Official Luthiers Forum!

I posted a question a while ago about using a top that went well off quarter towards the outside. I already had the rosette in before I realized how floppy it was. With some sound advise from a few I used the top. It's an OM from the Michael P"s most excellent plan.
Floppy Engelmann
Tasmanian Red Myrtle from Bob Zootman on Ebay- great wood, great deal, thanks Bob
Cocobolo rosette, headplate and butt
EIR bindings
EIR bridge dyes black
Ebony finger board

I'm giving this to my oldest friend on the planet who has helped me a lot over the years and has never owned a decent guitar. If you can't practice on your friends..........






Off quarter top or not this is a great sounding guitar for my style (or lack of ) anyway. My buddy's a thumb strummer so I hope it works for him. Here's an attempt at posting a sound clip. These are Gibson light strings.
http://www.mediafire.com/?mmmmgmo0zui
http://www.mediafire.com/?mltbgwcdkfn

Excuse my sloppy playing and poor photos. I'm pretty good at hiding woodwork mistakes but a music recording.....

So, other than maybe being a little light in volume, I'm scratching my head a bit. What does it take to make a good sounding guitar? If it's luck I hope mine continues


Reader Poll: This is my first attempt at coming up with a bridge design not too Martin looking.
or the other. Don't worry. You won't hurt my feelings.

Thanks For Looking,
Danny

I was worried about it on my own... until I looked at some pix of Old "Holy Grail" instruments... Many of them didn't even have a matched top set... Some of them were so off-quarter that they slip matched them rather than bookmatching them... Yet, these are cherished instruments that play very well....

Horror of Horrors.. They do sound pretty darn good don't they...

Thanks

John

Danny, there's nothing wrong with a top thats flexible across the grain. I've built maybe a dozen with 'floppy tops' and have been very happy with their sound--as have their owners.

And the bridge design is tasteful. However, I noticed that your bass E string is considerably closer to the fretboard edge than is the 1st string. You might consider making a new nut in which the outer edges of the 1st & 6th are an equal distance from their respective fretboard edges. An accepted rule of thumb is 1/8" or a shade under.

Once again, nice looking bridge.

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michael propsom
www.propsomguitars.com

I love the rosette, very well designed.

I also love the rosette- great look.

The bridge reminds me of a mustache... A really nice mustache. I approve.

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ELEVATE || Next Level Lutherie
http://elevatelutherie.com
&
http://ensorguitars.com

danny,
nice work!!
about the floppy top and it being off quarter at the edges, some builders actually prefer this. the guy who sold me my first top is a world class classical builder and still makes the occassional steel string. he said that on his steel strings he prefers for the grain to start slanting off quarter towards the perimeter of the lower bout.
at the time i didn't know enough to follow up the question. but as i get a bit more experience, my own theory is that trebles come from stiffness in certain parts of the top, while low end requires that the entire top be allowed to move as a unit (which would be permitted by a 'floppy' outter edge on a top). but like i said, i don't know much and this is just my hypothesizing.
still, based on the great builder that gave me advice, you're in good company.
phil

Sure sounds fine to me! Lucky friend.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

She looks fantastic Danny bro - love the sapwood on the head stock too!

That's beautiful. And your sloppy playing reminds me of Hesh's messy shop.

I like the look of the bridge, but I wonder about those long points sticking out. I don't really know what I'm talking about, but when people are concerned about stress risers, that's what I think of. Does the bridge plate extend out to the tips?

Mike

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Mike Lindstrom

However, I noticed that your bass E string is considerably closer to the fretboard edge than is the 1st string. You might consider making a new nut in which the outer edges of the 1st & 6th are an equal distance from their respective fretboard edges. An accepted rule of thumb is 1/8" or a shade under.
.[/quote]

Good Eye. Thanks for pointing that out. I hadn't really noticed but it's quite a bit off.
Mike, the bridge plate doesn't go under the wings, but I get what you're saying. It will most likely always have light strings on it but I hope he plays it hard so we can see what happens.

Thanks Hesh. A gal here had an ad in the paper for some burls for sale. I went over to have a look and there was literally a room full. In the pile was this fairly large tree branch with waxed ends. I picked it up and "Hello, what's this". It was heavy. Turned out to be Cocobolo.