Official Luthiers Forum!

I am extremely excited about getting a commission from Richard (Ricardo) Marlow to build a guitar for him. I met him at one of Gerardo Nunez' flamenco seminars in Spain several years ago. He is the best American flamenco guitarist I know of and has played professionally for some time. If anyone is interested you can Google his name and access a number of Youtube videos of him playing. This summer he played one of my guitars and asked me to make him a blanca. Here is a clip of him playing my Aussie Blackwood guitar:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QsHiGF98-uQ

I'd like to thank the many folks here on the Luthiers Forum for the help and support given me over the years.

Best wishes,
Max

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Max Bishop
Brighton, Michigan

Awesome!

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

Good for you Max!

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Alain Moisan
Former full time builder of Acoustics, Classicals and Flamencos.
(Now building just for fun!)

Congrats on the commission! I hope you post a build thread. I would like to see your process since I am going to be building a flamenco soon.

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

Well then get to work max!

Excellent!!

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guitarsbygiltzow.com

That is exciting indeed! Ricardo is one of those (to me anyway) rare examples of a non-Spaniard who sounds completely convincing.

He's located not that far from me - I hope to at least get a guitar into his hands to try someday.

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

Congratulations Max! Well deserved and a great recognition of the beautiful instruments you make.

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Peter

Way to go, Max! Congratulations. Make it great!

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

that guy has some talent. is that an actual "flamenco" guitar in the vid, or a classical? i notice no golpedor or whatever its called, and geared rather than peg tuners

Well done, I like the non standard tuners, slotted headstock and Backwood b&s. Hope the commission turns out as nice.

Steve

Thanks to all for the kind words!

Jim - I want to thank you for the idea of the light colored bindings on a blanca. I love the look and I found a wood that should work: Costello. It's a hard dense wood from South America that is often referred to as Boxwood. It isn't really Boxwood, but apparently it is often used as a substitute, having very similar qualities. Appearance-wise it is a near dead-ringer for Cypress. If you're interested check for it on Gilmer's website. I plan to use it on the guitar I build for Richard.

Nyazzip - Yes, it is a flamenco. The density of Aussie Blackwood is quite close to that of Cypress. Consequently, it has a good flamenco sound. It does have a golpeador and the classical tuners are pretty much standard these days.

Tony - Sorry I won't be doing a build thread. However, if you have question on your flamenco project I'd be happy to answer any questions you have.

Thanks again,
Max

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Max Bishop
Brighton, Michigan

I've only built one flamenco guitar and it's a blanca with light bindings. I thin purfled line of mahogany separates the binding from the sides and looks pretty good. That guy is an excellent player I love that style and could listen to it all day.

Check out his other youtube vids. He's really good. He has a really good rep as a skype instructor, too.

Thanks for the wood reference, Max. I have some Osage I'm gong to play with too. I'd love to start another one soon, but classical customers are waiting.

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

Oops, that's Castello, in case anyone else is looking. (Gilmer lists it as Castello Boxwood - boxwood was the key to getting to it.)

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

Congratulations Max!

Wow!
Yes, he is good, but so are you Max - knock this one out of the park!
Congratulations on the commission, must be a great feeling...

Just for the record, I've seen it as Costello, Castello and Castelo.

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Max Bishop
Brighton, Michigan

It is good to see Richard Marlow doing so well and that you'll have a guitar in his capable hands. I met Richard when he was a 10-year-old kid, who was called Richie at that time. Richard's father, John Marlow, and I were friends. John was a well-known classical guitar player in the DC area for many years. He passed away at a tragically young age. There is a concert series in Bethesda, MD that is named in John's honor.

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Stay with the happy people.
--Reynolds Large

Great news!
What bracing &such do you plan to use?
I love making "Flammers"

Go for it sir.
Mike

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Mike Collins

Regarding the bracing, I will use a modified Santos Hernandez scheme. Here's a picture:

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Max Bishop
Brighton, Michigan

Nice pic, Max. A few things stand out in the pic: What is happening below the harmonic bar in the rosette area? And, what is the function of the hole in the upper block?

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Stay with the happy people.
--Reynolds Large

Is there some figure to those sides?

Remember to keep everything lite in weight!
Very important!
Mike

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Mike Collins

Max;
Try the R.E.Brune' 1951 Barbero plan from
GAL for a next guitar!
Absolutely incredible!

Mike

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Mike Collins

Re: questions

What you see in the rosette area is the rosette. This is one I made myself and it is as thick as the top in this area which is graduated.

The hole in the upper block is part of the scheme I use to attach the neck.

Yes, that is figure you see in the sides. I'm using a set of figured Lawson Cypress (AKA Port Orford Cedar) that I got from Les Stansel.

Yes, I make my flamencas light.

I've been intrigued with the Barbero plan and may make one some time in the future. However, I've been very happy with the Santos-based scheme I'm been using to this point.

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Max Bishop
Brighton, Michigan