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Jim Watts
PostPosted: Sun Jun 09, 2013 9:09 pm 
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I just got strings on this beast this weekend and thought I'd add it to the plethora of postings recently finished guitars, which have been beautiful BTW.
Specs:
Elevated fingerboard
650 mm scale
Malaysian Blackwood B&S
Lutz top
Spanish Cedar neck
Slone tuners (with the bearing)
Spalted maple rosette
Finish- French polish
The photo of the back washed out the back ground due to ignorance in lighting!
Attachment:
malaysian blackwood front small.jpg

Attachment:
malaysian blackwood rosette small.jpg

Attachment:
malaysian blackwood headstock small.jpg

Attachment:
malaysian blackwood back small.jpg


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Jim Watts
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theguitarwhisperer
PostPosted: Sun Jun 09, 2013 9:12 pm 
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Great job! I love the top and that rosette.

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Ken C
PostPosted: Sun Jun 09, 2013 9:19 pm 
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Nice Jim! How does the blackwood sound? I have a few sets in my wood stash, but I have never built with it.

Ken

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Jim Watts
PostPosted: Sun Jun 09, 2013 9:35 pm 
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Ken, I've done a few guitars with it and would say it sounds like a dense rosewood. You won't be disappointed!

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senunkan
PostPosted: Sun Jun 09, 2013 9:46 pm 
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Really beautiful guitar. [:Y:]
I am also interested in how MBW will sound in a classical since it's damping is higher than rosewood.
I have one piece of MBW and it sound a bit dead when tapped.
Any video of sound clips to share?

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Jim Watts
PostPosted: Sun Jun 09, 2013 10:41 pm 
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Sen, unfortunately no sound clips.
The Malaysian Blackwood I've had has had a bright, clear tap with good sustain. It is a little heavy though, I would say it compares favorably to a dense rosewood.

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senunkan
PostPosted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 1:24 am 
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Thanks for the description, Jim :)
Is the bracing of this guitar based on the Byer's style lattice that you have shared sometime ago?
Seems like your MBW sets are well picked; mine sounds a little dead thuddy when compared to my RW collection.

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Ken Franklin
PostPosted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 2:35 am 
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Beautiful work as always, Jim. Thanks for the info on MBW for classical back and sides. How much did you thin it?

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Ken Franklin
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Colin North
PostPosted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 4:48 am 
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Beautiful, Meticulous work.

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Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.
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Jim Watts
PostPosted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 12:03 am 
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senunkan wrote:
...Is the bracing of this guitar based on the Byer's style lattice that you have shared sometime ago?....

Sen - Yes it's based on the Byers pattern.
Here's picture of it in work.
Attachment:
bracing small.jpg


Ken Franklin wrote:
Beautiful work as always, Jim. Thanks for the info on MBW for classical back and sides. How much did you thin it?

Ken - The back ended up somewhere between .080 and .085 and I bent the sides at .085, which is my usual number.

I'm not sure I'd consider it a "live back" instrument as defined by the recent trend following Trevor Gores terminology, but the back does participate as is evident if you hold something against it.
I'd kinda like to play with the back a little, except I really like the way it's sounding but sometimes curiosity can get the best of me! I'm holding out!


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GRD
PostPosted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 10:18 am 
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Quote:
Great job! I love the top and that rosette.
+1 [:Y:]
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WaddyThomson
PostPosted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 3:13 pm 
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Beautiful work, there, Jim!

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mkellyvrod
PostPosted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 3:25 pm 
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Like the choice of woods. It is a very clean and well executed design. I particularly like the headstock.
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