Official Luthiers Forum!

Really beautiful work, Waddy! I love the V-Joint neck...the contrast between the SC and the mahogany looks great! Thanks for sharing.

That's beautiful, Waddy!

Love the Sycamore!

But what I'm really curious about is this. After building 10 instruments to the same plan, what have you learnt about coaxing the most out of it? What understanding do you have now that you just never expected back at #1?

I admire the dedication to refining one design. Most I've ever done is three to the same plan, and those were built all at the same time.

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Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
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I'm a fan Waddy. Especially since I think every one of your guitars is using a different wood for the back and sides. Way to help us break out of the EIR mold. I know you're selling now. Are you getting any negative feedback on not using traditional EIR?

I'm dying to build one with Bloodwood - just because I think it would be gorgeous with a great sound, but people keep telling me - stick to the traditional! I say traditional be damned! That's why you're my hero.

Do you plan for a look before hand, or are you just getting a B/S set and then going for complementary trimmings?

+1 on incredible work. I expect to see the Waddy Rosette and headstock in Guitar Salon International soon

Steve

Very Nice! Nice looking and nice sounding. I enjoy sound clips of finished guitars here on the OLF. Clinton

Thanks to all of you for your comments!

Douglas, I have changed the bracing significantly, staying taller and narrower on the center and working out to much wider and lower braces. I also leave my tops a bit thicker than I used to, and now shave more off the tail and less off the wings of the lower bout. I also work hard to make bridges that weigh less than 20 grams. My best guitars have had bridges in the 16 to 18 gram range. My changes have been subtle, but the difference has been significant. I know what I like to hear as I work the top and braces, but I don't do much "testing". I do record taps, some, but only out of curiosity, and often, forget. This particular guitar may not be quite as loud as some, but it projects well, and has a bit more mellow tone, due, I believe, to the Sycamore properties.

Steve, I like making guitars out of different woods, and I love working with materials that go well with the different woods. That said, the guitars I've sold are pretty much standard faire. 2 EIR, 1 Mad Rose, and 1 EIR presently being finished. I have really been restricting my more recent wood purchases to EIR, as I think that's where the market really is. I'll continue to build a few with premium woods, like Cocobolo, Mad Rose, and others, but I think EIR is where the market really is. I really do enjoy coming up with different purfling schemes. Not sure about a Bloodwood classical. I've seen some pretty Bloodwood SS guitars, but that's an easier sell.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Congratulations Waddy. Sounds really wonderful!

Thanks, Gary! You can see it in person in Charleston, I hope!

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars