Must be the First of the Month!
Here we are at the first of the month, time to start a new guitar!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4650/...c7b648d6_c.jpg This is the last back and side set of quilted Maple that I was able to get from this billet: https://farm1.staticflickr.com/704/2...5a79f29d_c.jpg https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5656/...1ef1467e_c.jpg I did the first set as a spec guitar and had a lot of fun trying to play off the wonderful quilted figure with the way I shaped the Cocobolo trim on this Josie small jumbo model: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7009/...50c81c69_c.jpg https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7340/...c8308bc6_c.jpg The second set went on a left handed Greta grand auditorium: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4428/...cfb00382_b.jpg This last set will be another small jumbo Josie model. I haven't found another maple set of this quality yet but, I'm constantly on the look out. In the meantime I look forward to building my last guitar from this wonderful wood! Thanks for viewing! Mark |
Top
Bear claw Sitka has been the preferred choice for these maple guitars and for this guitar we selected a particularly nice one:
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4665/...89fbc86f_c.jpg It has great tap tone that's right for the maple set and small jumbo size. This top has a wonderful sheen and a slight pink color that will go great with the Cocobolo trim. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4627/...639e1e83_c.jpg When you have to use a magnifying glass and a pin to get a grain count you know your in the land of fine grained wood. I get about 72 lines per inch. Sitka tops average 7 grams per cubic inch. This one comes in at a lightweight 6.45gr/cubic inch. The top is also very stiff like you might expect from the high grain count. So in my book this top is best of all worlds: it's stiff, light, and beautiful. And here we go-- https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4629/...2294b02a_c.jpg |
This should be as spectacular as the other two...
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Very pretty Mark. That cocobolo is a great accent to the maple. Did you do anything special when gluing on that cocobolo bridge to counteract the oiliness?
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Here is a list of my do’s and dont’s: Don’t use particularly oily Cocobolo for bridges in the first place Use less than 6 month old Titebond Hand sand the bottom of the bridge and don’t heat it up. Glue the bridge on within 15 minutes of sanding and cleaning both glueing surfaces (top and bridge) this is particularly important with Western Red Cedar. Put a thin layer of glue on both the bridge and the top I have consistent results following these practices. Of course, all the other rules apply like good fit, good clamping set up, clean hands, etc. |
That maple mesmerizes me. I've looked at the one on your site in past. Makes me glad to live so far away so I never have to try one of these guitars. I know they sound better than they look! Love these maple builds. Someday... (sighs).
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Sitka
Your description of the Sitka you are using on this build brought me back to our discussion and decision to go with the "Floater Sitka " for my Greta. What excellent guidance you gave for this and all aspects of my build.
And of course I could not close without saying...... Mark, I really love my Greta, it continues to mature and surprise. The Sitka and Wenge combination nailed the sound I was looking for. It has actually turned into a real bad *** tone monster. ( can I say that ....... guess I just did ) d |
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Stiffness, light weight, tap tone, and looks. These may change a little depending on the final goals but, these are the boxes that need to be checked! |
Moving along
Here is a little update as I am working on a rib bevel for this small jumbo;
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/791/4...dccde668_c.jpg This is a very lightweight piece of Spanish Cedar I'm working with so it's easy to carve and smells really good while doing it. When making a guitar you get to sculpt some really strange and complex parts; https://farm1.staticflickr.com/786/4...524e4fa2_c.jpg This becomes the internal support for the rib bevel and you can see in this picture I have the arm bevel already support glued in place: https://farm1.staticflickr.com/788/4...4ac7fa6e_c.jpg |
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Thanks Louie! Here are a couple pictures of a Greta slot headstock coming together: https://farm1.staticflickr.com/795/3...79826819_c.jpg It is a Black Walnut neck with a Macassar Ebony headplate and Schertler tuners. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4788/...4b23bae9_c.jpg The back strap is Black Walnut burl. I have to say the more Walnut guitars I build, the more I like Walnut, particularly Black Walnut. I'd say Black Walnut is in my top 5 favorites after BRW and Koa. It's checks all the boxes for me: sound, workability, and looks |
Very nice stuff!!
Mark, I love all your work, but am really smitten with the bevel reinforcements of Spanish Cedar!
I do not ever want to go back to no bevels. They make the playing experience so much nicer. My goodness you find the beautiful wood!!! Carry on and have fun! Paul |
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A Couple of Parting Shots
Here are a couple of parting shots of a Western Red Cedar on Black Walnut Greta grand auditorium guitar I'll be shipping out next week. This is one of my favorite wood combinations. Playing this guitar only reaffirms how awesome domestic wood can be. Plus I think these locals can be mighty pretty too!
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/788/4...2a0ff951_c.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/821/4...eef69c03_c.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/893/4...485b7b9d_h.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/785/4...b7acc197_c.jpg Thanks for viewing! Mark |
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