I don't think I have ever shown a new build here but I thought you guys would get a kick out of this.
I live in Alexandria MN and until the mid 80's the Bellanca Aircraft company built the Super Viking here. They still maintain a service and repair facility. the Super Viking was a single engine retractable that was a real hotrod and considered a Cadillac in it's class. It was completely hand made. The Fuselage was welded tubing covered with fabric and the wings were made of Sitka spruce with a thin wood/fabric laminate.
I couple of years ago a guy gave me some old Sitka billets from the wing works that had been outdoors in a shed for years. They were pretty close to quartered and after sitting in my shop a couple of years I decided to make an archtop with one of them. It is a 15" with a solid Mahogany back and laminated Mahogany sides. the inlay at the 12th fret is the Bellanca logo.
It is really nice to play because of it's size and has a very warm acoustic sound. Probably a combination of the Mahogany, old Sitka, and a low arch.
Here's a link to a short sound clip plugged in. SM57 on a 15W tube amp with no effects. I recorded the changes and then played some single string stuff over them.
https://soundcloud.com/terken-1/bellanca-miss-jones
Thanks for looking/listening
Terry
