Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi everyone. I'm in the midst of finishing up a Barbero flamenco and a Romanillos classical, and have thought that it has been maybe 6 years since I've built a steel string, and I should do it again before I forget how (or to teach myself that I already have). I've gotten very attached to smaller body guitars - the Romanillos is probably about as small a post-Torres classical guitar as you are likely to find - and I'd like to pursue that in a steel string. I have a Larrivee parlor that I could copy but I'd rather do something with a full sized scale length. I've thought of a Gibson L-0. I don't know much about the smaller old Martins.
Any suggestions?

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

It would be hard to go wrong with that!

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Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/

Depends how small you want to go, but...

You can get a really full sound from a double 00 sized guitar; smaller and you begin to loose some of the bass. So without new moulds etc. (if you build with moulds) how about a classical body shape (which is much the same size as a 00) with a falcate braced steel string top, live back, heavy sides, etc., etc.? Here's one like that. Some more ideas on this page.

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Trevor Gore, Luthier. Australian hand made acoustic guitars, classical guitars; custom guitar design and build; guitar design instruction.

http://www.goreguitars.com.au

Thanks everyone. Are there any good size 0 plans floating around?

Trevor, I had thought about using the Romanillos plantilla - it's tight waist makes it look a little more like a steel string anyway. I use a solera with a sectional mold (in halves) bolted on, so I'd have to jig up again anyway - I don't see a way around doing that. All my present outside molds are for 000's or a slightly smaller than Martin dred-like thing.

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

0-28VS Guitar Plans

http://ultimate-guitar-plans.com/tag/0- ... tar-plans/

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Thank You and Best To All

I certainly will if I decide to go that way. Thanks. I'm going to look at 0 and 00 dimensions relative to guitars I'm already building. Even if I have to build an outside mold, I will still have forms for laminating linings, etc. I like the idea of following Trevor's suggesting and voyaging off in to what, for me, would be the at-present unknown. (I have no great attachment to the idea of faithfully reproducing a dovetail joint, and would prefer to learn the bolt on heel and fingerboard approach anyway.)

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

Jim- I've built mostly classicals & recently have built a couple 12-fret 00's. They are fun to build & play. And, as others have said, the size is a good match to classicals, so they feel "right" to me.

Yeah, but so far I don't wanna. I like working with the Spanish heel. Of course, I could build the steel strings that way too and let someone else worry about it

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

A 13 fret neck on a classical body works well for me.

One of my favorite small bodied guitars is the Martin size 1. I have built a few with the 25.4 scale and they have turned out pretty nice. I may even have a simple bending form and outside mold you can borrow. I'm working in Wilmington, De. and pass through Newark most days.

Now there's a possibility. I hesitate to borrow anything for actual use, as my time to finish projects can be quite long (that real work just gets in the way). But it would be great to have the opportunity to trace your form or template.

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

Well, this is moving along. Don Williams very graciously sent me an autocad drawing, and we both agreed that it would be a great idea to try out some of the cocobola that he sold me 5 years ago (amazing how time flies by). Then, today Clay Schaefer dropped by, traded stories for a bit, and lent me his Size 1 outside mold and bending form. Thanks guys - I'm inspired now.

Let's see, what ongoing project do I procrastinate on first so I can start this one? Hmmm..... I guess it shouldn't be the classical that already has a waiting customer. Think I'll get that one done first.

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu