Mahogany Mama and red spruce build (finished!)

[Glenn23]

I'd like to present my latest build that contains elements I think forum members might find interesting.
Here's a little background on its inception.
I'm calling this design my "Elegant Solution" series. In mathematics, computer programming, and engineering an "elegant solution" is one that solves a problem in the simplest manner possible, while also doing it in a beautiful way. On my previous build I became interested in using design elements that called on the aesthetic of sumi-e paintings. I wanted to treat binding and purfling details more like calligraphic strokes of varying weight. I was only partly successful because I made the bindings and linings in the traditional way, when what I needed was an "elegant solution." On this guitar I'm going to combine the linings, radial cut bindings, and purfling details into a single element.

I start with a mold the defines the inner volume of the guitar box, complete with domed top and back.


I lay up the laminated linings with the radial cut, exterior, spalted maple surface built in.


On the neck block I'm continuing my very successful recurve geometry from previous builds that increases the torsional stiffness of the joint exponentially. You can see the calligraphic start of the exposed binding line.


And here are the top and back plates. Mahogany Mama is a wonderfully figured wood whose provenance begins with hurricane Arthur's landfall in Belize and ends at Northwind Tonewoods in Maine, probably familiar to those who have attended the Woodstock Luthier show. This particular adi is an extremely tight grained and stiff plate.

As I get further along I'll detail my thoughts on the numerous advantages of the continuously beveled sides.

[rogthefrog]

That spalted maple is gorgeous.

[Marcus Wong]

Love radical builds like this. Can't wait to see more!!

[redir]

What ever it is you are doing so far, it looks cool

[Zandit75]

Wow, definitely going to be following this one!!

[riverrummed]

All right, yet another way to skin a cat. This should be fun to watch.

[gerberguitars]

Looking forward to seeing this come together! Nice work on the neck block.

[WordMan]

I will be checking in on this thread - cool!

Is your elegant solution meant to look sort of like a Dagmar guitar, with curved sides and no perpendicular edges?

http://www.dagmarcustomguitars.com/guitars.php

[Glenn23]

I've bookmatched a small billet of spalted maple to open like an accordian. This combined with the radial orientation lets the grain follow the contour of the bevel. Usually the grain orientation on an arm bevel can't follow the contour for very long before going cross grain.
]

I'm doing laminated sides with an EIR inner and mahogany outer. When I'm finished you'll be able to see the edge of the two laminated pieces, sort of like a double purfling line

The bevels will be a hard edged 45 degree bevel, not rounded.

[Guitars44me]

I am a big fan of bevels!! More comfort for everyone...

Looks spiffy!

Cheers

Paul

[Glenn23]

Mahogany Mama's got some curves!


I've laminated the fiddleback mahogany and EIR sides together and fitted the full perimeter bevel pieces.


The rim structure is incredibly stiff and strong, and yet still relatively light. I believe I could put the structure on its tailpiece and sit on the neck block and it would support my full weight (though I'm not about to test that hypothesis)!
I've come to accept the ideas of Smallman, Gore, Somoygi and others that a stiff rim is very desirable, and I've certainly got that. In addition the full bevel proposes some solutions to situations I've been thinking about for a long time. The bevel allows me to have a smaller top and back face, more in line with an OM size while having the interior volume more often found in a jumbo. I'm hoping for the sweet high end, and midrange of a smaller guitar, with the bloom and bass of a larger body.
Besides the obvious ergonomic advantages, there are some acoustic advantages that I'm very curious to see how they work out. In speaker building it is well known that edge diffraction interrupts the waveform leaving the speaker. The solution to this has usually been to bevel or round the speaker cabinet edges. This gives a wider dispersion of the soundwave into the listening environment. I'm hoping to achieve some of that with this design, in effect giving the sense of a soundport, without building a hole in the side. On the interior side of the soundboard, the bevel will also act to horn-load, or impedance match, the soundboard to the interior volume. This should make the top vibrate more efficiently.



The single laminated bevel might be a simple solution, but it is not an easy one! There is nowhere to hide in the joinery. The laminations and fitting of the bevels must be perfect since they're exposed.


Bracing the plates next!

[lizzard]

Please tell me this guitar is ALREADY SOLD!

Chris

[Glenn23]

Nope, she's definirtely looking for a forever home.

or as you might see on facebook,
"Man builds guitar with no one to play it...You won't believe what happens next!

[lizzard]

Originally Posted by Glenn23

Nope, she's definirtely looking for a forever home.

C'mon man, you know there is no such thing around these here parts!

[Nemoman]

This is really looking schweet, Glenn. Such great ideas and a unique approach. Looks very organic in its form--can't wait to see it finished!