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Number 41
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Author:  Terence Kennedy [ Sat Aug 06, 2011 9:57 am ]
Post subject:  Number 41
I don't think I've posted many guitar pictures here but this one is kind of unique for me. It's a Mahogany/Lutz OM cutaway with a BZ fretboard and bridge (and headstock veneer). I've never built with this combination before. I got the BZ from Jim Olson. Anyway the sound blew me away, different from anything I've made before and really unique. Lots of tonal separation and clarity and great volume. If any of you guys are brainstorming your next build this combination of wood is definitely something to consider!!

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Author:  alan stassforth [ Sat Aug 06, 2011 10:19 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Number 41
Really nice, Terence!
[clap] [clap] [clap]
Author:  dmills [ Sat Aug 06, 2011 10:32 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Number 41
Beautiful guitar Terence. Did you use a single 40 or 60 thou white purf to get the bold white separation line or is it a B/W/B?
Author:  CharlieT [ Sat Aug 06, 2011 11:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Number 41
Terence - thanks for sharing your experience with the Mahogany / Lutz combination. And the guitar is beautiful...simple elegance! I love it.
Author:  Dave Anderson [ Sat Aug 06, 2011 11:51 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Number 41
Looks real nice,thanks for sharing Terry.I've always liked mahogany guitars!
Author:  Steve Kinnaird [ Sat Aug 06, 2011 11:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Number 41
Terence, I appreciate the attention to detail on this guitar--mitered purflings, back inlay, etc.
Tasty, tasty!

Steve
Author:  WaddyThomson [ Sat Aug 06, 2011 12:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Number 41
Very nice, Terrence!
Author:  DannyV [ Sat Aug 06, 2011 12:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Number 41
That's a lovely guitar Terence! I've been thinking of doing a dreadnaught for myself and I might just try that combo.

Thanks,
Danny
Author:  Terence Kennedy [ Sat Aug 06, 2011 12:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Number 41
dmills wrote:
Beautiful guitar Terence. Did you use a single 40 or 60 thou white purf to get the bold white separation line or is it a B/W/B?


I used 0.043 bwb fiber purfling with the miters. Got them as good as I could and spot welded the miter with thin CA before going through the typical binding gluing process.
Author:  Terence Kennedy [ Sat Aug 06, 2011 12:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Number 41
CharlieT wrote:
Terence - thanks for sharing your experience with the Mahogany / Lutz combination. And the guitar is beautiful...simple elegance! I love it.


Thanks Charlie. I've built several Mahogany Lutz OM's that I liked a lot but they had Ebony fretboards and bridges. This has Brazilian for both and there is definitely a big difference, at least to my ear.
Author:  CharlieT [ Sat Aug 06, 2011 12:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Number 41
Terence Kennedy wrote:
Thanks Charlie. I've built several Mahogany Lutz OM's that I liked a lot but they had Ebony fretboards and bridges. This has Brazilian for both and there is definitely a big difference, at least to my ear.


That's interesting, Terence. I didn't consider the Brazilian fretboard and bridge; thanks for pointing that out. May I ask what you used for the bridgeplate?
Author:  Terence Kennedy [ Sat Aug 06, 2011 2:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Number 41
CharlieT wrote:
Terence Kennedy wrote:
Thanks Charlie. I've built several Mahogany Lutz OM's that I liked a lot but they had Ebony fretboards and bridges. This has Brazilian for both and there is definitely a big difference, at least to my ear.


That's interesting, Terence. I didn't consider the Brazilian fretboard and bridge; thanks for pointing that out. May I ask what you used for the bridgeplate?


It was Maple at about 0.096-0.100
Author:  CharlieT [ Sat Aug 06, 2011 4:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Number 41
Terence Kennedy wrote:
It was Maple at about 0.096-0.100


Thanks Terence!
Author:  Fred Tellier [ Sat Aug 06, 2011 5:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Number 41
It looks real good, what did you use to pore fill the Mahogany it looks great. The neck must be stained by the looks, what did you use.
Author:  H3ytm@n [ Sat Aug 06, 2011 6:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Number 41
Inspiring guitar Terence!!
Could you tell me as a novice builder how you got he b/w/b in the back strip?
Author:  Jim Watts [ Sat Aug 06, 2011 7:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Number 41
Terence, that's realy clean and elegant, nice job.
Author:  Terence Kennedy [ Sat Aug 06, 2011 10:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Number 41
Fred- The staining and pore fill was simple on this one. I sent it to Addam Stark. The finish is nitro.

H3ytm@n- The center strip channel is routed in the joined back and then filled with a Rosewood strip with .043 bwb purfling on either side. I use a 1/4" downcut bit and cut the width of the filler strip so the purfling is a snug fit on either side. I made a carrier board for my thickness sander with a 1/8" groove in it and cut the center strip a little wide and thickness it to 1/8". Then stick it sideways in the groove and run through the sander until the width gives a snug fit for the purfling.

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Author:  H3ytm@n [ Sun Aug 07, 2011 5:46 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Number 41
Terence Kennedy wrote:
H3ytm@n- The center strip channel is routed in the joined back and then filled with a Rosewood strip with .043 bwb purfling on either side. I use a 1/4" downcut bit and cut the width of the filler strip so the purfling is a snug fit on either side. I made a carrier board for my thickness sander with a 1/8" groove in it and cut the center strip a little wide and thickness it to 1/8". Then stick it sideways in the groove and run through the sander until the width gives a snug fit for the purfling.

NICE!!!
Author:  Ken Franklin [ Mon Aug 08, 2011 8:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Number 41
Beautiful work, Terence. How much of that tone do you think is coming from the Brazilian fingerboard and bridge?
Author:  Terence Kennedy [ Mon Aug 08, 2011 10:51 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Number 41
Ken Franklin wrote:
Beautiful work, Terence. How much of that tone do you think is coming from the Brazilian fingerboard and bridge?


I've built several Lutz/Mahogany OM's with Ebony fingerboards and bridges Ken and they were good guitars but this one really has a unique sound to my ear that I found very appealing. So did a couple of good players that tried it. I have a hell of a time finding the right words to describe sound and everyone probably hears it differently anyway but "separation and clarity" come to mind.
I'd say it's the Brazilian for sure. The blanks came from Jim Olson's shop so there may have been some good karma too!
Author:  SteveCourtright [ Mon Aug 08, 2011 12:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Number 41
Kudos. That is a beauty. I especially like the excellent work getting the heel to fit so nicely.
Author:  Arnt Rian [ Thu Aug 11, 2011 12:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Number 41
Great work, Terence! I've made a few mahogany/Lutz guitars myself, and I too think it can be a great combination.

Regarding the importance of FB material on acoustics: I'm beginning to suspect that it is more important than some folks say, and I thought previously. Like most folks with a background in electric guitars (as a player, not maker), I've always felt that the FB material has a significant impact on sound on those guitars. A/B test enough maple/rosewood FB Strats, and it (whatever it is) becomes apparent. On acoustics...not so much. This year I made quite a few similar guitars, some guitars with African blackwood FB's others with ebony. I think I hear something different in the ABW ones that is not there in ebony ones. A small sample of course, and a very subtle thing, but nonetheless, enough to make it interesting.
Author:  Pat Foster [ Thu Aug 11, 2011 12:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Number 41
Really classy! I like that subtle curve of the upper bout at the neck.

As for fretboard material, I've always thought that ebony was not as lively as other woods. I've noticed it on bridges— why not fretboards too, especially if you're getting a ringing tap tone in the neck.

Pat
Author:  David Wren [ Thu Aug 11, 2011 7:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Number 41
I love the ultra clean aesthetic ... not to mention the clean mitered purfling joints! What an absolutely gorgeous instrument!
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