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So I'm just finishing up #5 and I'm getting really excited/nervous to hear what it sounds like. My guitars so far have all been all over the place as far as sound is concerned. That is probably because I have changed so many things on each one. Anyway, my question is how many of you builders are satisfied with the sound that you have obtained, and how many are still trying to find the sound that you envision when you dream up your guitars. For me, I have this sound engrained in my head of what I want my guitars to sound like, but I just haven't hit it yet. Second question, those who have obtained the sound they want for their guitars, how many builds did it take you to get it?

Andrew Nelson

Great question, as I am sure we are all excited about the sound of the current build that was hypothesized when building the previous one...(if i just make this bracing pattern different, maybe make the body deeper, etc...)
My biggest surprise was my first 12-fret - where I purposely was looking for a "parlour" sound (accentuated midrange) and was amazed by the cool and unique sound as a result of moving the bridge back. On my next two builds I went with a 13-fret configuration with the same body size and was very happy with the compromise.

well, i'm almost half done with # 5 acoustic lap steel,
and the most exciting time for me is first stringing it up.
if it doesn't collapse, i am glad.
each build i've done so far sounds completely different from the others.
why? because i keep making radical changes, usually.
#4 and 5 are quite similar in materials, arcing, bracing, bridge.
i'm going to keep things the same for now, with slight changes.
oh, each one i've made has their own quality that i like.
guess i'm lucky there.
one sounds tight and focused,
one is balanced, louder, and my fav.
one is more dynamic, with nice bass and treble.
i got da buzz words down, no?
oh, and one sounds as my friend said "like a guitar",
she's right too.

Before I started building acoustic guitars. I built electric solid bodies. My favorite style was a Fender Telecaster. Once in the mid 80's I built three identical guitars using the same Mahogany wood from the same plank for the bodies and the same Maple plank for the necks. Same hardware and pick ups. All finished with nitro.

All three were different as to sustain and tonal qualities. I had my in house guitar "gunslinger" salesman play all three in a bind fold test. One was head and shoulders better than the other two.

What did I learn from my experiment? I learned that there is something intangible that can't be repeated that makes
that something magic occur on some builds.

I have encountered the same results on my acoustic builds. Some are excellent and some are good.

I am currently earnestly watching a five guitar dreadnought acoustic build on another forum using five different tops with everything else the same.

Link: http://www.luthierforum.com/index.php?showtopic=9762

It should be interesting to see what differences the top wood makes.

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"Try to be the person your dog thinks you are."

http://sites.google.com/site/bertsguitarshop/

Foster wrote:
"What did I learn from my experiment? I learned that there is something intangible that can't be repeated that makes that something magic occur on some builds."

Leprechauns?

You might be surprised at how much two pieces of wood from the same plank can vary in things like density, and particularly stiffness. Also, it doesn't take much variation in something like the depth of the neck to alter a resonant mode enough to be audible. I've done a few 'matched pair' experiments, and never gotten a pair that sounded the same, but I've always been able to go back afterward and find something that was 'different' that I had not thought was important before, which could account for it. At some point, I hope to ferret out all of the important differences, and make a matched pair that really matches. Then, of course, I'll need to make another, just to prove that the first pair wasn't a fluke. It's not going to be easy or quick, but I refuse to believe in 'magic'.

I don't believe in "magic, but I DO believe in Leprechauns, and boy, are they SCARY!!!

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Old growth, shmold growth!

I was thrilled with the tone of my first build (I think everyone is) but I had a plan. After the initial stringup I took the top off 7 times (3 different tops) to make changes. My plan was to learn, and I think I learned alot. My second build was un eventful. I still play that guitar daily. On my third and fourth builds I built identical guitars. I had read somewhere that Alan (Carruth) suggested that. Neither myself or any of my friends could tell them apart. On my fifth I used 6 different bridges. (3 shapes, 2 materials) On my sixth I used 3 different fingerboard materials, along with 2 different necks. I have worked hard to develop a "good" (good is subjective) tone, and also to bring out the personalities of the woods used. I believe Rosewood guitars are supposed to sound different than Mahogany, ect. I will only make subtle changes in my voicing to accomodate a clients desired tone. I let the wood choices (and body style) make the differences. If a client wants a Cedar topped 00 that sounds like an Adi topped dread I'll send him elsewhere. Same thing if they want an Adi topped dread that sounds like a Cedar topped 00. This link is for my builds 15 through 19. http://brackettinstruments.com/rosewood.html I'm working on #'s 27 and 28 now. Like most, I believe I have a pretty good handle on tone, but, like others I'm sure I've still got plenty to learn.

My suggestion, experiment, but don't make radical changes. I also recommend doing experiments on one guitar to control other variables.

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

Well, let's see...
I have an oak/red parlor sound,
BRW/red parlor sound,
Honduras/red GC sound,
BRW/red GC sound,
BRW/Engelmann GC12 sound,
Honduras/Engelmann GC12 sound,
And soon a Coco/red super jumbo sound...

Still working on the other 42 sounds...

Nice Haans, you have to tell me why you chose 49 sounds.

Woody, I think you talked me into re-topping one of mine that I'm not totally satisfied with. I can't imagine doing it 7 times on one guitar though. It would be quite the learning tool though for me. My last two guitars have an access panel at the tail and I've re-worked the bracing a fair amount just to experiment.

I had several re tops planed on my first build before I ever put strings on it. I intended it to be an learning experiment. I think I learned alot by eliminating any variable from the rest of the guitar. It also took less materials, and money than building 7 different guitars. Don't just take the top off of one you're not happy with. Change the top on one you love and see if you can make it better.

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

Forty-two is the universal answer.

The Ultimate answer...

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Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/

Yes, but what is the QUESTION?!?

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Old growth, shmold growth!

That's the hard part...

Obviously, the question is. "What color is the letter 'T'?"

We already know the answer.....

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Finally escaped The Peoples' Republik of Massachusetts; I can smell the freedom in the air!