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# 5 Manzer Wedge small jumbo complete
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=22685		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  Fred Tellier [ Tue Jun 09, 2009 3:17 pm ]
Post subject:  # 5 Manzer Wedge small jumbo complete
I strung up the wedge a week ago and finally got around to taking and posting photos. It is EIR back and sides, sitka top with paua abalone trim, and curly maple binding. Finished with Nitro over Z-poxy and shellac sealer. I displayed it along with several others at the local Folk Club concert last Friday and it was well received by everyone that played it and several came back for seconds.

I have posted more photos on my photo bucket 2009 guitar builds page on page 2.

http://s190.photobucket.com/albums/z228/fetellier/2009%20Guitar%20builds/

Image

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That is my porch railing reflecting on the back

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This isn't the greatest picture but shows the body wedge shape

Image

Image

Fred
Author:  Randolph [ Tue Jun 09, 2009 4:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: # 5 Manzer Wedge small jumbo complete
Fred, this guitar looks tight, clean and beautiful. I really love the shape of the cutaway. Was this off of a plan or your own? Are you finding that your work is easier to keep tighter after 5 builds? Anyway, congratulations [clap] [clap] [clap] Wish I could hear what it sounds like. What's up for #6?
Author:  Peter J [ Tue Jun 09, 2009 5:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: # 5 Manzer Wedge small jumbo complete
Beautiful job Fred ... [clap] [clap] You just keep getting better each time. I really like the wedge and would like to try playing one some day. Bring this one with you to Ann Arbor, I'd love to give it a try.

Very nice job on the finish by the way. The curly maple bindings really give it a pop. Congratulations....
Author:  Fred Tellier [ Tue Jun 09, 2009 5:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: # 5 Manzer Wedge small jumbo complete
Randolph
The outline of the box is based on the Martin Jumbo, and the cutaway is what I thought the Martin cutaway looked like, as I didn't have a drawing of it. My #3 guitar is the same except is not a wedge. Each guitar seems to get easier to get right and the hours get shorter as I get better tools and jigs. I will post a video on the photobucket when I get a chance to make one, though it would be better if I can get someone who plays better to play it, my playing skills are not the greatest.

Fred
Author:  Darryl Young [ Tue Jun 09, 2009 7:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: # 5 Manzer Wedge small jumbo complete
Fred, that is a heck of a good looking guitar!!! Nice job all the way around. The finish really jumped out at me......though I also like the rosette and purfling.
Author:  Fred Tellier [ Tue Jun 09, 2009 9:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: # 5 Manzer Wedge small jumbo complete
Thanks Darryl, the finish of this guitar and the Cocobolo 000 was easier due to my new buffing wheel setup.

Fred
Author:  davo8411 [ Tue Jun 09, 2009 10:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: # 5 Manzer Wedge small jumbo complete
Beautiful guitar! Nice work! What is the nut made of?
Author:  Jim_H [ Tue Jun 09, 2009 11:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: # 5 Manzer Wedge small jumbo complete
Very nice Fred! I have a very similar Concert Jumbo that I'm just finishing up. Seeing this one is very inspiring! :)
Author:  Mike Mahar [ Wed Jun 10, 2009 7:51 am ]
Post subject:  Re: # 5 Manzer Wedge small jumbo complete
Wow Fred, nice work. I'm half way through a OLF Small jumbo with a Manzer wedge. I'm using plastic bindings so I don't have to worry about the weird twists and turns on the back. Did you have trouble bending your binding to shape?
Author:  Lars Stahl [ Wed Jun 10, 2009 8:24 am ]
Post subject:  Re: # 5 Manzer Wedge small jumbo complete
Absolutely beautiful Fred. !!! [clap] [clap] [clap] [:Y:] [:Y:] [:Y:]


Lars
Author:  Matthew Jenkins [ Wed Jun 10, 2009 12:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: # 5 Manzer Wedge small jumbo complete
Fred I love looking at your guitars.

Each one gets better but each one shows a new skill that you have mastered also. [clap] [clap]

Have you thought about changing your headstock shape? There's nothing wrong with this one at all but your guitars are so good maybe a more original/individual headstock which is particular to you would be quite fitting.

Great job man

Mat.
Author:  Fred Tellier [ Wed Jun 10, 2009 12:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: # 5 Manzer Wedge small jumbo complete
Quote:
What is the nut made of?


It and the saddle are the Tusq brand string saver material, I played a very expensive guitar by Sheldon Schwartz that one of the guys at Michigan fingerstyle has and it had this material so I figured I would try it. I have 3 guitars with this material and it makes the many alternate tunings I use easier on strings and the sound is not affected at least to my ear and everyone who has played the guitars comments on the great tone. I had Bone on the Cocobolo 000 and switched to Tusq a couple weeks ago as I had already broken 2 G strings on it.

Quote:
I'm half way through a OLF Small jumbo with a Manzer wedge. I'm using plastic bindings so I don't have to worry about the weird twists and turns on the back. Did you have trouble bending your binding to shape?


I just bent the maple to the outline and it twisted into shape without any trouble when I glued it on. The back shape is not that extreme though I had to modify my Stewmac True channel binding jig to get the guitar to sit square when I routed the top binding. The only real issue with the back was when clamping the neck dovetail I had to make a clamping spacer so the clamp wouldn't slide around.

The great thing with the wedge is the comfort in playing, my bad right shoulder is quite happy with it.

Fred
Author:  Mike Mahar [ Wed Jun 10, 2009 3:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: # 5 Manzer Wedge small jumbo complete
I've been wondering what you should call this guitar. The Martin Jumbo is called a J body. The same outline in a thin body is called an M body. Would that make this guitar an MJ?
Author:  Steve Davis [ Wed Jun 10, 2009 4:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: # 5 Manzer Wedge small jumbo complete
I really like it [:Y:]
Author:  Kirt Myers [ Wed Jun 10, 2009 6:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: # 5 Manzer Wedge small jumbo complete
Nice job Fred! You did the nitro yourself I presume? I like.
Author:  Stephen Boone [ Wed Jun 10, 2009 6:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: # 5 Manzer Wedge small jumbo complete
I sure love seeing these guitars as they come to life!!

Beautifully done and congratulations.

I need to build a steel string one of these days...I will be sure to study this one for inspiration.
Author:  Fred Tellier [ Thu Jun 11, 2009 8:07 am ]
Post subject:  Re: # 5 Manzer Wedge small jumbo complete
Thanks for the kind words everyone.

Yes I did the finish myself.

Fred
Author:  Hupaand [ Thu Jun 11, 2009 10:22 am ]
Post subject:  Re: # 5 Manzer Wedge small jumbo complete
Great-looking guitar! What did you use as a pattern for your sides?
Author:  SteveCourtright [ Thu Jun 11, 2009 10:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: # 5 Manzer Wedge small jumbo complete
A real beauty, Fred.
Author:  Fred Tellier [ Thu Jun 11, 2009 12:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: # 5 Manzer Wedge small jumbo complete
Quote:
Great-looking guitar! What did you use as a pattern for your sides?


I made templates by propping the mold on my radius dish at the angles required for the back contour. I then measured down to the dish every inch and layed out the measurements on a piece of arborite. I had to add a little to each reading to get the actual side height needed as I only worried about the angles setting it up. The neck heel and but are the same as the Martin Jumbo and the lower bout measurement is 1" thinner on the base side. By using the templates to profile the sides before bending I had to do minimal dish sanding after the rim was glued up.

It only took an hour to get the sige shape platted out, once I figured out how I could do it. The wege feels so comfortable to play I am thinking of doing a wedge dreadnought next.

Fred
Author:  Ken C [ Thu Jun 11, 2009 6:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: # 5 Manzer Wedge small jumbo complete
Very sharp, Fred. I've never held and played a wedge. How does it feel?

Ken
Author:  Fred Tellier [ Fri Jun 12, 2009 9:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: # 5 Manzer Wedge small jumbo complete
It feels real good and the great thing is it does not seem to have any affect on the tone or volume.

Fred
Author:  Ricardo [ Fri Jun 12, 2009 9:18 am ]
Post subject:  Re: # 5 Manzer Wedge small jumbo complete
Fred, beautiful. I've been going to smaller bodied guitars for comfort. Do you really think Tusq is better than bone? I've been going the other way and I note that Taylor provides bone only for its high end instruments and uses Tusq for the rest????
Author:  Dennis Leahy [ Fri Jun 12, 2009 1:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: # 5 Manzer Wedge small jumbo complete
Sweet guitar, Fred! Nice job on the wedge!

Dennis
Author:  Fred Tellier [ Fri Jun 12, 2009 3:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: # 5 Manzer Wedge small jumbo complete
[/quote]Do you really think Tusq is better than bone[/code]

I don't think it is better than bone, except for the fact that it is easier on strings when you are using lots of alternate tunings. That said I haven't noticed any real difference on the guitars that had bone then were switched to the Tusq black string savers.

Fred
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