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Old 12-06-2019, 06:53 AM
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Default JOHN BUSCARINO: 16” Monarch Archtop (Carpathian Spruce/ Fiddleback Sycamore Maple)

We don’t see many archtop build threads here on AGF, but I thought I would share this one with the Custom Shop. I have commissioned a custom 16” Monarch archtop from North Carolina luthier John Buscarino.

https://buscarino.com/

John builds archtops, flatops, nylon string and solid-body electric guitars. He originally apprenticed for both Augustino LoPrinzi (classical and flattop guitars) and Bob Benedetto (archtop guitars) and has been making guitars for about 40-years now.

John built me his carved back nylon hybrid model (‘015 Carpathian Spruce/Carved Honduran Rosewood Cabaret Model) about 5-years ago and a carved back steel string flattop (‘018 Carpathian Spruce/Carved East Indian Rosewood Rhapsody Model) about 2-years ago.









Instead of his standard 3” rim depth, John recommended utilizing tapered rims (3” to 3-1/2”) for enhanced acoustics. This has a body volume similar to a 3-1/4” constant rim depth instrument. The guitar will be very much a “Johnny Smith” like guitar (e.g. 25.0” scale, 1-3/4” nut, wider string spacing etc.), but with a smaller 16” body. Again, John will add a small sound port to the upper bout for an enhanced acoustic player experience.

Dimensions:
Lower Bout Width: 16”
Body Depth: 3” to 3-1/2”
Scale Length: 25”
Nut Width: 1-3/4”
String Spacing: 2-3/16”
Fretboard Radius: 12”
Number of Frets: 22
Cutaway: Venetian
Side Port: Fleur De Lis

John being a builder for many decades has amassed a large wood locker of aged tonewoods. Typically, John won’t build with anything that has not been stabilized in his shop for > 5-years. For this guitar John chose a Master Grade Carpathian Spruce top from Romania (Old World Tonewoods). For the body, a 17 year old Master Grade European Fiddleback Sycamore Maple from Andreas Gleissner from Austria. John is fortunate to still have quartersawn flamed Rock Maple neck blanks which are harder to find these days.

Materials:
Top Wood: Master Grade Carpathian Spruce
Body Wood: Master Grade European Fiddleback Sycamore Maple
Neck Wood: 3-Piece Neck, Master Grade Highly Figured Rock Flame Maple
Fretboard: Gaboon Ebony
Bridge & Saddle: Gaboon Ebony with Thumb Wheels
Tailpiece: Gaboon Ebony
Pickguard: Gaboon Ebony

Here is a photo of the Fiddleback Sycamore Maple set. It was from Austria and resawn in 2003 by Andreas Gleisner.



This guitar will have a very traditional aesthetic with split block position markers and a lighter almond sunburst set off by lighter birdseye Rock Maple bindings.

Decoration:
Body Binding/Purflings: Bird's Eye Maple with b/w/b/w/b for top and back and b/w/b top and side
Fretboard Binding/Purflings: Bird's Eye Maple and b/w/b top/side Purflings with Ebony Side Dots
F-Hole Binding/Purflings: Style A, Bird's Eye Maple Scrolls with b/w/b
Pickguard Binding/Purflings: Bird's Eye Maple Binding with b/w/b Purflings
Fretboard Inlay: Split Block MOP Inlays with Abalone Stripes
Headstock Veneer: Ebony with Birdseye Maple Binding
Headstock Veneer Inlay: New “Buscarino” Logo
Rear Headstock Veneer: Ebony Laminated with Ebony/Maple/Ebony
Truss Rod Cover: Gaboon Ebony
Finish: Custom Almond Sunburst (Nitrocellulose Lacquer)

I have been very happy using Jescar EVO fretwire on all of my guitars. John will use one of his custom humbuckers made for him by Kent Armstrong. Because these use bar magnets, John can use wider 2-3/16” string spacing vs. the typical 2-1/16” string spacing typically used with his 12-pole piece humbuckers.

Hardware:
Fret Wire: Jescar EVO .047” x .095”
Tuners: Gotoh SG510 (21:1) with Ebony Buttons
Truss Rod: Double Action
Nut: Bone
Strings: TI BeBop .013” - .053”
Pickup: Buscarino Signature Floating Humbucker
Volume and Tone Controls: Concealed Underneath Pickguard
Jack: @ End pin
Strap Pin: @ Heel Plate
Case: Hiscox Lite Flite

John will begin to build the guitar in January and as he builds the guitar if he forwards me some shots I will post them here.
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Last edited by iim7V7IM7; 01-12-2020 at 01:00 PM. Reason: Photos
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Old 12-06-2019, 09:25 AM
jt1 jt1 is offline
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Very cool! Please keep us updated on the build process.
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Old 12-06-2019, 09:26 AM
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Smile Whee!!!

This will be FUN

Lovely Maple !!!!

Enjoy the process. You must, you are back for MORE.

Cheers

Paul
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Old 12-06-2019, 10:12 AM
GeoffStGermaine GeoffStGermaine is offline
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Definitely looking forward to seeing this one come together!
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Old 12-06-2019, 12:03 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jt1 View Post
Very cool! Please keep us updated on the build process.
I will do my best and you of course can audition it at Woodstock in October....

Quote:
Originally Posted by Guitars44me View Post
This will be FUN

Lovely Maple !!!!

Enjoy the process. You must, you are back for MORE.

Cheers

Paul
Was there ever any doubt?

Quote:
Originally Posted by GeoffStGermaine View Post
Definitely looking forward to seeing this one come together!
Thanks...that makes two of us...
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Old 12-07-2019, 08:30 AM
chippygreen chippygreen is offline
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Subscribing!
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Old 12-07-2019, 10:39 AM
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Very cool, Bob! Always fun to watch your build threads.
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Old 12-07-2019, 11:08 AM
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Subscribing!
Quote:
Originally Posted by justonwo View Post
Very cool, Bob! Always fun to watch your build threads.
Thanks.... Things should get going in earnest in January.
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Old 12-08-2019, 09:34 AM
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January is going to be an excellent month for build threads.

I look forward to this one!
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Old 12-08-2019, 09:53 AM
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Originally Posted by cigarfan View Post
January is going to be an excellent month for build threads.

I look forward to this one!
We’ll be watching the bench in Petaluma no doubt...
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Old 12-09-2019, 03:31 AM
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Very nice! Exciting to see an archtop build in this forum.
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Old 12-12-2019, 03:18 PM
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Originally Posted by FGBR View Post
Very nice! Exciting to see an archtop build in this forum.
Glad to see that other AGF members appreciate seeing an archtop here...
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Old 01-12-2020, 01:00 PM
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Default Looking at top sets

John has been going through some of spruce top sets in his wood locker for my guitar. These are just the first three sets that he shared with me. These three sets are all Carpathian Spruce sets from Romania. For those of you less familiar looking at archtop top sets, they are 1”+ at the center seam and are either right triangles of 1/2 of a trapezoid in shape. I believe he is also looking through some Italian and Sitka tops as well.

Set A


Set B


Set C
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Old 01-20-2020, 04:32 PM
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Default Rough Carve

John added CNC to his operation many years ago. He uses it for a number of labor intensive operations including the rough carving of archtop top and back plates. Here are two Carpathian Spruce tops (Sets A and B) where the outer rough carve has been executed. The tops are located on the CNC with registration pins and are held in place with a. vacuum assist. We will wait to decide between these two until the inside rough carve is executed on these two sets so John can better assess the acoustic potential of each set. In their raw state, it is difficult to assess beyond the quality of their cut, density, some indication of figure and % moisture content on 1” thick archtop sets. The one that we don’t select will not go to waste, but will be used for a spec. guitar.

Top Set A:



Top Set B:

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Old 01-26-2020, 02:14 PM
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Default S-Holes

Instead of traditional f-holes, we opted for simpler s-holes on this archtop. Here is John’s CNC drawing showing their position within a 16” top.



John creates b/w/b purfled birdseye maple bindings for each of the s-holes. Here is a close up shot below of one of them. The Birdseye Sugar Maple bindings will really “pop” when the top gets its subtle burst.



Here is the rough contoured Carpathian Spruce top with both bound/purfled s-holes installed.

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