Official Luthiers Forum!

Gosh I don't know where to start. I have so many mixed feelings about this guitar.

From a workmanship point of view this guitar is a mile ahead of my first one. I found the quality of any given task depends on good process and good skill. Good sound process can carry, to a degree, a lack of skill but you really need both. This guitar making thing forces a person that is serious about it...to analyze EVERYTHING. I need to pay more attention to the joining of the bindings. That would be an example of an area that needs improvement.

Sound is where I am most disappointed. We all know how subjective describing sound can be but I'll take a shot at it. It's too 'tinny'. I've heard some others refer to this type of sound as 'bright'...thin. I've been doing some research and I have identified a few items that I think contribute to the really exaggerated brightness of the guitar. The bridge is Madagascar rosewood, which has really low damping characteristics. The strings, which were given to me by the guy getting this guitar (in an attempt to help me) are Elixir extra lights nanoweb. I've never played extra lights. In fact I was originally going to string this guitar up with D'Addario PB lights. Also this guitar has a Sitka top (but I'm not sure that's a cause). With Mahogany back and sides I was really looking for a more round..full...earthy sound. Not so metallic.

So here are the photos.

_________________
There is no difference between the man that thinks he can....and the man that thinks he cannot.

Man Chris, That's a beautiful looking guitar.

_________________
Thanks,
Blain

http://www.ullrichguitar.com

"89.67% of all statistics are made up on the spot."

Chris,

I really like it. Visually it has a crisp and clean look compared to your first (and I don't mean to put down your first because I liked that one). I think your binding job looks cleaner on this one. I love the rosette. I can't wait to hear it. You might be right about the sound and the relation to the strings. It might be worth a try with some heavier ones just to see.

Great work,

John

Cool looking guitar. You're missing a screw in a tuner though

_________________
John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

Chris,

It looks great. Have a little patience with its tone. (I say that as someone who has a tendency to overreact to initial impressions of my own work! ) How long has it been strung up? It'll continue to break-in for a good while.

- Flori

John I know about the tuner screw. Allied is sending me another one. The package was short. Just as an aside Allied was FANTASTIC about this issue.

Flori asked how long the guitar had been strung up....it's been 2 days.

_________________
There is no difference between the man that thinks he can....and the man that thinks he cannot.

Chris, based on that string selection - I wouldn't have that high hopes, regardless of how good a guitar. Hearing a tinny sound is exactly what I would expect, especially in regards to the high b and e strings. For spruce topped guitars, I STRONGLY recommend phosphor bronze - don't use the Elixir 80/20's because they tend to sound much brighter. Go buy a set of D'Addario phosphor bronze light gauge strings and wait at least a week or so after you first put the strings on to come to any kind of judgement about the tone. Since this is your second guitar, I strongly suggest holding onto it for the first couple weeks so that you have a good basis on what needs to be improved the third go around.

And the guitar looks beautiful - I like the shape of the heel when viewed from the back - very nice.

--
Simon

I knew you knew I was just busting your chops.

Only two days? Give it another couple weeks before you judge it too harshly.

_________________
John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

APPLAUSE! LOUD ROAR of the CROWD!



The pickguard is missing too.... grin.... always a critic.... or two..... in the bunch.

Hey, congrats on the great photos of a nicely built guitar.

I'd love to hear a clip of someone on that baby!

_________________
http://www.dickeyguitars.com

The guitar looks absolutely great, Chris. You have done an outstanding job. I'd give it some time and play in on the sound too. Couple of days isn't much.

_________________
Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Thanks Everyone. Simon and John thanks for the input. Understood and fully accepted.

Bruce... It's a camouflage pickguard!!!!

_________________
There is no difference between the man that thinks he can....and the man that thinks he cannot.

This is your second guitar???? It looks like you have been makin them for a long time. I can only hope to do as well.

Can you tell us some more of the top thickness and bracing?

_________________
Steve Walden
Aspiring Builder,
Bartlesville, OK

Gorgeous! I love the rosette and three piece back! Very nice work.

_________________
"Building guitars looks hard, but it's actually much harder than it looks." Tom Buck

The Logo was something that took a lot of time to develop...mostly due to me being a picky. It's an abstract of an guitar standing on the headstock. The original had a weird looking C in the middle where the sound hole would be but I changed that to a Y...the first letter of my last name.

Honestly I couldn't tell you what the top thickness is. I stopped checking the dial caliper at 120 thou and just went of feel after that. Standard run of the mill X brace. The back is X braced too.

Here's a photo of the back...



And here's a shot of the fretwork. Notice how you can see the reflection of the strings on the frets. My fretwork here was much better than on the previous guitar.

_________________
There is no difference between the man that thinks he can....and the man that thinks he cannot.

Looks great Chris. Finish?

_________________
Chris

Shellac seal coat - Pore fill (Van Dyke Brown and Lamp Black) - 7 coats of Tru-Oil - Micro Mesh to 2400. Something better than satin but less than semi-gloss.

_________________
There is no difference between the man that thinks he can....and the man that thinks he cannot.

chris,
the guitar looks great!! very nice work.
i agree with the others about changing to the slightly heavier pb's, and waiting a few weeks to reserve final judgement. if that doesn't solve it, then send out a picture of your top bracing and the dimensions, along with the thickness of your top, and i bet you'll get all kinds of answers on the forum as to where the sound comes from.
phil

nice work chris and I will say it again, I really love your logo. tried it on a 12th fret yet? hehe


really clean look overall, I don't think I've seen your first one so I can't compare... you are 1 3/8 guitars ahead of me, and I hope my second (if I ever finish #1) will look as good as yours

_________________
Olivier Gauthier
Montreal, QC

Chris very classy looking guitar. What body shape is that? If you really want instant warm tone try a cedar top.

Rrgards
Craig.

I really like your guitar.

_________________
http://www.booneguitars.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephen-Boone-guitar-builder/488208541257210

Chris, you must be so excited. Your guitar is a real beauty! I particularly like the logo. Any meaning to it?

Chris, Nice guitar, I like everything about it, especially the rossette! I agree that you ought to change the strings and give it some time.

Chuck

_________________
_________________

That`s a beautiful guitar Chris, but I would definately ditch those strings and give it a little time.My first build was a Mahogany -Sitka and it took a while to open up.It will be a great sounding guitar. James
I also would use the strings Simon mentioned.

_________________
James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

To answer some of the questions...the shape is a standard Martin OM shape that's a tad deeper.

The logo is really nothing more than an abstract interpretation of a guitar...standing on the headstock...cradling the letter Y.....the first letter of my last name.

Time is what it will have. Thanks for the input and kind words folks...I appreciate it.

Seeing this thing leave the house is going to be a rough day for me.

_________________
There is no difference between the man that thinks he can....and the man that thinks he cannot.

_________________
"It's a Tone Faerie thing"
"Da goal is to sharpen ur wit as well as ye Sgian Dubh"
"Sippin Loch Dhu @Black lake" ,Kirby O...