Official Luthiers Forum!

I'm planning to make another SS Dred similar to the 12 string I made recently. I'm interested in getting some ideas of combinations that might work with straight-grained EIR. Just a reminder of the 12 string back with quilted Bubinga wedge.

Please show me yours or chime in with your suggestions. TIA

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

JJ,

Here's a ziricote/bocote 3 piece from a few years back.

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Jimmy Caldwell
http://www.caldwellguitars.com

JJ,

Here is a mahagony and lacewood OM that I built last year. Curly Maple lines between the Lacewood and Mahog.

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Peter

All three different guitars really look great ; JJ is that a slope shouldered dreadnaught or is it just the angle ?
thanks

Here is one of Brazilian Rosewood and Birdseye Maple.

Pat

Jack...yes, it's a sloped Dred and it's also what I will be building next.

Thanks for the examples, Boys! Keep em' coming

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

This in one I sent to a customer in Canada a few weeks ago.

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

Nice, Woody! Looks like Walnut and Curly Maple. What say you?

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Hi JJ. I love three-piece backs as well as you do.
Do 'em when I can, like this one:
It's listed on my site as "Honduran Rosewood", when in actuality it is "Guatemalan Rosewood". Even the center piece...just a darker sample from a different board.



Oh yeah, it's bound in Indian rosewood.
I'm sure about that one!

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Very nice, Steve...I like your combo as well as the wedge proportion. I was hoping you'd chime in.

Since you have been one of my style go-to guys over the years, do you have any suggestions as to wedge candidates for EIR. This set of EIR is similar in grain tightness as the one pictured above..the exception being that it has a more purplish personality. To my eye, I'm leaning more toward reddish/purplish hues and straight grain. The patron who will one day play the guitar on stage, favors high contrast and horizontal zoot, like curly maple initially... but is now leaning toward something like I did on the 12er. Also to be considered are the little details such as headstock, rosette, heel plate and butt wedge. We both favor using the wedge wood on those items.

Another possibility is to select an outrageously figured maple wedge and dye it a color that will compliment the hues within the EIR. Joe...if you're out there, what say you on this issue?

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Taylor did a really nice 3-piece a couple of years ago.
Cocobolo back/sides, with a small curly maple wedge.
Very tasty. So I like that idea you mentioned.
I think my favorite, though, is tone-on-tone. So in your case, Indian rosewood on Indian rosewood (or Brazilian?). Just pick a center wedge with slightly different colors/grain. Of course, your client may not want that much subtlety. You could at least do a mock-up, and see what said customer thinks. Binding, then, with the same material as the wedge would call for some light purfling. Either w/b/w, or curly maple, etc.
Or abalone, if you really want to turn Colin on.

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

They are all beautiful three-piece backs--every one of them. But I've gotta say that for my particular sensibilities, Jimmy, your back just blew my shoes off. I think it might have as much to do with the contrast between those straight ribbon grain stripes and the sumptuous curves of the instrument as it has to the contrasting colors. I don't care what it is--it did it for me. You folks have all produced beautiful three piece backs. So... let's hear it for artistic wood combinations!

Patrick

JJ,

I know you mentioned rosewood in your OP - but I thought I'd add this to the list.

This is the guitar my son built in our class with Kevin Gallagher.

It is absolutely stunning in person.

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P A U L B U R N E R
Burner Guitars

Kudos to "the Son of a Burner"!

Nice execution...but I would have preferred the opposite combination.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

You're right. The Maple is some of my Great Grandfathers tonewoods. The top of that guitar is some of his Spruce also. He died in 1957. I have no idea how old the wood is. I've done another with Walnut/Maple. as well as one that was Lacewood with a BRW wedge. I'll try to find some pictures.

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

Here's a Padauk with maple purfling on a six string ukulele sized guitar.
Still in progress...




_Mike

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_Mike Tracz
MCT Guitars
https://www.instagram.com/mustcreatethings/
https://www.youtube.com/mustcreatethings

Paul, That center wedge that acts as a visual continuation of the neck is inspired!

JJ a mahog guitar with a maple wedge and a maple neck would look very cool.

The heel cap of a contrasting material to the wedge but complementing the outside wings of the back is also inspired.
I'm going to copy the whole thing!!!

John

Pardon the picture quality...


-Matthew