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The Guitar from Hades has Strings!
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Author:  WaddyThomson [ Tue May 26, 2009 12:21 pm ]
Post subject:  The Guitar from Hades has Strings!
Well, I finally strung up #2 last night, in the white.
EIR back and sides from my first swapmeet - Thanks Brad!
German Spruce top from RCTonewoods
Lacewood Bindings
HOG neck with Sp. Cedar, V-Joint Headpiece
Cocobolo bridge
Romanillos bracing and plantilla

So far, it sounds great. Opened up a lot during the hour or so that I played it. Much bigger sound than my first. I just hope it's not too lightly built. It brought my wife out of hiding through 3 closed doors, from the other end of the house. She had wow7-eyes. I'm going to play it for a few days, then start the finishing process. For those of you who followed this, the reason it's the guitar from hell, is that this is the third V-joint neck (ruined two cutting slots), the third rosette (two turned out bad & I chiseled them out), had to rip the back off, after gluing on, and replace the center back brace, There's other stuff too, but why belabor the point. I'm glad to get it off the bench. Here are a few pictures for your viewing pleasure! :D
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Thanks for looking!
Author:  Jim Kirby [ Tue May 26, 2009 12:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Guitar from Hades has Strings!
Looks great, Waddy. You were a brave man doing that V into the headstock back cover. I'd have wimped out and done it without the back cover laminations, and then used the cover to cover up the whole aesthetically unacceptable joint after I messed it up :D

I hope I get a Romanillos-style guitar or two off the bench this summer. One has been promised to a friend for over a year.

By the way, I'm going to spend January-July '10 on sabbatical in Granada. My host there is heavily into the guitar scene and knows all the local builders, so I'm looking forward to at least some intros and visits. That will be fun.
Author:  Randolph [ Tue May 26, 2009 12:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Guitar from Hades has Strings!
Love that Guitar from Hades!! I think you should keep the name, otherwise I'm going to adopt it for mine (my first) laughing6-hehe Seriously, it looks fantastic. I absolutely love your headstock, front and back. Very inovative and pleasing visually. I'd love to know what you think of the sound in a month. Great job, Waddy [:Y:] [:Y:] [:Y:]
Author:  WaddyThomson [ Tue May 26, 2009 1:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Guitar from Hades has Strings!
Jim Kirby wrote:
Looks great, Waddy. You were a brave man doing that V into the headstock back cover. I'd have wimped out and done it without the back cover laminations, and then used the cover to cover up the whole aesthetically unacceptable joint after I messed it up :D

I hope I get a Romanillos-style guitar or two off the bench this summer. One has been promised to a friend for over a year.

By the way, I'm going to spend January-July '10 on sabbatical in Granada. My host there is heavily into the guitar scene and knows all the local builders, so I'm looking forward to at least some intros and visits. That will be fun.


Ahh, Jim, Thanks! The back lamination was put on after the joint was completed. When the joint is finished, the back is standing proud of the headstock anyway, since the slope is created by the shoulder on the neck piece. I ain't tellin' whats underneath! laughing6-hehe

Sounds like your summer is looking up. I'm jealous. Take lots of notes.

I am loving this Romanillos design. I like the small body, and the wonderful complex overtones in the high end of these guitars. This one is no different. Even just strung up, it's all there. This one is a bit different, in that the top goes from 2.1mm in the center to about 1.5 or 6 at the edges. Thinner than I had planned, but I boosted the center fan to 4mm x 7.5mm and graduated down to 3mm x 4 or 4.5 high on the outside fans. It seems to have worked. Now we get to see if it can hold up. The action is a tiny bit too low, but I'm going to have to remake the nut anyway, as it has a crack in it, and the saddle might need a .5mm boost across the board. I'm at about 3.5 or 6 on the bass side and about 2.5 on the treble side. I only have one place that gives me any buzz that I can find, but that doesn't bother me as I play with a pretty heavy hand. Comes from playing outside at a Renaissance Festival.
Author:  David Newton [ Tue May 26, 2009 1:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Guitar from Hades has Strings!
Good finish, Waddy.

Sometimes victory comes from just keeping banging your head against the wall. [headinwall]
Author:  WaddyThomson [ Tue May 26, 2009 1:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Guitar from Hades has Strings!
You should see my forehead! :D

Thanks, though, for your comments.
Author:  Corky Long [ Tue May 26, 2009 1:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Guitar from Hades has Strings!
Beautiful guitar!!
And your story gives me hope - I think I'm sliding into one of those guitar from Hades stories myself - I hope mine ends up looking as nice as yours!
Author:  Hesh [ Tue May 26, 2009 4:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Guitar from Hades has Strings!
That poor guitar has been quietly rebelling at the mess in your shop dude.... :D You gotta know that often problem children actually have a legitimate beef but lack the ability to articulate same in a socially acceptable manner... :D

Seriously Waddy bro she's beautiful in all respects and you should be very, very proud! I too spent some time looking at the head stock detail, front and back, and really like the vibe that you have going there. [:Y:]

Since she sounds better than the first already she will only sound better and better with time and attention.

Congrats! [:Y:] [clap] [clap] [clap] [clap] [clap] (I owe ya one more when the finish is on) :D
Author:  WaddyThomson [ Tue May 26, 2009 4:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Guitar from Hades has Strings!
Hesh, man, I have looked high and low for a pink Dyson, but I can't find one anywhere. I'll never get my shop clean! [headinwall] [headinwall]

Thanks, Bro, for your remarks. You have a fine tuned eye!
Author:  Alexandru Marian [ Tue May 26, 2009 4:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Guitar from Hades has Strings!
Looking good, now get off the d***strings and finish it. If I add up the time I wasted playing my 4 guitars in the white, I could have built a fifth!!!! [xx(]
Author:  Colin S [ Tue May 26, 2009 4:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Guitar from Hades has Strings!
Looking good Waddy, we all get the odd one that fights back! I always play (played) mine in the white for a couple of weeks incase I want to make any adjustment.

But soon as you can, a soundclip please.

Colin
Author:  Dave Fifield [ Tue May 26, 2009 4:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Guitar from Hades has Strings!
Very nice guitar Waddy! [:Y:] [clap] [:Y:] [clap] [:Y:]
Congrats on getting it finished (almost). Are you going to FP it?

Cheers,
Dave F.
Author:  Jim Kirby [ Tue May 26, 2009 4:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Guitar from Hades has Strings!
Hesh wrote:
That poor guitar has been quietly rebelling at the mess in your shop dude.... :D You gotta know that often problem children actually have a legitimate beef but lack the ability to articulate same in a socially acceptable manner... :D



Hesh - I've got it! You need to teach a "How to keep your shop clean in the middle of a build" course. I always feel so inadequate in this regard - a chisel put away here, some measuring tools put away there, but in general, chips piling up (usually kicked under the bench), sandpaper scraps lying all over ... You need to share your secret technique!
Author:  Jim Kirby [ Tue May 26, 2009 5:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Guitar from Hades has Strings!
WaddyThomson wrote:

Sounds like your summer is looking up. I'm jealous. Take lots of notes.

I am loving this Romanillos design. I like the small body, and the wonderful complex overtones in the high end of these guitars. This one is no different. Even just strung up, it's all there. This one is a bit different, in that the top goes from 2.1mm in the center to about 1.5 or 6 at the edges. Thinner than I had planned, but I boosted the center fan to 4mm x 7.5mm and graduated down to 3mm x 4 or 4.5 high on the outside fans. It seems to have worked. Now we get to see if it can hold up. The action is a tiny bit too low, but I'm going to have to remake the nut anyway, as it has a crack in it, and the saddle might need a .5mm boost across the board. I'm at about 3.5 or 6 on the bass side and about 2.5 on the treble side. I only have one place that gives me any buzz that I can find, but that doesn't bother me as I play with a pretty heavy hand. Comes from playing outside at a Renaissance Festival.


Thanks for those notes on top and bracing dimensions - I'll try to keep track and report as I progress through mine.

If you get no real buzzing, why do you say your action too low? Sounds magical to me - you're down in flamenco range, where buzzes would be expected. (I may still have a steel string bias here - a sense that action less than 3-3.5 mm on the treble side is a good thing.)
Author:  Dave_E [ Tue May 26, 2009 6:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Guitar from Hades has Strings!
All that hard work will make you: 1) a better builder and 2 the beginnings of repair work. Good job! [:Y:]

Dave
Author:  Mark A Thorpe [ Tue May 26, 2009 6:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Guitar from Hades has Strings!
Waddy you crazy that guitar kicks a@% I love the detail on the headstock.
Author:  Parser [ Tue May 26, 2009 7:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Guitar from Hades has Strings!
Man, that's a tough joint!

Nice work!
Author:  MaxBishop [ Tue May 26, 2009 9:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Guitar from Hades has Strings!
Hi Waddy,

Congrats on a great looking guitar! Did I detect "wheat" in the top purfling? I really dig that. I can't wait to see it with finish. Any chance we'll get to hear it too?

Best regards,
Max
Author:  Stephen Boone [ Tue May 26, 2009 9:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Guitar from Hades has Strings!
Very, very, nice Waddy!!!!!

Excellent craftsmanship.
Author:  Bill Hodge [ Tue May 26, 2009 10:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Guitar from Hades has Strings!
Absolutely beautiful work Waddy, even in the white. [:Y:] [:Y:] [:Y:] I love all the extras in the Rosette, Headstock, and Bindings. I'm so glad you persevered with this one. What kind of finish are you planning on for it? (I didn't read all the earlier posts since it's so late. :)) I'd love to hear it's voice. :D Sometimes one that presents some of the greatest challenge, sings the greatest song. Bravo [clap] [clap] [clap]
Author:  WaddyThomson [ Tue May 26, 2009 11:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Guitar from Hades has Strings!
You folks are all very kind. I'm pretty happy with it for now. It has been a huge learning experience. I do plan to do a French polish finish on it. That's what works best for me. I don't handle fumes well, with my asthma. I actually don't have much time. I want to have it finished to take up to AISA in June. That's not far away.
Author:  Lillian F-W [ Tue May 26, 2009 11:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Guitar from Hades has Strings!
For the reported spawn of the Netherworld, it cuts a dashing figure. Nicely done Waddy.
Author:  WaddyThomson [ Tue May 26, 2009 11:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Guitar from Hades has Strings!
Thanks Lillian. You won't believe this, but when I saw your post, at first, I said, "Huh?" idunno Then I woke up, and understanding came. I laughed at myself. It's useful sometime to laugh at ones self, but not because you didn't understand your own joke! [uncle]
Author:  MRS [ Wed May 27, 2009 12:51 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Guitar from Hades has Strings!
Beautiful looking guitar Waddy. I really like the back of that headstock..mike
Author:  cphanna [ Wed Jun 03, 2009 8:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Guitar from Hades has Strings!
Just plain pretty, Waddy. I wish I had your patience and craftsmanship.
Patrick
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