Official Luthiers Forum!

So as not to hijack another thread, I though that it would be cool to see some of the old fashioned guitars that we've been working on. I'm working on some SE117's and a Panormo, and Mike Collins is working on a Lacote and an old Martin. Mike, I want to see what you've been up to!

Here are mine. WRC tops and Ash bodies.

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Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/

Taking a break from classicals, I did a restoration on an 1840s Martin and Coupa guitar.
The guitar had been "repaired" by grafting on the slotted peg head from another guitar.
Here is the remaining "dart" once the unoriginal head was taken off. You can see the remains of the original modified bridal joint and how the previous "restorer" cut through it.

Measuring the width of the dart at the level of the new peg head.

And the angle of the rear face of the replacement

Checking the template

Making the initial cuts



Visible are the rosewood "bushings" set into the mahogany of the head (this guitar has a Cuban mahogany neck in contrast to Spanish cedar which was used on later Martins) as was the case on 19th century martins which used friction pegs

Detail of the recess

Here is the peghead showing the Brazilian rosewood head veneer, pattern (developed from another 1840s example)
and the original nickel silver nut.


Final fitting

Clamping and glueing with fish glue


After careful shaping, sanding, coloring and french polish
I fitted a set of reproduction 19th century Martin style pegs which were made by UK luthier Bruce Brook to my specs.


In addition I made and fitted a proper 1840s style Martin tie bridge:
The completed guitar:

How did you cut the V slot in the headstock??

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Here is what a Parlor Guitar is for!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEa8PkjO6_I

With the knives shown and a small chisel.

Here are some details of the Headstock:


As well as the replicated bridge:



www.guitarsbydavidlaplante.com

Douglas -- That's a nice trio you have there and I love the rosettes. Those old style guitars are wonderful.

David -- Wow! Beautiful work. That's one lucky guitar to have found its way to your shop after all these years. Well done.

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George :-)

Nice looking guitars!
Hi David,
Since you were making a new peghead why didn't you take it back to the modified bridle joint?

The previous "restorer" had not only cut the original peghead
(or the remains thereof) off along the edges of the "dart", but had reduced the size of the "dart" to the point where re-establishing the original bridle joint configuration would not have left much wood at all.
I decided to leave what remained alone and to do a mortised "V" joint (a la' Hauser). It would be the strongest joint choice and would restore as much of the original look as could be done with what was left.

Can you post some soundclips?

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Here is what a Parlor Guitar is for!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEa8PkjO6_I

David,

I'm really impressed by the museum grade work that you're doing on that old Martin. But there's no surprise in that. Looks like a fascinating guitar, can you tell us more?

_________________
Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/

David, I would expect nothing less than the highest quality from your shop. David is a historian as well as an artisan, just wish I lived closer to learn as much as possible from him. Great work David. Nice to see old traditions being preserved. And there are many others here who do the same, my hat's off to all of you.
Bruce

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Bruce Herrmann
"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."