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Numbr 11 is a Classical
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=27609		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Pat Hawley [ Fri May 28, 2010 6:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Numbr 11 is a Classical
Here are a couple pictures of number 11. It's made of:

Englemann Spruce Top
Macassar back/sides
Bloodwood bindings
French polished shellac finish

Notable points:
1) I really like the bloodwood/macassar combination.
2) I had planned on doing the traditional end of fretboard treatment however I did not anticipate that by binding the fretboard, I would have very little slot length for the split 19th fret pieces. Oh well, if straight across is good enough for Taylor.....

Image

Image

Cheers,
Pat
Author:  JohnAbercrombie [ Fri May 28, 2010 6:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Numbr 11 is a Classical
Nice work, Pat!
What plan/bracing scheme did you use?

Cheers
John
Author:  WaddyThomson [ Fri May 28, 2010 6:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Numbr 11 is a Classical
Very pretty guitar, Pat. I like Bloodwood bindings with some B&S sets. It looks great on that one. How's the sound?
Author:  David LaPlante [ Fri May 28, 2010 8:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Numbr 11 is a Classical
Pat,
Glad to see my tuners found such a handsome new home!

Best
Author:  Pat Hawley [ Fri May 28, 2010 8:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Numbr 11 is a Classical
Thanks for the comments guys. While building the guitar I was referencing two sets of plans, three books and Robbie's DVD so I guess the end result is a mongrel rather than a pure-bred. The top bracing is a seven brace fan a la Torres. Sound-wise it may be still too early to say. When I first started playing it I was happy with the base strings but found the trebles wanting. But then over the course of only about an hours worth of playing the change was remarkable. I don't know if it was the strings settling down or the top opening up really fast. Anyway, now it's starting to sound like a quality guitar and I'm excited to think that it's probably going to keep getting better the more it's played.

Good spot Dave - yes those are the tuners you sold me. I had already bought the same set but with the black knobs but I liked the way the brown knobs on your set went with the binding.

I've still got some final action setting to do after a few days and some touch up on the finish to repair some marks I put in it during final assembly. Almost done and I'm ready for a summer siesta.

Pat
Author:  Rob Warren [ Sat May 29, 2010 8:49 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Numbr 11 is a Classical
Love it! The Bloodwood is perfect.
Author:  Robbie O'Brien [ Sat May 29, 2010 9:10 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Numbr 11 is a Classical
Very Pretty!! Congratulations. [clap]
Author:  StevenWheeler [ Sat May 29, 2010 4:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Numbr 11 is a Classical
Very nice Pat.
I like how the Bloodwood jumps off the Macassar.

Steve
Author:  Daniel Minard [ Sat May 29, 2010 4:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Numbr 11 is a Classical
Sweet! Lovely job. Beautiful finish. I guess, one of these days I'm gonna have to get brave & try French polishing.
How much did you have to fight with the bloodwood? I really like the look, with the right coloured woods, but I find it's a bear to bend. Sure looks good with that ebony.
I've used bloodwood with sapelle & its gorgeous!
Author:  Pat Hawley [ Sat May 29, 2010 5:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Numbr 11 is a Classical
Thanks again for the comments.

The strings I put on are "normal" tension D'Addario.

As Robbie would say, the "pucker factor" when bending the bloodwood bindings was quite high because I only had four so there was zero margin for error. However, I wet them down with Supersoft II and bent them on the side bender and there were no issues. I wouldn't hesitate to use it again.

Having tried brushing on Deft nitro, KTM-9, Oxford Ultimate, wiping on tru-oil and min-wax polyurethane I have come to the conclusion that French polished shellac is the best finish option for me. It's so-called fragility is more than made up for by its ease of repair. The downside is I find it physically taxing and I don't know if my shoulder joint is going to hold up in the long haul.

Pat
Author:  WaddyThomson [ Sat May 29, 2010 7:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Numbr 11 is a Classical
When I used Bloodwood on a Bubinga guitar, I bent it by hand and broke 4 pieces. I was able to recover most of them, however with CA.
Author:  Daniel Minard [ Sat May 29, 2010 8:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Numbr 11 is a Classical
Yeah... CA is your friend with bloodwood bindings. Especially when one insists on building tight waisted cutaways.
Author:  gozierdt [ Mon May 31, 2010 1:24 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Numbr 11 is a Classical
Pat,

Very nice indeed [:Y:] Great choice of wood. I've used Bloodwood on several Sapelle guitars, and really like it as an accent wood. I've been bending it on my Fox bender, spritz with water, wrap in brown wrapping paper and aluminum foil, bend hot- 325 or so. It's worked well for me, but I'll admit I haven't tried a tight cutaway yet.

Are you using pumice for filling? I've French polished three of my guitars, but I epoxy filled first. I'm going to try pumice on the next one.
Author:  Pat Hawley [ Mon May 31, 2010 7:40 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Numbr 11 is a Classical
Thanks Gene.

I do not pore fill with pumice. I use either epoxy or the Taget Coatings "high volume" water based filler. My choice depends on the final look I want. I find that expoxy, while clear, also tends to make things look darker. So on woods where I don't want to go darker, like in the case of macassar ebony, I use the water based filler. With the water based filler, you have to accept the fact that it's going to take many more applications before all the pores are filled. However, it dries very quickly so overall time for pore filling will be about the same (i.e. over 2 - 3 days) as for epoxy.

Pat
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