#61
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Sounds like an interesting idea!
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#62
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Sure! But, I'll have to ask him to explain it to me first..
Last edited by mhw48; 07-28-2020 at 08:50 PM. |
#63
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Quote:
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#64
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Quote:
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Sobell Model 1 Sobell six string archtop Gibson ES-165 Herb Ellis Eastman John Pisano Gibson Johnny A Franklin Prairie State Collings D1A |
#65
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Nick began Franklin Guitar company in 1971, I think Bob Taylor started building guitars in 1972. Mossman was also building guitars with bolt on necks back in the 70s. The neck on Gurian guitars were secured with ebony pins.
Last edited by mhw48; 07-29-2020 at 09:21 AM. |
#66
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Small point, but I believe that Nick may have built his first guitar in 1971 but did not form Franklin Guitar Co. until 3-years later in 1974.
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A bunch of nice archtops, flattops, a gypsy & nylon strings… |
#67
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Back to the build! Nick wanted the truss rod on his guitars to be adjustable under tension, which led to another innovation: The truss rod is accessed through a hole in the top of the peghead.
Nick initially got the idea from a “T-handled Allen wrench with a ball driver manufactured by Bondhus”. The ball-end of the wrench can engage the nut at the end of the truss rod at up to 15 degrees off axis. This means having to drill a very precise hole through the length of the peghead, so Nick created a heavy-duty jig that attaches to the peghead and guides the drilbit. Last edited by mhw48; 07-29-2020 at 03:35 PM. |
#68
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What year did Nick start doing that? For much older guitars, he had a truss rod that was accessible from the soundhole through a hole drilled in the brace there.
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#69
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I have a feeling you know the answer to this question -- which is an interesting one! There is a great interview with Nick and his wife Jeanne in the Summer 2015 issue of American Lutherie (#122) that also includes a detailed pictorial overview of Nick building an OM. So with due credit given, I am reproducing the photos and explanation of the truss rod from page 19 of the magazine.
Last edited by mhw48; 07-30-2020 at 05:45 AM. |
#70
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You are absolutely correct, that's exactly what Nick's website states: "A few years and a few guitars later, Nick moved to Franklin, MI. There, on Franklin Road, he formed the Franklin Guitar Company in 1974."
Last edited by mhw48; 07-30-2020 at 09:18 AM. |
#71
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Quote:
Remember, while Nick has been building guitars for nearly 50-years, much of that time Franklin Guitar Co. was a small team-built shop like Michael Millard’s Froggy Bottom is today with Nick as its leader performing key operations and directing his staff. Nick’s solo built guitars Are mostly from the last two decades. I would guess only 200-250 of the 700 Franklin guitars are solo built instruments by Nick. While my Franklin has an “F” on its headstock, when I look at it, I see a “K”...
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A bunch of nice archtops, flattops, a gypsy & nylon strings… |
#72
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Quote:
Last edited by mhw48; 07-31-2020 at 08:42 AM. |
#73
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The truss rod access hole drilled, showing the tool used to adjust it.
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#74
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Aligning, pinning and gluing the faceplate to the headstock. Also angling the nut.
Last edited by mhw48; 07-31-2020 at 02:18 PM. |
#75
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Why a Martin nut? let me explain: This guitar build requires a Martin nut because... it's being built for someone whose first name is Martin.
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