Beautiful !
How's she sound?
Mike
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| Finished 4th Classical http://luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=47409 |
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| Author: | Imbler [ Mon Mar 07, 2016 2:42 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Finished 4th Classical |
I just finished build my 4th (built for my wife) and realized I had never posted pictures of any of them. I'll try to add some pics of this one, and see if they post. It is EIR with German Spruce top, ebony headstock and end wedge, shell inlay, and a walnut/carbon composite bridge Mike |
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| Author: | mkellyvrod [ Mon Mar 07, 2016 3:34 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Finished 4th Classical |
Mike, nice job! Although I've tended to go with EIR on most of my fingerboards (primarily due to cost), I really like the way that ebony works against a spruce top. Looks great. Please don't tell my that the finish is a French polish, I just can't get that gloss. I'm interested in how you made the composite bridge; did you do all the shaping after gluing up all the composite pieces? Great looking guitar and nice finish. One final question, prompted by Windy's post - did you use a traditional Spanish neck or did you make a bolt on? If bolt on, did you install a truss rod? Guess that was two final questions. |
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| Author: | Imbler [ Mon Mar 07, 2016 4:06 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Finished 4th Classical |
mkellyvrod wrote: Mike, nice job! Although I've tended to go with EIR on most of my fingerboards (primarily due to cost), I really like the way that ebony works against a spruce top. Looks great. Please don't tell my that the finish is a French polish, I just can't get that gloss. I'm interested in how you made the composite bridge; did you do all the shaping after gluing up all the composite pieces? Great looking guitar and nice finish. One final question, prompted by Windy's post - did you use a traditional Spanish neck or did you make a bolt on? If bolt on, did you install a truss rod? Guess that was two final questions. Thanks Mkelly! I take it you have a Vrod? Nice bike! If I had a bigger garage, I'd have one of those too! I have a Big Dog Prosport that is based on the FXR frame with a 107 in motor. Anyway, yes it is a french polish. I think the key is to level sand it with 800 or 1000 grit sandpaper. It seems counterintuitive after all that work to build up the finish, but it actually speeds things up considerably, and the level finish is what makes it reflect well. After sanding back, the next few coats of FP really go on flat, smooth and shiny. Sometimes you'll sand through, and need to put on more finish, but in that case the finish probably wasn't right yet. Most people wet sand, but I use 800 3m gold frecut sandpaper, and it doesn't load up dry (although you do want to check frequently to make sure you don't get a little "ball" of shellac on the sandpaper as it will leave grooves in the finish. Sanding dry lets you see what you are doing, and when all the gloss is gone, you know you have it sanded flat. I use a regular Spanish heel construction for the neck. It just seems easier to me and truss rods and resets just aren't needed for classicals (Ok, rarely needed!) Mike The bridge is a Trevor Gore design. You laminate the carbon layers into the blank (I used Walnut for its low density (the carbon gives it the necessary stiffness). If you look closely you can see two black lines in the bridge which are the carbon fabric layer showing. A carbide Router bit will cut the resulting blank with no problem, but I use cheap carbide bits, because one bridge will dull the bit and I just toss it. You can get the chinese carbide bits on ebay for two or three bucks each. Regards, Mike |
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| Author: | WaddyThomson [ Tue Mar 08, 2016 3:11 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Finished 4th Classical |
Beautiful guitar. Nice work! |
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| Author: | Alex Kleon [ Tue Mar 08, 2016 3:58 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Finished 4th Classical |
Beautiful guitar, Mike! I agree with the ebony fb, as well - really stands out, in the best way! Alex |
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| Author: | ClintB [ Tue Mar 08, 2016 8:02 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Finished 4th Classical |
Really nice. I love the inlay in the end graft. Very classy - the whole instrument. Did you use any composites in the bracing? What bracing did you use, for that matter? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
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| Author: | Imbler [ Tue Mar 08, 2016 9:01 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Finished 4th Classical |
ClintB wrote: Really nice. I love the inlay in the end graft. Very classy - the whole instrument. Did you use any composites in the bracing? What bracing did you use, for that matter? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Thanks Clint! The bracing is pretty much to 37 hauser plans except for the carbon reinforced bridge, and I thinned the bridge patch to well under 1 mm. The Gore falcate braced plans do use carbon reinforced braces, but I didn't want to change too many things at once. I was really curious as to what change the light bridge with short wings would do, Mike |
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| Author: | giltzow [ Wed Mar 09, 2016 12:23 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Finished 4th Classical |
Very well done. Beautiful guitar -Mike |
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| Author: | Mike Collins [ Wed Mar 09, 2016 2:39 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Finished 4th Classical |
Beautiful ! How's she sound? Mike
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| Author: | ClintB [ Wed Mar 09, 2016 9:45 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Finished 4th Classical |
About your FP process, after you level sand, and put a few more coats on, do you do any extra polishing or buffing? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
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| Author: | Imbler [ Wed Mar 09, 2016 10:03 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Finished 4th Classical |
Mike Collins wrote: Beautiful ! How's she sound? Mike Thanks Mike! It is the 4th Hauser style I've built and they share a distinctive sound, but I do believe the lighter bridge with shorter wings makes it a little better guitar. I like it, in particular, to my ears, the treble is sweet sounding and strong up the higher frets, Mike |
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| Author: | Imbler [ Wed Mar 09, 2016 10:09 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Finished 4th Classical |
ClintB wrote: About your FP process, after you level sand, and put a few more coats on, do you do any extra polishing or buffing Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Yes, I do a final buff (by hand) using micro mesh 12000 as it seems to even the shine. It is subtle, but I think it does. 6 months down the road, it probably doesn't matter at all, but after all the work of finishing a guitar, it is nice to get it as perfect as you can! Mike |
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| Author: | Jim Watts [ Thu Mar 10, 2016 1:13 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Finished 4th Classical |
very nice job! |
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| Author: | DannyV [ Thu Mar 10, 2016 11:56 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Finished 4th Classical |
Nice! Looks begged to be played. |
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| Author: | Shaw [ Thu Mar 10, 2016 5:19 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Finished 4th Classical |
Looks amazing. Really like the inlays on the wedge. Sent from my HTC Desire 626s using Tapatalk |
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