Beautiful work! Both.
![[clap]](./images/smilies/smiley32.gif "adulations")
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| Builders swap: Mike Collins and Stephen Boone http://luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=32839 |
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| Author: | Stephen Boone [ Tue Jul 12, 2011 9:57 am ] |
| Post subject: | Builders swap: Mike Collins and Stephen Boone |
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) Attachment: IMG_0698.jpg Attachment: IMG_0714.jpg Attachment: IMG_0716.jpg Attachment: IMG_0719.jpg Attachment: IMG_0720.jpg Attachment: IMG_0721.jpg Attachment: IMG_0724.jpg 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. |
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| Author: | Stephen Boone [ Tue Jul 12, 2011 10:01 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Builders swap: Mike Collins and Stephen Boone |
Here are photos of the guitar Mike made for me. Attachment: IMG_1405.jpg Attachment: IMG_1406.jpg Attachment: IMG_1407.jpg Attachment: IMG_1410.jpg Attachment: IMG_1411.jpg Attachment: IMG_1412.jpg Attachment: IMG_1414.jpg Attachment: IMG_1416.jpg This is very cool and I would like to thank Mike for giving me this fantastic opportunity!!!!!!! Yea Mike! |
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| Author: | meddlingfool [ Tue Jul 12, 2011 10:29 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Builders swap: Mike Collins and Stephen Boone |
What a cool idea, and sweet guitars to boot! |
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| Author: | WaddyThomson [ Tue Jul 12, 2011 10:40 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Builders swap: Mike Collins and Stephen Boone |
Very Nice! Congratulations to both of you. |
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| Author: | Matt Shumway [ Tue Jul 12, 2011 11:03 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Builders swap: Mike Collins and Stephen Boone |
Very cool, I haven't ever seen a peghead like that on a nylon string guitar before. Is that typical of a flamenco? |
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| Author: | ChuckH [ Tue Jul 12, 2011 4:11 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Builders swap: Mike Collins and Stephen Boone |
Matt Shumway wrote: 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 |
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| Author: | Stephen Boone [ Tue Jul 12, 2011 4:54 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Builders swap: Mike Collins and Stephen Boone |
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. |
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| Author: | cphanna [ Tue Jul 12, 2011 4:57 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Builders swap: Mike Collins and Stephen Boone |
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. |
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| Author: | senunkan [ Tue Jul 12, 2011 8:09 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Builders swap: Mike Collins and Stephen Boone |
Beautiful work! Both.
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| Author: | Robbie_McD [ Tue Jul 12, 2011 9:51 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Builders swap: Mike Collins and Stephen Boone |
Very cool!!!!! Stephen - love that rosette!!!! |
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| Author: | Steve Kinnaird [ Tue Jul 12, 2011 9:58 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Builders swap: Mike Collins and Stephen Boone |
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 |
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| Author: | Robbie O'Brien [ Tue Jul 12, 2011 10:12 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Builders swap: Mike Collins and Stephen Boone |
A couple of classy guitars from two classy guys! Congratulations to you both! |
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| Author: | Mike Collins [ Wed Jul 13, 2011 7:17 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Builders swap: Mike Collins and Stephen Boone |
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 ![[:Y:]](./images/smilies/smiley20.gif "Thumbs Up")
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| Author: | Mike Collins [ Wed Jul 13, 2011 4:23 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Builders swap: Mike Collins and Stephen Boone |
Mr .Kinnaird; Did'nt you swap guitars a few years ago? I read about it in the GAL ? Mc
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