Search found 284 matches

by christian
Fri May 06, 2016 5:11 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Ken Parker Guitars
Replies: 50
Views: 46439

Re: Ken Parker Guitars

Interestingly enough my friend is bringing his guitar and Ken over to meet me tomorrow! So if there is something particular that you want to know flick
me through some questions.

Christian.
by christian
Fri Oct 30, 2015 1:52 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: BRW Classical
Replies: 21
Views: 23546

Re: BRW Classical

looks like a cracker to me! beautifully executed.I bet it sounds great too.
Someone is clearly jealous Martin, you don't need to explain anything to anyone.
It's your personal aesthetic and design! And if you love it and it works, keep doing it.

Cheers,
Christian.
by christian
Mon Oct 19, 2015 7:56 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Paulownia Soundboard
Replies: 64
Views: 65462

Re: Paulownia Soundboard

I have done many comparisons with my very best WRC, Alaskan doug fir, Kauri and Kahikatea and tonally it stacks up well, probably closer to kauri than anything else. In my opinion the big thing that would hold it back from being a big commercial wood in terms of instruments, is how it looks. It kind...
by christian
Wed Sep 16, 2015 9:24 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Paulownia Soundboard
Replies: 64
Views: 65462

Re: Paulownia Soundboard

Yip Nick,miguel it's rimu peak flag!! I thought well every other tom dick and harry is designing one so why not! haha , now I just have to come up with some BS symbolism to attach to it, get 50,000 people behind it and you never know! @ nick,It's a surfboards smaller cousin a handplane, used in body...
by christian
Tue Sep 15, 2015 12:20 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Paulownia Soundboard
Replies: 64
Views: 65462

Re: Paulownia Soundboard

I just can't seem to get this bloody guitar finished!!! to many distractions!!

Christian.
by christian
Sat Aug 08, 2015 7:14 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Paulownia Soundboard
Replies: 64
Views: 65462

Re: Paulownia Soundboard

Cheers Nick, happy to be on the dark side, what do they say... a change is as good as a holiday! I gotta say I'm a massive convert to upperbout soundholes finding so much more scope in aesthetic, bracing and tone.

Cheers,
Christian.
by christian
Thu Aug 06, 2015 11:48 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Paulownia Soundboard
Replies: 64
Views: 65462

Re: Paulownia Soundboard

Fast forward a couple of weeks, and its really taking shape now. I've kinda gone off shell inlays particularly Paua, so opted for a wood inlay
instead.
Christian.
by christian
Thu Aug 06, 2015 11:41 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Can I bring NZ timbers back to Oz?
Replies: 13
Views: 12871

Re: Can I bring NZ timbers back to Oz?

Hi all, I'm in NZ for a couple weeks and I'm wondering if I can bring timbers back to Australia. Anyone know the rules? Also, and most importantly, where can I get some? :) Cheers, Wayde. Hi Wade, You shouldn't have any problems bringing in the timbers, make sure they are machined, waxed ends etc p...
by christian
Thu Jul 23, 2015 3:30 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Paulownia Soundboard
Replies: 64
Views: 65462

Re: Paulownia Soundboard

And a good guess too Aaron! Sorry to disappoint chaps, no smoke and mirrors this time. I add the linings afterwards because it's just much easier that way. The top weighed in at 184g with all the WRC bracing, I must say it feels very much alive. Hopefully it doesn't implode upon stringing up! Cheers...
by christian
Wed Jul 22, 2015 5:12 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Paulownia Soundboard
Replies: 64
Views: 65462

Re: Paulownia Soundboard

Finally got this Paulownia guitar under way.
After final thickness sanding the top came in at 3mm it's as light as a feather at 108grams.
I've glued up the back and sides, just have to brace up the top and add some lining.

Cheers,

Christian.
by christian
Wed Jul 08, 2015 1:50 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Aussie/NZ tonewood equivalents
Replies: 6
Views: 7842

Re: Aussie/NZ tonewood equivalents

Hey Nick, I forgot all about the NZ section! I must get around to updating it. Tim The closest wood I have come across to Adirondack in NZ is a wood called Kahikatea although not botanically a spruce it shares the same look and properties. The density is between 400-450 kg/m3 and has a modulus of el...
by christian
Mon May 11, 2015 4:00 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Getting tone woods in NZ
Replies: 19
Views: 25277

Re: Getting tone woods in NZ

Hi Ben, All the best with the move back home, it will be good to have another kiwi guitarmaker on here. It's all pretty much been covered by the good chaps above. Importing wood or anything for that matter is just getting ridiculously expensive. But if you can't buy thing thing you need here, (which...
by christian
Sat May 09, 2015 12:08 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Paulownia Soundboard
Replies: 64
Views: 65462

Re: Paulownia Soundboard

Man! that board is awesome , especially love seeing the guts of it. I may have to venture down that path and make a longboard for Summer. I made, of all things a table tennis blade this week, I thought since I had some Paulownia lying around..... Typically you want a light strong and stable wood, we...
by christian
Tue Apr 28, 2015 3:00 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Paulownia Soundboard
Replies: 64
Views: 65462

Re: Paulownia Soundboard

Great to see you have built with paulownia Jeffery! I'm sure it is well suited for a classical. I pretty much use only natives which are unique on their own but this wood is just to intriguing not to try it out. It's just so much lighter than anything I've tried before! Granted it isn't the most bea...
by christian
Sat Apr 25, 2015 3:21 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Paulownia Soundboard
Replies: 64
Views: 65462

Re: Paulownia Soundboard

I machined up a couple of sets and stuck them in my dry room over night. at 4mm thick this set is 185grams. I compared it against some WRC and it definetely isn't as stiff. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing, it taps like a gong! The spring wood lines are really stiff it's almost like a built in...
by christian
Fri Apr 24, 2015 3:40 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Paulownia Soundboard
Replies: 64
Views: 65462

Paulownia Soundboard

Hi, I've been lurking around for last little while, just haven't had much to say lately! I do have a query though which I think was topical a few years back. Has anyone out there used Paulownia for a guitar soundboard? I ask as I was given a nice quartered piece that will yield a few tops and I'm ke...
by christian
Mon Mar 17, 2014 5:58 am
Forum: Anything Goes
Topic: Happy Birthday Christian
Replies: 3
Views: 5569

Re: Happy Birthday Christian

Thanks guys!! The cyclone was a complete fizzer!! I think the weather forecasters talked it up to much, but I guess they have to play it safe these days especially if poor old Chch is in the firing line. I didn't see any real damage in Kerikeri just the odd fallen branch, we didn't get much rain at ...
by christian
Fri Feb 21, 2014 5:39 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Guitar disasters forum? Build tragedies maybe?
Replies: 26
Views: 21698

Re: Guitar disasters forum? Build tragedies maybe?

haha so many mistakes so few guitars in which to make them.....
by christian
Thu Feb 20, 2014 11:03 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Guitar disasters forum? Build tragedies maybe?
Replies: 26
Views: 21698

Re: Guitar disasters forum? Build tragedies maybe?

I definitely make my share of mistakes thankfully I seemed to have eliminated the big ones with jigs designed to avoid them. But when I do make a mistake it's usually router related. I don't know about anyone else, but try to forget the past by making the mistake into a pile of kindling, I believe t...
by christian
Wed Jan 15, 2014 6:37 am
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Parlor / falcate
Replies: 15
Views: 14661

Re: Parlor / falcate

I don't know what there is to be shy about! this is an exceptional piece of luthiery.
Just classy all the way,would love to hear how it sounds!
Do you mind telling me what and where you got those tuners from? I've been looking for a decent gold set for my own parlor project.

cheers,

Christian.
by christian
Sat Dec 07, 2013 9:34 am
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: a brw red sspruce dred
Replies: 6
Views: 7619

Re: a brw red sspruce dred

Well you have the holy grail wood combo, so combined with your talents, it looks and I'm sure it sounds wonderful too.
thanks for sharing.

Christian.
by christian
Sat Dec 07, 2013 9:32 am
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: WRC GA
Replies: 10
Views: 10619

Re: WRC GA

Awesome guitar Jeremy hard to believe its only your second!
really clean and elegant. You gotta put up a dark sheet or something and capture this beauty properly!!
look forward to the next!

Cheers,

Christian
by christian
Sat Dec 07, 2013 9:28 am
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Ziricote and WRC Parlour
Replies: 29
Views: 27757

Re: Ziricote and WRC Parlour

Hey Paul,

What a fit and finish!! magnificient work mate!!! that Ziricote is something else!!!
I bet the new owner can't put it down!!!
thanks for posting,

Christian.
by christian
Sat Dec 07, 2013 9:24 am
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Swamp kauri OM
Replies: 13
Views: 16803

Re: Swamp kauri OM

That's a great looking guitar Eric, Sad to hear you are leaving us...you just have to pay the fine and we will let you go hahaha
I bet the guitar has epic sustain!! great to see the NZ natives and I like your first sunrise and southern cross theme.

All the best!

Christian.
by christian
Sat Nov 23, 2013 7:08 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: CUATRO.
Replies: 18
Views: 17610

Re: CUATRO.

Thanks for the kind words Bruce!!

Cheers for the heads up on the Aquila reds Allen.
That is a huge move in intonation!! I just built a tenor and used them but didn't notice anything like that!!! I must check in with the owner.
They certainly sound great and have amazing feel!!

Cheers,

Christian