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-   -   MARK BLANCHARD Bristlecone [Italian Spruce | Brazilian Rosewood] (https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=596397)

iim7V7IM7 01-11-2021 04:33 PM

Mark has routed the binding channels...:up:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...8630C5DB9.jpeg

iim7V7IM7 01-12-2021 07:40 PM

Bindings & Purflings
 
Mark has bent some Macassar Ebony bindings with curly Koa purflings.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...57045DBBD.jpeg

iim7V7IM7 01-17-2021 07:33 PM

End Graft
 
Now that the Brazilian Rosewood body has had it’s binding and purfling channels routed, it is time to route and install an end graft. Here’s Mark’s routing jig for the end graft. That’s a 1978 Porter Cable router which Mark has changed out the bearings on 6 times!

https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...6A8D605FC.jpeg

The Bristlecone’s end graft is contrasting Macassar Ebony with curly Koa purflings to match the binding design.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...C4C77E6DE.jpeg

iim7V7IM7 01-18-2021 01:58 PM

Binding the Box
 
Mark is installing the top 0.080” Macassar Ebony top binding framed with 0.050” Koa/0.020” Black Fiber top and 0.040” Koa side purflings with titebond 1 glue.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...9BBA1F260.jpeg

https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...749466CED.jpeg

https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...87C5018E4.jpeg

iim7V7IM7 01-19-2021 06:21 PM

Rosette & Purflings
 
You can now begin to see how the curly Koa top purfling will visually tie together with the Koa accents in the radial grained Brazilian Rosewood rosette. Not a traditional “blingy” look like shell or marquetry, but I think that these hardwood accents will make an elegant and handsome look. The small shim in the purfling near the continuous cutaway neck junction is there to ensure the binding junction smoothly transitions into the neck.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...F53203352.jpeg

Nemoman 01-19-2021 06:35 PM

Wow--I agree. Beautifully elegant!

cigarfan 01-20-2021 04:38 AM

Exquisite! :)

iim7V7IM7 01-20-2021 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nemoman (Post 6609166)
Wow--I agree. Beautifully elegant!

Quote:

Originally Posted by cigarfan (Post 6609388)
Exquisite! :)

Thanks for the kind words Gentlemen...:)

iim7V7IM7 01-22-2021 03:32 PM

Box Bound
 
Mark has completed Macassar Ebony binding and curly Koa purflings the Brazilian Rosewood “box”.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...3ED4EC93A.jpeg

mhw48 01-23-2021 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iim7V7IM7 (Post 6611747)
Mark has completed Macassar Ebony binding and curly Koa purflings the Brazilian Rosewood “box”.

Wow, that is really beautiful! The ebony/ koa works really well with the BRW.

iim7V7IM7 01-23-2021 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhw48 (Post 6612683)
Wow, that is really beautiful! The ebony/ koa works really well with the BRW.

Thanks, it is a classic combination used by many builders...:up:

I like my bindings to be hardwood and usually using a very hard species such as ebonies, rosewoods, hard maple or even satinwood. Binding’s function is to protect the guitar from dings. When the back and sides are visually dark, homogeneous and plain as with this set of Brazilian Rosewood, a bit of figure in a purfling can be nice. The Koa will show a bit of curl and mottle once under finish...:)

mhw48 01-23-2021 04:39 PM

It certainly has a classic elegance. I didn't know that Koa was typically used as a binding material -- although Nick Kuckich told me he just built an all Koa guitar, with Koa bindings.

iim7V7IM7 01-23-2021 05:10 PM

Yes, I have also seen many guitars bound in curly Koa. It is a beautiful figured binding material. That said, functionally, I am not a fan because it is a relatively soft hardwood. This defeats the protection purpose of binding in my view. As a purfling material however it is a great visual accenting choice against a dark binding.

iim7V7IM7 01-23-2021 05:56 PM

Neck Set
 
Mark was able to set the neck today so it is beginning to look like a guitar. Creating a Macassar Ebony/Koa purfled heel cap and roughing in the Gaboon Ebony fingerboard radius are next tasks ahead of him.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...9FA83B3D3.jpeg

https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...FA35B71F5.jpeg

iim7V7IM7 01-24-2021 01:49 PM

What Fret #?
 
3/32” MOP side position markers...

https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...152BB6F9A.jpeg


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