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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

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

That is a pretty sound.
A classic aeroplane to a classic sound, it looks fine too.

I have been offered some aircraft Sitka but felt that it was an inappropriate use but after years in the air, it seems an appropriate retirement.

Bob

That's awesome.

Love it! I miss airplanes. When I was a kid I worked at a small airport in Danbury Connecticut and took flying lessons. My brother went on to become a pilot but it was not in the cards for me but I've been thinking about it a lot over the last couple of years.

Beautiful plane that is and a beautiful guitar to boot.

Nice, Terence and lovely. Well done!

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George :-)

Cool!

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Pat

A real beauty Terry - very well done!

Thanks all.

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

Very nice! It's always cool to hear the story behind a particular guitar.


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I love a good back story and like the rest, you're archtops are beauties Terry.
I don't know the plane but I did quite a few skydives at Alex. Had too much fun there in one of my other lives.
Cheers

Very nice, good sound and a nice story to boot!

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

A beautiful instrument both sound and looks, congrats!


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Ken

The Super Vikings were always my favorite of the general aviation-class airplanes. Thanks for reminding me of them.

That's a beautiful guitar, too.

They were truly hand made. If you visited the factory there was one room full of women with sewing machines sewing the fabric onto the control surfaces.

At the time the factory was active Alexandria only had a population of around 7000 and most of the employees were rural types with a high work ethic and a pride in doing things right.
I think that had a lot to do with the quality and reputation of the aircraft.

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

Beautiful guitar and a nice sound to boot!

Once owned a Bellanca "Champion" for a few years.