Michaud OM-R Fan Fret Build Thread

[grosskate]

Originally Posted by Marcus Wong

What an incredible build... you're one lucky dude and that's one sexy guitar

I have said this countless times already but it can't be stressed enough - Joel is a real stand up guy and does what it takes to make sure every guitar he builds is his best guitar!

Thanks, and I stress to say, Marcus is a top dude too !!

Although I didn't go through him for this this Michaud Made, he gave me many inputs and very high quality advice for this guitar.

Marcus is very, very knowledgable guy you can trust 100%. If I ever need another high end, guitar I would just go through him !

[grosskate]

Little update guys !!


The Rosette is now fully finished :




the Bracing has been done on both the back and top as well :











Headstock is in the making :






Stay tuned !

[Jamiejoon]

Wow, that Amazon rosewood is amazing. Looks like a gorgeous build!

[virob]

I didn't realize that the long back brace doesn't actually touch the back of the guitar. Is this what is referred to as a floating back brace?

That blue metal has nice depth and luminosity, very cool. Beautiful woods.

[David Wren]

This is shaping up to be yet another beautiful build from Joel!

[Guitars44me]

This is a BEAUTY indeed.

Huzza, huzza, and woohoo

Paul

[cigarfan]

Purdy, purdy, purdy!

[grosskate]

Originally Posted by virob

I didn't realize that the long back brace doesn't actually touch the back of the guitar. Is this what is referred to as a floating back brace?

That blue metal has nice depth and luminosity, very cool. Beautiful woods.

Yes that's a floating back brace. It allows for a back that pumps as a whole and be more active.
The metal is amazing yes.

Thanks

[gitarro]

Originally Posted by grosskate

Yes that's a floating back brace. It allows for a back that pumps as a whole and be more active.
The metal is amazing yes.

Thanks

Is that back brace design similar to Jeff Traugott's floating backbrace?

[Marcus Wong]

Originally Posted by gitarro

Is that back brace design similar to Jeff Traugott's floating backbrace?

Hey Barry, indeed it is! Joel really likes how it keep the back from straightening out over the years due to its stiffness, so he asked for Jeff's permission to include it in his guitars. Apart from Stephen Strahm, Jeff's apprentice, I believe Joel is the only other luthier who consistently includes this into his builds!

[steveh]

Originally Posted by gitarro

Is that back brace design similar to Jeff Traugott's floating backbrace?

ish - Traugott’s sits over the back braces.
This looks more cut in.

Cheers,
Steve

[Marcus Wong]

Originally Posted by steveh

ish - Traugott’s sits over the back braces.
This looks more cut in.

Cheers,
Steve

They both seem to be connected the same way. Just that Joel's has less sticking out, and he throws the (in this case ebony) brace cap over which he borrowed from Laurent Brondel. It is both for aesthetic and function purposes where it makes the structure more 1 piece

[grosskate]

Originally Posted by steveh

ish - Traugott’s sits over the back braces.
This looks more cut in.

Cheers,
Steve

Hey Steve to make it clearer here is a picture showing what Joel does in the process (although it's not on my guitar)



Joel notches both pieces, rather than relying solely on a glue joint to hold the structure. This way he gets mechanical stoppage. This is different than he believes how Jeff does it.

At the start Joel reached out to Jeff that gave him his full permission to use the idea.

In the end Joel wanted to make it his own anyway and came up with a new take that he believes would be superior to his needs.


Hope that clarifies it

[virob]

Hey Grosskate and Marcus,

Thanks for the explanations and image on Joel's floating back brace. My Michaud guitar was built before he was using that technique. It is interesting to observe his evolution.

[grosskate]

Little update pics of the box being half closed :








And now fully closed, with the fretboard (in rocklite):



Progressing nicely. Joel does such a precise work... It's amazing !