Talk about clean and elegant!
Dave you have done it!
![[:Y:]](./images/smilies/smiley20.gif "Thumbs Up")
What is the finish?
Joe
| Official Luthiers Forum! http://luthiersforum.com/forum/ |
|
| 7-string archtop for violin lovers http://luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=23815 |
Page 1 of 2 |
| Author: | Dave Stewart [ Tue Sep 15, 2009 4:00 pm ] |
| Post subject: | 7-string archtop for violin lovers |
I'm happy to finally be able to show off this very recent completion..#9 for me.I wanted to have a crack at a violin inspired look - there are several lovely ones out there- and decided to make it a 7-string, which I've also wanted to try. The plates are unbound, overhang the sides violin-like and are rounded, with an inset multi-purfling line on the top. (I left the back pure and am glad I did... kinda like the look). F-holes have a traditional look and I went with a violin type saddle (tailpiece pivot, not the guitar bridge type) rather than the typical pivot mounted to tailpiece underside. (No mashing of the soft spruce top!) Bit of an "anti-burst" on the neck back (which I also left unbuffed ... sanded to 2000 only... for a nice silky feel) as for specs -Lutz (from Shane) over Euro maple -ebony fittings... Gotoh tuners -Kent Armstrong handwound "tabless" 7-string PAF - 17" x 3 1/4" body, 24 3/4" scale & 2" nut I left the PAF "direct drive - no onboard controls (eq. @ amp, vol. by footpedal) for ultimate tone. And the tone is opening up beautifully, very mellow both amp'd and not. Quite happy with it. Hope you enjoy and thanks for looking. |
|
| Author: | Joe Sustaire [ Tue Sep 15, 2009 4:06 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: 7-string archtop for violin lovers |
Talk about clean and elegant! Dave you have done it! What is the finish? Joe |
|
| Author: | Dave Stewart [ Tue Sep 15, 2009 4:15 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: 7-string archtop for violin lovers |
Thanks Joe. Sorry, should have said, the finish is tinted Target Ultima over shellac. |
|
| Author: | douglas ingram [ Tue Sep 15, 2009 4:26 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: 7-string archtop for violin lovers |
Very nice. Gonna change your avatar now? |
|
| Author: | Shane Neifer [ Tue Sep 15, 2009 5:34 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: 7-string archtop for violin lovers |
Man! That is SWEEEET. I like the "violin" concept Dave. Just awesome! Shane |
|
| Author: | Dave Stewart [ Tue Sep 15, 2009 6:26 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: 7-string archtop for violin lovers |
Thanks guys. Shane, the lutz and tuners worked out great! Speaking of tuners, one thing I'll mention that may help someone in future....on stringing this one up, it had a rattle/buzz that for the life of me, I couldn't find .... drove me buggy!...thought it might be the trussrod!!! While early on, I made sure all the tuners were tight, it turned out that extending my tapered headstock (for 7 strings) put the top tuner hole about 1 thread too thin for the tuner! The tuner nut was indeed tight, because it had BOTTOMED, NOT because it had tightened against the washer. The washer was rattling!!! Live & learn. |
|
| Author: | Dave Livermore [ Tue Sep 15, 2009 8:05 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: 7-string archtop for violin lovers |
As always, your instruments are stunning. |
|
| Author: | Edward Taylor [ Tue Sep 15, 2009 9:14 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: 7-string archtop for violin lovers |
Dave that is drop dead gorgeous, thanks for sharing. |
|
| Author: | Jim Kirby [ Tue Sep 15, 2009 9:34 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: 7-string archtop for violin lovers |
Ed said it. Gorgeous! Really impressive. More pictures of the tailpiece? I'm not sure what you were referring to. Jim |
|
| Author: | Erik Hauri [ Tue Sep 15, 2009 9:57 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: 7-string archtop for violin lovers |
Well done!
|
|
| Author: | GordoninNM [ Tue Sep 15, 2009 10:02 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: 7-string archtop for violin lovers |
Absolutely gorgeous! I have considered doing a violin style archtop, but haven't gotten past the considering part.... So if you don't mind, I have a couple of questions. Do you scrape and sand the ribs prior to attaching the top and backplate? It looks like this would be a difficult area to work subsequent to assembly. What sort of purfling cutter did you choose for the top plate purfling, and what purfling material (fiber, other) did you use? How comfortable is the guitar to play while seated with the proud plate edges? No big deal? Parallel braced, or X ? And finally, who supplied the euro-maple? I'd like to know if you don,t mind sharing , or a PM if you'd rather not go public. Once again, Absolutely gorgeous. ![[clap]](./images/smilies/smiley32.gif "adulations") Gordo |
|
| Author: | MRS [ Wed Sep 16, 2009 1:12 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: 7-string archtop for violin lovers |
Wow!
|
|
| Author: | collinsguitar [ Wed Sep 16, 2009 5:36 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: 7-string archtop for violin lovers |
Beautiful!!! |
|
| Author: | Colin S [ Wed Sep 16, 2009 6:18 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: 7-string archtop for violin lovers |
Dave, what a stunning, guitar! Pure understated elegance, just put it in a box and send it to the Smithsonian, it deserves to be dispayed as an example of the 'art' of guitar building. Colin |
|
| Author: | Dave Stewart [ Wed Sep 16, 2009 8:24 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: 7-string archtop for violin lovers |
Thanks all for your very kind response, I'm very glad it appeals. (Kinda like your kids...you think they're beautiful but maybe no one else does!!) Jim, re the tailpiece, I was trying to explain the "saddle" over which the tailgut pivots. Violins are done this way, with a raised saddle, but archtops done following Benedettos methods have a flush saddle and a "pivot" glued to the underside of the tailpiece. It really bears on the spruce (above the tailblock) and, if you ever have to shorten/lengthen the tailgut, well, you'll see the big dent it makes. The best pic I have show chopping the saddle pocket and a roughed out "high" saddle. (Note the remnents of the toothpic I drill though the purf. line into the tailblock for positioning during glueup.) Attachment: 901 saddle.jpg Gordo, no, you still scrape / sand after attaching plates, it's just harder  .I'll say that most aspects of this edge treatment are, because it's just a pile of handwork. This pic shows the tools I used for the purfling channel...a shopmade jig for the dremmel, a shopmade gramel for the cutaway area and a shopmade 1/16" chisel to clean out the channel.Attachment: purfling routing.jpg The purfling is ABS (b/w/b/w/b). Edges feel fine....not really apparent. It's X-braced and the Euro was from Stewmac. |
|
| Author: | StevenWheeler [ Wed Sep 16, 2009 8:38 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: 7-string archtop for violin lovers |
Dave, Your work continues to amaze. #9? Surly you jest. Steve |
|
| Author: | Ken McKay [ Wed Sep 16, 2009 2:52 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: 7-string archtop for violin lovers |
Congratulation on a fine instrument! As a violinmaker I can really appreciate that one. Nice ff holes and the color is nice. |
|
| Author: | SteveCourtright [ Wed Sep 16, 2009 3:19 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: 7-string archtop for violin lovers |
Bravo, that is masterful, Dave, and an inspiration. So many details, but the big picture is the thing. |
|
| Author: | Steve Kinnaird [ Wed Sep 16, 2009 5:27 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: 7-string archtop for violin lovers |
Dang... What a beauty... Steve |
|
| Author: | Darryl Young [ Wed Sep 16, 2009 6:14 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: 7-string archtop for violin lovers |
Beautiful!!! What material did you use for the nut? |
|
| Author: | Stephen Boone [ Thu Sep 17, 2009 12:02 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: 7-string archtop for violin lovers |
This guitar belongs under glass! Don't let anyone touch it! Man! |
|
| Author: | Dave Stewart [ Thu Sep 17, 2009 7:41 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: 7-string archtop for violin lovers |
Thanks again. Steven, I built #9 and #10 together....stay tuned. Darryl, the nut is ebony, which probably contributes to the mellow tone. I used ebony on my first archtop 3+ years ago, and play it almost daily with no apparent deterioration. (And I have 400+ years of violins on my side.) Stephen, it is!  (...topic for a later discussion)
|
|
| Author: | JRE Productions [ Thu Sep 17, 2009 10:24 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: 7-string archtop for violin lovers |
I think I am going back to making solidbody electrics! That guitar is just amazing! I always have high hopes for my archtops, but have yet to build one even close to this caliber. Mine seem to sound good, but fall short in the looks department. You know...she ain't good lookin' but she can cook...LOL. I have wondered about the fiddle edges I have seen on this one and on benedetto's. What is the process for champfering the under side of the edges? I assume they are slightly rounded over on both the under-side edge and outside ledge of both the top and back. Yes? |
|
| Author: | Dave Stewart [ Thu Sep 17, 2009 12:31 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: 7-string archtop for violin lovers |
Thanks Joe. Yes, they're both rounded. I knew if this was to work, it would have to be that way and be uniform. I laid out the roundover on CAD, calculated and carefully marked, then filed primary (45) bevels on both the top & underside of each edge. The picture show the underside done & the topside not quite yet. Attachment: 901 violin edge shaping.jpg Once that was uniform, I filed secondary bevels at the peaks, then sanded. It's easy to sand the spruce too much. |
|
| Author: | Brad Goodman [ Thu Sep 17, 2009 2:14 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: 7-string archtop for violin lovers |
Dave, It's a real show stopper! I am usually not a fan of the "violin" style, but this is just gorgeous. Regards, Brad |
|
| Page 1 of 2 | All times are UTC - 5 hours |
| Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group http://www.phpbb.com/ |
|