Madrone/Adi Flamenco Hybrid
 

I first saw a real flamenco guitar nearly 50 years ago. I have made several serious attempts at making in the last few years, and I am very happy with my results. I have been a bit hard core about the peg tuners, which I hand carve and fit carefully, and which work far better than anyone expects when they dare to try them. And that is the problem, players are a bit shy about trying them. So I am making this one with machine tuners.

The tonewood is from a Madrone I cut down 25 years ago in Monte Rio, CA surely it is ready by now?

http://mojoluthier.com/LP20/301/Madrone1.jpg

http://mojoluthier.com/LP20/301/Madrone2.jpg

The top is American red spruce, sometimes called Adi, and while many feel it is too robust for nylon strings, I have a solution for than (use less) expect it will contribute nicely to what I want to hear from this guitar. I chose a very colorful top:

http://mojoluthier.com/LP20/301/joinedtop.jpg

Hi Bruce, I'm sorry you won't be doing the pegs...I'm fascinated by them!!

I can't wait to see this build!

Regards
Hentie

I have several of my own guitars, most of which are in the shop and get played in rotation, though there are favorites. I have just one house guitar, which is next to my dining table. It is my Catalpa/white spruce flamenco, and probably gets as much play as all my other guitars combined! It sports my first set of hand carved pegs, Rendered in Jatoba. I made it/them 5 years ago, and they continue to work as well as the day I put the strings on, which is very well indeed (if I don’t say so myself). The guitar tunes as if there is magic involved, the pegs just seem to land on the exact note targeted Somehow. It is ears and muscle memory, I know that, but it seem effortless. I think the tuning process on a wood peg flamenco is an extension of musicianship, and a very good thing.

I am really glad to learn of your positive outcome regarding the pegs!

To say the least, I'm currently building my first nylon string "flamenco" style guitar out of local timbers/englemann spruce, and am strongly considering giving the traditional pegs a go..also hoping for the successful outcome you had!

I have cut 33 of these little Cuban mahogany S's, and will turn them into a rosette. They are about 3/8" tall.

http://mojoluthier.com/LP20/301/ssss1.jpg

http://mojoluthier.com/LP20/301/ssss2.jpg

Here's the rosette I made from the many S's:

http://mojoluthier.com/LP20/301/rosette1.jpg

http://mojoluthier.com/LP20/301/rosette2.jpg

This will be an interesting guitar. I look forward to following your posts about this guitar.

Did you start the guitar the same day that you made the first post (05.25)?

I joined the back a couple of weeks ago, not yet realizing when or what I was going to build. I have been chomping at the bit to build a nylon strung guitar, and orders being the rare thing (I;ve made at least 9, only three commissioned), I thought I run with this idea. I had been thinking to build a serious BRW classical as they seem to sell if I have one, but I personally like (prefer) to play a flamenco style guitar.My last serious classical had a 53 mm nut, whereas my Flamenco's have 49 mm, usually. What a difference! And a lower action and much lighter build. My last three weigh between 2.4 and 2.6 lb each.

Otherwise, so far, this thread is real time. Today, I chose a neck black and sawed out the profile. I have hoped I had a piece of Madrone to use, but the widest stock was 2" and I don't want to deal with laminating up the blank, so Honduran mahogany.Made the fingerboard yesterday from ebony, and bound it. I think I went with 648mm scale.

The top in is the go-bar deck receiving soundhole reinforcement and both transverse braces. I have inlaid two 1/8 x 7/16 strips of carbon-fiber into the neck, cut the slots to receive the sides, and created the (modest) foot.

http://mojoluthier.com/LP20/301/carbon.jpg

http://mojoluthier.com/LP20/301/foot2.jpg

Bracing is in:

http://mojoluthier.com/LP20/301/topbracing.jpg

http://mojoluthier.com/LP20/301/backbracing.jpg

And the end blocks, one of which is the neck, are glued on:

http://mojoluthier.com/LP20/301/blockson.jpg

The first side is bent and trimmed to fit. As you see, I do not understand the general lutherie communities obsession with molds. A lot of fuss and bother and a serious constraint on creativity for my POV.

http://mojoluthier.com/LP20/301/side1a.jpg

http://mojoluthier.com/LP20/301/side1b.jpg

The Madrone/Adi guitar now has the peone in which attach the sides to the top.

http://mojoluthier.com/LP20/301/peone.jpg

looks nice. Somebody makes planetary pegs that look like traditional pegs also, kindof the best of both words.

The back will likely go on before the day is done. It is in the go-bar deck having "marriage strips" glued on. These strips insure against seam failure, and this guitar is a four piece back, so it has 3 seams.

http://mojoluthier.com/LP20/301/readyforback.jpg