My Monteleone 00 12 fret build is Finished!!

[Howard Emerson]

I have no idea if it will impart any scary bass tones or not, but for what it's worth: That is a vintage Martin dreadnaught clamping platen under the top being braced. John dished it slightly.



HE

[Michael Watts]

Thank you Howard! This is a real pleasure!

[Howard Emerson]

Originally Posted by Richard Mott

Hi Howard—First, glad to hear you bounced back from the pneumonia, not always an easy or straightforward thing to do. Following that, big congrats on the great OO build underway with John. I have to say the red on that mandolin is one of the most beautiful colors I’ve ever seen on any instrument, even most especially on the maple back. It’s gonna be a killer instrument! —Richard

Hi Richard,
Thanks for the kind words! It was a pretty scary 10 days, especially not knowing what the CV-19 tests would say, but the chest xray was enough to get antibiotic treatment.

For as long as I can remember I have been a sucker for a red guitar. The 1964 Gibson Electric Guitar catalog was my first 'OMG' reaction, and then numerous Guild models, etc......but when I saw the picture in John's shop the deal was sealed!



HE

[Howard Emerson]

Here's the top bracing progress. I'm really excited how quickly this has progressed, and it certainly helped distract while recovering from pneumonia!



HE

[cigarfan]

Like a sculpture! Beautiful!

[jt1]

Thanks for sharing this with us, Howard. Reminds me of the day we spent hanging at John's shop, a beautiful, pre zombie apocalypse memory.

Take care, my friend.

[SprintBob]

Originally Posted by Howard Emerson

Here's the top bracing progress. I'm really excited how quickly this has progressed, and it certainly helped distract while recovering from pneumonia!



HE

“The chisels are calling, it’s time to make sawdust....................”

[Itzkinguitars]

Hey Howard! We met briefly at John's event at the Jazz loft in Stony Brook this winter (I was the early twenty something wearing a Tom Sands T-shirt). Very excited for this thread. Since I visited him when I was 13 years old John Monteleone has been my main inspiration as a luthier and continues to be so even though I've decided on a much different path (classical guitars... actually quarantined in Granada at the moment...)

[Howard Emerson]

Originally Posted by Itzkinguitars

Hey Howard! We met briefly at John's event at the Jazz loft in Stony Brook this winter (I was the early twenty something wearing a Tom Sands T-shirt). Very excited for this thread. Since I visited him when I was 13 years old John Monteleone has been my main inspiration as a luthier and continues to be so even though I've decided on a much different path (classical guitars... actually quarantined in Granada at the moment...)

Hi Brian,
That was a nice event!

I hope you're going to push the envelope in the classic guitar field!

Stay healthy, stay safe!

Howard

[Howard Emerson]

Making good progress on closing the box!



HE

[Howard Emerson]

Fingerboard & headstock overlay choices......

[mtracz]

Originally Posted by Howard Emerson

Here's the top bracing progress. I'm really excited how quickly this has progressed, and it certainly helped distract while recovering from pneumonia!



HE

Only the bass side of the X brace is scalloped? That's interesting, is there a reason for it? Or was this photo taken in progress?

Thank you for sharing this wonderful build!

_Mike

[Howard Emerson]

Originally Posted by mtracz

Only the bass side of the X brace is scalloped? That's interesting, is there a reason for it? Or was this photo taken in progress?

Thank you for sharing this wonderful build!

_Mike

Hi Mike,
Could very well be in progress or intentional; I don’t know. I’ll know sooner or later.

I will say that my Flammang has only tapered bracing with no scalloping, which was my request. I wanted more ‘pop’ than bass.

With this build, of course, going in to make adjustments is easy.

Howard

[Howard Emerson]

LaCorsa is progressing nicely!






Howard Emerson

[printer2]

So that is how many clamps I have to make? I better get cracking.

Love the build, can't wait to see the neck.