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I want to build my first flamenco guitar - a negra, but I only have a plan for blanca.
How do I need to alter my plan to build the guitar successfully? Just use indian rosewood instead of cypress for b/s and follow the plan as it is? I read somewhere that rosewood back should be thinner than cypress back?

If I was doing it, I would probably make the back 1.8-1.9mm (or 2mm in the center and 1.8 on the outer zone) and the sides about 1.5-1.6mm. All this combined might still be heavier than cypress. But if made thinner, it probably becomes too much of a structural gamble, even if flamencos are supposed to be played to death. It also depends on how solid and dense your rosewood is...

Good luck anyway!

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Build log

I agree with Alexandru on back and side thickness. I also glue "costillas" (ribs) to the sides between the top and back linings to reinforce the sides against splitting. These are pieces of wood (normally Spanish Cedar) about 0,25" wide and semi-circular in cross section about every 6" and perpendicular to the grain of the sides. Jeronimo Pena Fernandez used these and it would seem a good idea on sides this thin.

Good luck,
Max

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Max Bishop
Brighton, Michigan

I agree with Alex & Max.

Mike

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Mike Collins

thanks a lot! that's what I needed to know.

If you are using Indian rosewood you may actually be closer than you think to the hard dense Cypress that the old makers had access to.
I don't have densiity figures at hand but I certainly think you are in the ballpark especially if you use the thicknesses Alex has given above.