Build thread: Gerber SJ Nicaraguan Rose / German spruce

[gerberguitars]

I'm currently working on a new SJ model that I'm planning to take to Memphis next year. I've just begun, but thought that I would start with a pic of the rosette. I plan on the rest of the guitar being nice and clean, without any substantial inlay or other decoration. Just nice woods, that all work together and compliment one another. The back and sides are Nicaraguan Rosewood, and the top is German spruce. The Nicaraguan rosewood is a bit of a mystery to me, and I'm hoping others more knowledgeable about it can chime in later as I get pics up. I bought it only knowing that it was labeled as such. I pickup it up, tapped it, and holy cow it rang. Perhaps more than anything I've every held in my hands. So I bought it and got two nice sets out of the board. A quick search turns up the name dalbergia tucurensis. It's definitely not Honduran, and it's not like any other rosewood that I've worked with. So at this point I'm assuming that my search found the right species name. But again, feel free to chime in once I get the pics up. But back to the rosette, what do you think? It's a bit gritty, but at this point I'm kind of taken by it. I could clean it up a little bit, fill in the dark areas better, etc., but I'm thinking I need to leave it alone and let it contrast with the clean lines of the rest of the guitar.

[IMG]IMG_6636 by bellajoy, on Flickr[/IMG]

[skippper]

That rosette is a beauty!

[printer2]

It works for me.

[iim7V7IM7]

1-800-SEXAUER

Talk with Bruce. He has built MANY guitars with Tucarensis.

The Nicaraguan rosewood is a bit of a mystery to me, and I'm hoping others more knowledgeable about it can chime in later as I get pics up. I bought it only knowing that it was labeled as such. I pickup it up, tapped it, and holy cow it rang. Perhaps more than anything I've every held in my hands. So I bought it and got two nice sets out of the board. A quick search turns up the name dalbergia tucurensis. It's definitely not Honduran, and it's not like any other rosewood that I've worked with. So at this point I'm assuming that my search found the right species name. But again, feel free to chime in once I get the pics up.

[islandguitar]

I think John Arnold is pretty high on Tucarensis too. My 00 Bourgeois is Guatemalan Rosewood and it's nice stuff. ( also known as Tucarensis).

[Bruce Sexauer]

If you have specific question re Dalbergia tucarensis, I'd be happy to answer them if I can. . . which seems likely. It consistently makes guitars with the best qualities of both mahogany and rosewood (friendly and personal while projecting extremely well) and if it were more abundant and better known, it would be my pick for the best possible "Everyman's Guitar". If it were a car it would haul your whole family, handle like a sports car, pull a trailer, and get 35 miles to the gallon.

[jmagill]

This is my Bashkin made with dalbergia tucarensis. Does your wood look like this?

[gerberguitars]

Originally Posted by jmagill

This is my Bashkin made with dalbergia tucarensis. Does your wood look like this?

Here is a pic of the back. It's perfectly quartered, four piece back. Is the brownish color typical of Dalbergia Tucurensis? Or can it also have the reddish hue of Honduran? Or maybe I have something different here?

[IMG]IMG_6640 by bellajoy, on Flickr[/IMG]

A pic of the top and x-brace.

[IMG]IMG_6639 by bellajoy, on Flickr[/IMG]

[Bruce Sexauer]

Tuc has a variety of appearances. Yours is classic in my experience. The washed out brown (the wings) is very common, and looks a lot better under finish. The brighter orange streak (toward the middle) is also common. The other common (positive ID common) characteristic, more noticeable in the Bashkin than your set, are the spontaneous brown streaks. They will likely be more pronounced when finish goes on. Nice set IMO.

[islandguitar]

A couple of pics of my Bourgeois 00 with Tucarensis back and sides for your view/comparison on color under finish. The story goes that Dana found this single piece back in 2010 and was persuaded to try it. After building with it, he really liked it and sought out more to build with. The label on the guitar contains "RD" (research/development) as this wood was under consideration for full use on his signature series, which this guitar is.





I'll enjoy following this build....looks great!

[JackStraw34]

I really like the rosette!!! Very, very neat and unique!!!

[littlesmith]

awesome rosette, reminds me of some ancient stone markings or something

[gerberguitars]

I feel like it's slow slow slow, but progress is being made. I'm working on two other guitars at the same time, which has been fun and slightly more efficient. Here are a few pics of some of the work I've been doing.

Top is being sanding to a 25' radius. It never gets old seeing this process happen so effortlessly. And it's amazing how long the 80 grit paper has lasted.
[IMG]IMG_6653 by bellajoy, on Flickr[/IMG]

The back is glued to the side assembly first.
IMG_6681 by bellajoy, on Flickr

Any glue is cleaned up, and it's ready for a seal coat of shellac.
[IMG]IMG_6685 by bellajoy, on Flickr[/IMG]

With the seal coat.
[IMG]IMG_6687 by bellajoy, on Flickr[/IMG]

Next the top.
[IMG]IMG_6692 by bellajoy, on Flickr[/IMG]

The body is together.
[IMG]IMG_6693 by bellajoy, on Flickr[/IMG]
[IMG]IMG_6694 by bellajoy, on Flickr[/IMG]
[IMG]IMG_6695 by bellajoy, on Flickr[/IMG]

And a final shot of something that I've started doing to reinforce the headstock joint. Two 1/4" carbon fiber rods are angled almost perpindicular to the weakest line in the joint. I believe this creates the strongest headstock possible.
[IMG]IMG_6705 by bellajoy, on Flickr[/IMG]
[IMG]IMG_6706 by bellajoy, on Flickr[/IMG]

[Diamondave]

WHAT A ROSETTE!!! I love it, VERY well done!


[IMG]IMG_6636 by bellajoy, on Flickr[/IMG][/QUOTE]

[Leftyprs]

Your build is looking great! Congrats!