Official Luthiers Forum!

So about a year ago my friend Mike Collins of Argyle New York asked me if I wanted to do a builders swap with him. I would make him a small steel string and he would make me a Flamenco. I jumped at the chance, of course. Mike had a couple of size requirements as to scale length and nut width but asked me to use my own creative sensibilities and make whatever. I also asked him to make what he would enjoy making. I reminded him that I have not been making guitars very long and that he has been a builder just about as long as I have been alive! I also mostly focus on Spanish guitars and have little experience with steel strings. Mike was undeterred and stated that this would give me a chance to learn more about steel string building. When I think about it, this is one of the most generous things that has ever happened to me.

I was able to jump into his build almost right away. I based the shape on a Gibson L-00 but changed some of the curves. I used Black Limba from the Zootman and a Lutz top from Shane. I had to think a long time about how I was going to detail the guitar because the actual color of the Black Limba is a neutral greenish hue. There is not much color at all in the wood. I decided that instead of rosewood bindings or something else warm, it would be best to accent the neutral color palette with a black and white binding scheme. The purflings are maple and the bindings are ebony. I had his build done last November and played it a lot waiting for Mike to have an opening in his schedule to work in my guitar. The one thing that is missing here is final photos!!!!!!! I never did take a photo of Mikes guitar after I finished it! Sometimes I wonder if I have a brain at all.

These are construction photos of Mike's guitar that I made for him. There are no finished photos. (Sorry)




My new Flamenco that Mike made for me came yesterday and it is beautiful! It has myrtle back and sides with a lutz top. I will let Mike tell his story on construction when he gets a chance. I really love this guitar. It has a great response to the rasgeado attack. I am going to have it all played in pretty soon. We decided that we would leave the finishes with just a base of shellac so that we each could finish our respective guitars as we wished. I am going to polish up the back and sides of mine just a bit but not much. I am polishing two right now so this one will just get in the que.

I have to post this and add another post to show the guitar that Mike made for me.

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

Here are photos of the guitar Mike made for me.

This is very cool and I would like to thank Mike for giving me this fantastic opportunity!!!!!!!

Yea Mike!

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

What a cool idea, and sweet guitars to boot!

Very Nice! Congratulations to both of you.

_________________
Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Very cool, I haven't ever seen a peghead like that on a nylon string guitar before. Is that typical of a flamenco?

And look how the two "E" stings are wound on the pegs. Is that typical too?

Hutch

_________________
"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

Thank you everybody!

Matt and Hutch,

Before tuning machines were around guitars had pegs for tuning just like violins and such. There is also a weight advantage to pegs.(lighter) This is a traditional look in that regard. The lighter weight helps the player hold the guitar in the flamenco position. These pegs are actually geared tuning machines and not wooden pegs. They have a traditional look but are very easy to use for tuning the instrument. The E strings are strung up "backwards" to make the transition from the nut to the peg smoother. You can go either way but this is the way I like it.

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

You guys are very talented, and very lucky to be friends with each other and be the recipients of each other's guitars. Hats off to both of you.

Beautiful work! Both.

_________________
-----
Sen CL Goh
http://senguitar.blogspot.com

Very cool!!!!!
Stephen - love that rosette!!!!

Good work guys, and congrats to you both!
These swaps make you do your best work, don't they?
It's a bit unnerving sending a guitar to another guitarbuilder.

Looks like you both came out in the deal!

Steve

_________________
From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

A couple of classy guitars from two classy guys! Congratulations to you both!

Thanks for posting the story & pics Stephen.

I love my Boone steel string & play it everyday.
I had a Nashville studio guitarist here the other day & he liked the
Boone steel also!

I start with the 1951 Barbero plan by R.E.Brune'
I found if I changed the angle & length of the 2 cutoff
braces I could get that raspy ,snappy trad. Flamenco sound.

The rose is Ambrosia maple with German perfs.
The tuners are geared "Pegheds"
650 scale with 1mm cut from the nut end to compensate the nut.
Braz.12 hole bridge
Zootman Myrtle!
Lutz-Shanes
Bubinga bindings.
old piano ivory on the tieblock.
LaBella 820 strings.

Thanks for all the great replys!
This forum is great!
Mike

_________________
Mike Collins

Mr .Kinnaird;
Did'nt you swap guitars a few years ago?
I read about it in the GAL ?

Mc

_________________
Mike Collins