Official Luthiers Forum!

First off, let me apologize for a duplicate post, I accidentally posted this yesterday in the off topics forum and it was pointed out to me I should move it over here. So to all who've already seen this, my apologies.
Ok, now that's out of the way, some specs:
Back and sides: Madagascar Rosewood
Top: Carpathian Spruce
Rosette: splatted maple
Peg Head inlay by Larry Robinson
K&K pick up
The sound is full and balanced and a good level of complexity. I'm really liking it.



Under the hood
While you can't really tell from this view the bass arm of the X is actually open and the fan passes underneath it.
This pattern is based off of a Jeff Elliott pattern.

And for those of us who are interested in spectra plots.

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

(from the thread in the off topics section)
Dennis, that particular top is .108

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

That's a sharp looking guitar. Could you comment on the combination of x-bracing with fan bracing and the scalloped and non-scalloped x-brace legs? Is this your standard bracing pattern?

Is splatted maple what Jackson Pollock would have used had he built guitars? (sorry, I couldn't resist)

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Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right - Robert Hunter

Nice looking guitar. I love the woods you are using; the back is spectacular.

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http://www.Harvestmoonguitars.com

Nice looking guitar.
Looks to be ready for a sound port. Did you put one in later? Or you trying to beef up the upper bout?

Tim

Beautiful!

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Max Bishop
Brighton, Michigan

Looking good Jim. That's quite an elaborate bracing system. Is it similar to other guitars you're making now and how does the sound compare? Was the K&K installation tweaked because of the middle fan brace or did you use the classical guitar pick up with 4 transducers? Beautiful work!

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Ken Franklin
clumsy yet persistent
https://www.kenfranklinukulele.com

Thanks everyone.
Jay - I’d be hesitant to claim this bracing scheme is some magical design for me. I’m always an experimenter and just can’t seem to stop myself! I want to know what the different patterns do. That said I’ve used this design on and off the last 5-6 years have gotten good results with it. I’ve built about every pattern known! Truth is you can make a great guitar with any of them. The differences are subtle.
The one thing I think scalloping one arm and not the other is it accentuates the asymmetry of the braced top. Theoretically allowing the T2,1 mode to participate in some output, In a purely symmetrical top this mode cancels itself out. It also seems to add some complexity to the sound, at least over a symmetrical lattice type of design.

Ken - I used the 4 transducer K&K classical system on this after consulting K&K. It’s similar to some of my other guitars but I’ve started adding that little brace crossing the fans. It’s only about .05 tall but seems to help with the responsiveness of the top. Determined just by feeling the top while tapping.

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

Pretty axe...

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

Beautiful, Jim!!!

Wow! So much going on there Jim. Nice work. Your upper bout looks like it's built to last.

Cheers