Alan Carruth wrote:
Making rosettes in the Spanish style is not as hard as it looks, but it is a lot of work! As far asi'm concerned, it's something that all classical guitar makers should know how to do, even if they don't do it themselves all the time. It's not easy to get paid for all the time it takes, but it is, after all, one of the few places a builder gets to be 'artistic', given the contraints of the usual classical guitar design. It's place to express yourself, and make something individual, so why would you leave it to somebody else?
Yep, the things we do. . .
Many years ago I came up with a design, using graph paper and coloured pencils. I say colour but it only involved 3 different woods. Each tile though was around 25 X 25, fairly involved as these things go. It looked good on paper but after I'd done all the hard work and assembled the rosette I was far from happy. It appeared too flat and lifeless. There had to be a better combination of wood. I tried that scheme 6 or 7 times more before giving up. Probably 3 months work in total!
I then moved over to a simple side grain rosette set in mastic. Not the most adventurous but I guess it 'works'.
I'm not finished on that end grain rosette yet though, just taking a rest.
![[headinwall]](./images/smilies/headbangwalluf8.gif "Mad")