John my finishes used to be rough like that too.
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We hear you. All those little differences add up to big pluses.
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| The joys of a more responsive guitar http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=21713 |
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| Author: | truckjohn [ Sun Mar 29, 2009 11:50 pm ] |
| Post subject: | The joys of a more responsive guitar |
I am starting to feel like many factory guitars are just uninteresting. Sure, they can do some great things, but they tend to be built so *massively* heavy. I was cleaning off my last project after some playing -- just wiping off the dust with a soft cotton cloth. You could hear the cotton towel rubbing the soundboard across the room. The strings just vibrate from the friction of the towel against the finish. My factory guitars don't do that. Thanks John |
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| Author: | Bruce Dickey [ Mon Mar 30, 2009 6:26 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The joys of a more responsive guitar |
John my finishes used to be rough like that too. We hear you. All those little differences add up to big pluses.
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| Author: | David Newton [ Mon Mar 30, 2009 8:32 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The joys of a more responsive guitar |
You know it's going to be a responsive guitar when you have to wear earplugs while handling the spruce. |
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| Author: | Mark Groza [ Mon Mar 30, 2009 9:25 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The joys of a more responsive guitar |
Sounds like you did that guitar justice while building John! That's why i got into making my own guitars.The factory guitars are just that, factory guitars.I agree with you on them being over built.They just aren't the same are they? 
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| Author: | truckjohn [ Mon Mar 30, 2009 1:07 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The joys of a more responsive guitar |
Bruce Dickey wrote: John my finishes used to be rough like that too. Right, I saw that coming.... So you are saying that I need to finish sand a little smoother than 100 grit? I thought that was the Secret to "Tone" Thanks John |
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| Author: | npalen [ Mon Mar 30, 2009 1:30 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The joys of a more responsive guitar |
John--The rougher the paper the more "tonewood" is exposed to produce sound.  Seriously, I've experienced "moments" in the course of building where a simple operation such as sanding the headstock brings out a tone. Maybe these are "tone moments" (or maybe just senior moments) |
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| Author: | matti [ Mon Mar 30, 2009 2:10 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The joys of a more responsive guitar |
I found that recently just talking on the phone is enough to make my first guitars top vibrate and let out an audible tone! but that being said I kinda think its actually underbraced so that is likely why that happens ha. Matt |
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| Author: | pharmboycu [ Mon Mar 30, 2009 9:41 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The joys of a more responsive guitar |
It can be quite a conversation starter as well. I just got back from playing a guitar for a function and was using the Braz./Carp. D14 Lance built. One of the other musicians there told me he could hear the guitar resonate from people talking around it. Now *THAT's* a testament to a great guitar. Ya'll are right. My factory guitars don't do that. |
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| Author: | truckjohn [ Tue Mar 31, 2009 12:56 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The joys of a more responsive guitar |
This was a retop project of mine -- to test out Torres assertion that 90% of the sound comes from the soundboard.... I have to believe that he is on track, but that last 10% is pretty significant.... as this one started life as a Boxwood plywood cheapo beater. As it stands, I don't feel it would stand up against the same top built on a "Good" back and sides. But... I have learned something about the characteristics of this one bracing scheme.... and I really enjoy playing it now... It is fun to see what sorts of different sounds I can get out of it... that just don't come out of my other guitars easily... I feel like I need try more ideas... There is just so much info out there, and so many ideas out there that if I have to build a whole guitar from scratch to just test out an idea.... I will never make progress learning... the bulk of the "Cabinetry" just takes so much time... and I am not "selling" per se.... I feel like I really need to spend some time "Tone building" to try to learn how different things effect the sound... without having to worry as much about getting Binding channels squared up right and headstock inlays and fancy rosettes and Pore Filling -- The Cabinetry that takes up about 99.86% of build time... I guess it is a little frustrating... I am getting the top bindings on my build that started at the New Years.... and it will be at least a month before I can strum its strings (Realistically, 2 months...) And... it will be another month after that when it Opens UP and I really get to hear its potential.... Thanks John |
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| Author: | John Hale [ Tue Mar 31, 2009 3:43 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The joys of a more responsive guitar |
Next you can experiment to see how much the back contributes by re-backing it 
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| Author: | Alan [ Tue Mar 31, 2009 5:58 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The joys of a more responsive guitar |
John Hale wrote: Next you can experiment to see how much the back contributes by re-backing it Then the sides! |
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| Author: | truckjohn [ Tue Mar 31, 2009 11:53 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The joys of a more responsive guitar |
Why stop there.... How about a New Neck too.... and then I could go really crazy and put new tuners on it too. I have seriously thought about re-backing it.... just to see what happens. Of course, it would also allow me to noodle around with the braces some more.... Can't just leave well enough alone -- it is just not my way. Now... new sides -- I think that would be more of a challenge.... as they are kinda what holds the whole thing together. Thanks John |
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