Official Luthiers Forum!

These have been a long time coming. I started two of these last year-well, fall 208-intending them to be Christmas gifts for my daughters. I didn't quite get them done in time, but I resolved to have them done for this year.

I may have gotten a few too many distractions along they way, a bright red Telecaster, a Double cut classical, and a Panormo copy, and a third SE117 for myself.

These are Torres SE117 "copies", as in not exact but in the spirit of. The SE117 uses a small plantilla that Torres used from time to time throughout his career, and a 604mm scale. I was VERY anxious to hear what these would sound like. I am impressed! They do not sound small at all. In fact it is a surprisingly big and full sound. They are a real treat to play, especially with the short scale length.

Mine is White Cedar on Bird's Eye Maple, the other two are WRC on Green Ash bodies.

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

A few more details: rosettes, backs...

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

Some more...

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

Absolutely beautiful guitars Douglas!!! WOW!!!

More details, and of course, the compulsory interior shot.

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

I'm with Hesh, Wow!
So, did you give them to the girls this year?

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Those are marvelous!

Both my sons learned to play a guitar I built from that plan.

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Ken

I absolutely love the shape of those instruments. They just look wonderful. What a fantastic gift to give someone!!!

Very nicely done!!!! Thats pure artistry!

hello there and happy new year
gotta say beautiful guitars ,love the flower detail on the back
that is the most tastefull headplate ive ever seen

it looks like walnut to me but i just wanted to make sure
thanks
tomas

Thanks Everyone!

I hope that I address all the questions...

YES! The girls did receive the guitars this year for Christmas.

I hope that they actually learn to play. They both have quite a few years of music under their belts. The older one, at 14, is currently in her 5th year of voice study after several years of Music For Young Children(in my opinion one of the best programs for kids). The younger one, at 11, also has several years of MYC, as well as a year and a half of violin, a year of viola, a year of voice, and now just school band-saxophone. So, they both have a lot of music background. I'm hoping that the guitar will provide a good foundation instrument for their singing, plus its portable!

They both have had so much formal instruction that I'm hoping to keep the guitar more informal so that its fun and not work.

The headstock on the Selmer style heads is burled walnut.

Here's a size comparison, against my full size Torres, and the Panormo (recently completed)

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

WOW!!! You have just provided inspiration for the New Year. I can't say enough how gorgeous those are and I love the detail work and the dragon rosette. Very nice work. The girls are very lucky. Wendy

Beautiful little guitars Doug, you know anything Torres does it for me, but I particularly like your one with the pegs. What strings are you using? Have you thought of using gut?

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Thanks Wendy & Colin,

Colin, give me a chance! They've only been strung up for a week, EJ45's. I've been putting EJ45's on as I restring, its a nice neutral string and it gives me a chance to compare guitars not strings. I'd like to try gut one day, but I've other concerns right now.

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