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jfmckenna's Broke Oak Parlor Build - DONE!
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Author:  Jaybird840 [ Wed Nov 21, 2012 9:31 am ]
Post subject:  Re: jfmckenna's Broke Oak Parlor Build

Fantastic work there, sir!

Author:  Rodger Knox [ Wed Nov 21, 2012 6:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: jfmckenna's Broke Oak Parlor Build

Very nicely done! [:Y:]
I guess I better start saving up for a chisel, my chances aren't looking good. duh

Author:  jfmckenna [ Tue Dec 11, 2012 8:42 am ]
Post subject:  Re: jfmckenna's Broke Oak Parlor Build

Alrighty then. I've got three videos of the guitar. I shot these with a Canon Powershot sx260 hs. It's just a little point and shoot camera but I was happy with how the mic picked up. Once uploaded to YouTube it's compression changed the sound slightly but it's still good enough I think to demonstrate the nuance of the guitar.

So this first one was shot about 4-5 days after the guitar was first 'born'. It is set up with silk and steel strings. The guitar tone really matured in the first few days.



This second one is set up with D'Addario EXP strings in size 10. As I describe in the video I am trying to demonstrate the guitars sustain and overtones with a drop D tuning.



Finally this last video is of my friend Greg Albert who I think is one of the finest guitar players this side of the Mississippi. Here he pushes the guitar to the edge with some blues, jazz and a bit of rock and roll.



Thanks again all for watching it's been a lot of fun and I really like the little guitar that came out of the whole thing.

Author:  Bryan Bear [ Tue Dec 11, 2012 9:21 am ]
Post subject:  Re: jfmckenna's Broke Oak Parlor Build

I'm blown away. I may never make a big guitar again, I've heard some nice sounding parlor a around here lately!

Author:  PeterF [ Tue Dec 11, 2012 12:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: jfmckenna's Broke Oak Parlor Build

Wow. That is one nice little guitar! [:Y:]

Author:  Rodger Knox [ Tue Dec 11, 2012 12:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: jfmckenna's Broke Oak Parlor Build

That sounds great!
The videos didn't improve my chances any... laughing6-hehe

Author:  Jaybird840 [ Tue Dec 11, 2012 12:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: jfmckenna's Broke Oak Parlor Build

Dude, you have seriously raised the bar. That guitar sounds killer! I can only hope mine sounds that good....

Author:  SteveSmith [ Tue Dec 11, 2012 2:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: jfmckenna's Broke Oak Parlor Build

Who woulda thought a barn could sound so good!

Author:  WudWerkr [ Tue Dec 11, 2012 5:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: jfmckenna's Broke Oak Parlor Build

That has an amazing sound for a Small Oak Guitar ! Impressive [clap] [:Y:]

Author:  Alex Kleon [ Tue Dec 11, 2012 6:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: jfmckenna's Broke Oak Parlor Build

Sweet sounding guitar! Voting should be pretty interesting for this challenge! [:Y:]

Alex

Author:  cphanna [ Tue Dec 11, 2012 8:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: jfmckenna's Broke Oak Parlor Build

I liked its voice VERY much in all three videos. Amazingly present and powerful. And I think expressive, too.
Way to go!

Author:  Beth Mayer [ Tue Dec 11, 2012 11:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: jfmckenna's Broke Oak Parlor Build

Amazing voice, and a beauty to boot! What's the angle on that headstock? You did an incredible job. Congratulations.

Author:  jfmckenna [ Thu Dec 13, 2012 8:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: jfmckenna's Broke Oak Parlor Build

Thank you all for your kind comments.

I have to say building this little guitar is going to make me step back and think about all the design philosophies I have developed over the years. I'm quite sure that any experienced luthier would not have used the top that is on this guitar. I almost tossed it myself but wanted to stick with the back yard theme and I figured if it was awful I could just re-top it at some point. As you can see from the pics on the first page it was in very rough shape to start and once milled into the 3 piece top it was only .85in thick and very very floppy and sounded like cardboard when you tap it. So to sort of accommodate for the weak top I braced it a bit stronger. I kind of wish I used two lower bout tone bars now instead of just one because I can actually see some pull on the top there.

Also I would never have considered using oak for body and neck wood, heck for a fret board and bridge either. But it not only looks good but it certainly doesn't hurt tone either. I can see oak wood guitars in the future for sure.

As SteveSmith said "Who woulda thought a barn could sound so good!" :D

Beth, I'll have to take a look at my plans. I used a plan for a C Bruno guitar and I don't recall the peg head angle being anything unusual. I don't really remember if I stuck to the exact angle of the plans but for steel string guitars I usually go for about 15deg angle.

Author:  Tony_in_NYC [ Fri Dec 28, 2012 9:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: jfmckenna's Broke Oak Parlor Build

Excellent. Very nice job. I really like the oak. Sounds great too!

Author:  johnparchem [ Tue Jan 01, 2013 11:21 am ]
Post subject:  Re: jfmckenna's Broke Oak Parlor Build

Where can I get some of that barn wood, it is not listed on the tonewood sites? Great looking and sounding guitar.

Author:  jfmckenna [ Tue Jan 01, 2013 3:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: jfmckenna's Broke Oak Parlor Build

johnparchem this wood came from an old barn in my back yard. The barn was built circa 1920 and has since crumbled down but it's built of old oak and pine planks. It took me forever to find a piece of pine suitable for the top, quarter sawn and thick enough to resaw. I doubt there is another one like it in the pile of rubble. There is however lots of oak that I believe is suitable for backs and sides. I just need to dedicate another weekend of harvesting and resawing to get some sets.

Todd, indeed I think I can hear in all of the instruments in these threads that they will mature in time. Mine matured quite a bit in just a few days of being strung up. All my guitars do but this one went real fast. It still has that tightness in tone that is hard to describe. In another year they all would have settled in to their happy place.

It's always hard to tell when you keep a guitar for yourself how it ages but I love it when a customer brings a guitar back after it's a year or two old. You can hear how they just open up and take on their own unique voice.

I also took this little parlor guitar and set it up on a stand near my Fender Twin when I practiced with the band to help open her up :D

Author:  Pmaj7 [ Thu Jan 03, 2013 2:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: jfmckenna's Broke Oak Parlor Build - DONE!

Groovy!

Author:  Clinchriver [ Sun Jan 06, 2013 11:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: jfmckenna's Broke Oak Parlor Build - DONE!

Wow thats a great sounding guitar. I just finished up my first, I also used White Oak for the back and sides, persimmon for the fretboard and bridge.

Author:  jfmckenna [ Sun Jan 06, 2013 7:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: jfmckenna's Broke Oak Parlor Build - DONE!

Clinchriver wrote:
Wow thats a great sounding guitar. I just finished up my first, I also used White Oak for the back and sides, persimmon for the fretboard and bridge.


If you posted pics on the main forum let me know the link. If not then do it, would love to see pics.

Author:  Bryan Bear [ Sun Feb 16, 2014 11:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: jfmckenna's Broke Oak Parlor Build - DONE!

Do you mind sharing some of the dimensions of this guitar?

Author:  Beth Mayer [ Mon Feb 17, 2014 9:56 am ]
Post subject:  Re: jfmckenna's Broke Oak Parlor Build - DONE!

Bryan Bear wrote:
Do you mind sharing some of the dimensions of this guitar?


I would love that too, if it's not proprietary.

Author:  johnparchem [ Mon Feb 17, 2014 12:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: jfmckenna's Broke Oak Parlor Build - DONE!

Very cool, I read through the whole post, what a project. Nicely dine.

Author:  viento [ Wed May 06, 2020 8:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: jfmckenna's Broke Oak Parlor Build - DONE!

Excellent little guitar, congratulations! [:Y:]
I´ll have to look for old barn doors and other "rotten" wood... :mrgreen:

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