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  #46  
Old 10-14-2018, 07:27 AM
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Originally Posted by iim7V7IM7 View Post
I agree...

I am honestly not worried about any of the residual oxidative aesthetic artifacts of age that may remain. I chose this set based on its sonic potential and not on aesthetics. Nick has some milk toast perfect Swiss Spruce in his woodlocker (great wood btw), but to his hands and ears it did not have the same sonic potential of this stuff. I believe he only has 3 or 4 sets remaining of this old German. How often does one get the opportunity to have a guitar made in 2018 using wood resawn back in 1968 that was selected by two great luthiers (Nick Kukich & Jeffrey Elliott) that was left to season a half century?
It reminds me of the old Sitka that Ben Wilborn has used as well, 50 years old with oxidized brown coloration at the center seam, symmetrical and I actually think it looks better with that. So thumbs up from me on this German!
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  #47  
Old 10-17-2018, 01:28 PM
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Default Side Bending

Here are some shots for you luthier gear heads. Nick's Venetian cutaway incorporates a very tight 3/4" radius at the neck block junction and he as a special bending fixture to help him with this. This is always a bit of a scary operation when using figured woods like this Cuban Mahogany with interlocking grain.



The other Cuban Mahogany side being bent.





I am unsure about the legality of bending sides within the Portland city limits wearing a Seattle apron....
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  #48  
Old 10-17-2018, 02:13 PM
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Awesome! It’s always fun to watch these things progress.
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  #49  
Old 10-17-2018, 03:57 PM
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Very interesting photos. (The Ferrari of guitars!)
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  #50  
Old 10-18-2018, 03:08 PM
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Default The other side

You can really see in this series of photos the extremely tight fillet (3/4”radius) in the raw Cuban Mahogany side that Nick bent adjacent to the neck block for his Venetian cutaway on OMC model.

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  #51  
Old 10-18-2018, 03:17 PM
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That's gotta be nerve-wracking--Wow!
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  #52  
Old 10-19-2018, 09:19 AM
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I bend the cutaway last, but it certainly makes sense to do it first if there is some question about the success, and there generally is.
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  #53  
Old 10-20-2018, 08:45 AM
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Nick's hog backs are some of the best on the planet. People's heads turn when I play my franklin. I always get comments on how beautiful the tone is coming from my OM. Incredible dynamics. Both the trebles and base are unique and paralyzingly lovely.

A remarkable signature sound.

Looks to be a wonderful guitar.

I know you're enjoy it.

Stuart
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  #54  
Old 10-20-2018, 11:03 AM
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Originally Posted by stuartb View Post
Nick's hog backs are some of the best on the planet. People's heads turn when I play my franklin. I always get comments on how beautiful the tone is coming from my OM. Incredible dynamics. Both the trebles and base are unique and paralyzingly lovely.

A remarkable signature sound.

Looks to be a wonderful guitar.

I know you're enjoy it.

Stuart
Thanks Stuart....

I have only played a BRW Franklin OM and I too was struck by the quality of the trebles. It was partly why I wanted a guitar by Nick.

I will be curious to hear how this guitar sounds. The 50-year old German Spruce should be superlative. Thd OMC is 5/8” bigger across the lower bout than Nick’s OM to make up for the lost body volume of the cutaway. This set of Cuban Mahogany is much denser than most HOG.

I should get to sample it by Christmas...
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  #55  
Old 10-20-2018, 01:15 PM
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After bending the Cuban Mahogany cutaway side, Nick further persuades it to shape by clamping it to the body mold. You can see how tight the 3/4” cutaway bend is by the future neck block junction. The curly maple bindings were bent to shape using the same side bending fixtures.

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  #56  
Old 10-20-2018, 07:29 PM
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Interesting, trying to make a perfect guitar better eh. The one thing that shocked me about Nick's guitars was how much their tone matures and changes over the first six months of playing it. I would not have thought it possible to hear such change. So It will be interesting to see if you have that same experience. Especially the base, which got much deeper across that first six months.

Yes, a cutaway made by Nick would be fun.

Stuart



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Originally Posted by iim7V7IM7 View Post
Thanks Stuart....

I have only played a BRW Franklin OM and I too was struck by the quality of the trebles. It was partly why I wanted a guitar by Nick.

I will be curious to hear how this guitar sounds. The 50-year old German Spruce should be superlative. Thd OMC is 5/8” bigger across the lower bout than Nick’s OM to make up for the lost body volume of the cutaway. This set of Cuban Mahogany is much denser than most HOG.

I should get to sample it by Christmas...
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  #57  
Old 10-20-2018, 07:39 PM
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Both bent Cuban Mahogany rims are now in the body molds...

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  #58  
Old 10-20-2018, 10:31 PM
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Jealous of that mahogany and spruce. They’re really something! I’m dying to play a Franklin one of these days.
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  #59  
Old 10-21-2018, 07:31 AM
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Jealous of that mahogany and spruce. They’re really something! I’m dying to play a Franklin one of these days.
Nothing to be jealous about Juston with your Slobod and Fairbanks in the queue...
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  #60  
Old 10-21-2018, 06:10 PM
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I'm jealous of your opportunity to watch your guitar taking shape.
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