with the florentine....perfect

Thanks! Cutaways are one of those things where people seem to have a very strong opinion one way or the other and it seems about 50/50. I much prefer the florentine but a lot of people only want Venetian. It makes for a lot of guitar molds lying around!

Kent Chasson 07-02-2010 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveS (Post 2274001)
Kent,
Beautiful workmanship!
I love the rosette.
Maybe I should take a vacation this summer, drve up the coast and stop in for a visit. :)

Thanks Steve. Come on up any time!


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