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We're showing some instruments at an exhibition at a music festival next weekend. Not quite Healdsburg but it's about the closest we've got down here.

So we've been flat out for the past couple of months getting these four ready.

The first one is a dread out of Red Spruce and Native Olive (Notelaea ligustrina), Blackwood bindings.

The Native Olive is another Tasmanian Timber, harder to get than Tiger Myrtle and one of the densest timbers found in Tassie. This set came from Tim Spittle.

It has a great tap tone similar to the rosewood family but probably taps with motre bottom end than any other timber I've bashed.

This was strung up this morning. It's got heaps of bottom end, plenty of mid range punch and the tops are fat and clear. It's already very loud so I think it's going to end up a really nice instrument once it opens up.

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Bob Connor
Geelong, Australia

The next one is is an O model out of Blackwood and King William Pine (King billy) which is a distant relative of Redwood. Also a Tasmanian timber and probably one of a handful of Australian timbers that are suitable for soundboards.

The King Billy is between Cedar and Engelmann in hardness, is very light seems and seems to share their characteristics of sounding "opened up" from the start.

It is not particularly stiff across or along the grain so I reckon it's suitable for smaller instruments like this using lighter gauge strings.

It is also one of the nicest smelling woods you can get.

It's got plenty of bottom for a small guitar and nicely balanced across all the strings but not as much mid punch and not as strong in the top end of another O model that follows further down the thread.

But it is a very sweet sounding guitar and surprisingly loud for it's size.

Continued in the next post due to the pic uploading thing

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Bob Connor
Geelong, Australia

This one is a Blackwood/Lutz 12 string I built for myself.

Strung it up yesterday morning and played a four hour gig with it last night. I didn't have to tune it all night which left me stunned but quite pleased.

It's got a K & K Powermix system in it which is simply awsome.

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Bob Connor
Geelong, Australia

The last one is a Ziricote/Euro O model - raw materials courtesy of The Zootman.

It's ballsier than the Blackwood one as you would expect. More mids and brighter highs.

Madrose fingerboard and bridge with Curly Blackwood bindings.

Thanks for looking. Both Dave and I are fairly knackered with the rush to get these finished so I'm looking forward to doing final setups on these later in the week and then enjoying the festival.

Cheers

Bob

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Bob Connor
Geelong, Australia

Wow! Stunning set of guitars Bob!

Good luck with the exhibition/festival next week!!

G'day,
Dave F.

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Cambrian Guitars

"There goes Mister Tic-Tac out the back with some bric-brac from the knick-knack rack"

Bob, they are simply superb, your using some of your domestic timbers to their best advantage. Your one of my favourite builders and these are up to your usual high standard (OK one's a dreadnaught, but I'll forgive you that). I know you'll wow them at the festival with instuments of this quality.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Fantastic work Bob. I love the aussie hardwoods. That 12 string is gorgeous, and I love that laminated neck.

Vince

Bob,

Absolutely stunning guitars! My next project will be Tassie Blackwood. I just love the way it looks on yours. Of course the Ziricote ain't so bad either

What's the finish? Did you use Ubeaut Hard Shellac? If so, did you get the crazing issues resolved?

Congrats on your great work!

Max

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Max Bishop
Brighton, Michigan

Bob my friend this was a real Sunday morning treat for me to read about and see your latest 4 gorgeous guitars.

If I were attending this show I would be sure to be spending a lot of time at your booth and trying them all out.

The Native Olive guitar fascinates me since I have some of this very fine tonewood from Tim and look forward to building with it too.

And your finishes look perfect in all respects.

Over several years now on this forum I have watched with great interest as many builders develop and find their way in this business. I think it's very safe to say that you and Dave have arrived and whom ever buys these beautiful guitars is going to be a very lucky person indeed.

Way-to-go M8!!!

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Ann Arbor Guitars

Bob and Dave,

That's a fabulous portfolio - four different but equally stunning guitars. Now you've done the hard work just remember to enjoy the show - you'll have a fabulous time.

I really like the Euro/Ziricote O guitar. Small can be very, very beautiful!!

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

Unbelievable Bob.........you made these guitars? They look like something the Angels created in Heaven.
Stunning...absolutely Beautiful.

I really love looking at the guitars you post. Thanks for sharing these photos with us.

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"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

Unbelieveable, really. Those are amazing.

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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

What Colin said!

Wow, talk about sensory over load! They are all equally stunning. I wish you would have doled them out in 4 seperate threads. Do enjoy your show, those guitars will sure give you a head start in that regard.

Hey Bob and Dave ,
Very beautiful work guys ! I've been waiting to see the native Olive guitar under finish and
it does not disappoint. And the Ziricote is just amazing too. As Hesh said ,You guys have definitely arrived!!
They are all Great Looking guitars and Good Luck at the show. WOW !

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

beautiful guitars Bob! Building several at a time can keep one busy too

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Reguards,

Ken H

Great stuff Bob!
I love the 0 the best! The neck on that 12 string is stunning!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Bob, they are Gorgeous.

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Rich S

"The inconvenience of poor quality will linger long after the thrill of a bargain has been forgotten"

Wow! Are those beauties. Everything is nice about them right down to the pick guards.

Thanks,
Danny

Wow wow wow and wow. Knockout guitars, Bob! I really like that 0 too. Great zoot, nice details.

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Bob, Can you go into more deatail on the 12 string? I'm a 12 string nut and that guitar (actually all of them!) is gorgeous!!!
I would like to see more of the neck and peg head too!

Hot dang Bob, thise are somevery nice guitars. I really like that olivewood but my favorite picture you posted is that very cool Ziricote heatstock You used the figure to great effect.
Great job, you should be very proud. I hope you sell some guitars at the show and make lots of new musical friends.

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

Incredible, Bob! What a great exhibition of fine workmanship and beautiful use of materials. The neck on the 12 string just blows me away. What a stunning guitar. I predict you will steal the show!

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Thank you all very much for your kind comments. I'm a bit overwhelmed really

Colin - there's still a lot of timbers hidden away down here that no-one has used. We have a couple of boxes closed up from Black-heart Sassafras. Similar weight and density to Mahogany and I'm thinking that it this point that it may have similar sound characteristics to Mahogany.

Max - these ones were finished with Mirotone pre-catalysed laquer. The new Hard Shellac formula is now available but I need time to test it first.

Hesh - I think having the pressure of getting these together for the festival where lots of people will be scrutinising them has lifted the bar a bit. And we're stoked with the finish from the Mirotone. Very easy to work with and ends up with a superior finish to the Hard Shellac.
You can also sand it after a day and it's fully cured in a week.

The Native Olive has proved to be all that we thought it would be and certainly justifies the hassle you have to go through sanding it.

Joe - This is the only other pic I have of the Peghead.
The fingerboard, bridge and peghead overlay are Brazilian. You can't see it in the pics but I used the gold Evo fretwire from LMI which sets it all off nicely



Waddy - there'll be plenty of fine instrument makers at the show so I'm just hoping that our instruments get a favorable reception. Ian Noyce, Jack Spira, Scott Wise, Ray Black, John McGrath and Joe Gallacher are also showing instruments and are all well respected and long serving luthiers here in Australia. Some of them have websites and are worth Googling.

Thanks again everyone.

Bob

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Bob Connor
Geelong, Australia

Bob, you and Dave have done outstanding work. You have lots to be proud of.

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Aoibeann

Bob
Those are supurb looking guitars. Very clean lines, very nicely executed and that bloodwood binding on the blackwood guitar is an artistic twist I would never have thought of. Excellent work

John