Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

This one started out as a bit of a problem.
The top is a set of Englemann from Graham Hein.
It came as part of a shipment of top grade sets and rung superbly, but had these obvious red 'racing stripes' running through it.
What to do?

Chucked it aside until cleaning up one day and found a piece of Tassie Myrtle sitting on top of it.
Aha!

Added some modest amounts of Tassie Blackwood hoping both the island timbers would create a nice synergy.
(The mytle in the rosette actually really sets off the blackwood in the sandwich!)
Threw on some Gidgee & African Mahogony, don't forget Jim's old ashtray inlay and a bit of elbow grease (Ubueat Hard Shellac)

And so I present the runt of the litter, all grown up and ready to sing.

Just 3 little recordings to give you an idea of the sound (and see if I could do it!)

I used an Edirol placed about 2 feet away

First one is just strumming a few open chords with a pick
Next one with fingers only
Finally, just running around a scale (with a pick)
Can't really say how the real sound translated, but, well, there you go anyway...

I love racing stripes and wood that looks like wood. The colors go well together.

How did you apply the hard shellac? In image 5 the finish appears to have been sprayed.

Allen wrote:I love racing stripes and wood that looks like wood.

+1 on this statement.
There's nothing wrong with racing stripes (but probably with some spoiled guitar players).

And again those understating bindings that pronounce so well the wood of the sides. I really like that detail.

Lovely work again Craig.

I don't think Myrtle has been used as much as it deserves, particularly plain or lightly figured like this instrument.
I have some that rings like rosewood when tapped which is totally different from the sound you'll get from Tiger Myrtle (wet cardboard)

Regards

I love stripped tops as well. It looks great!
You've been busy.

Allen, the Hard Shellac was put on by french polish method (over epoxy pore fill).
Have a look towards the end of this thread & you'll see some close up pics of the finish I was achieving.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=3013

I agree Bob, whenever Tassie Myrtle is mentioned it seems to only be in reference to Tiger Myrtle.
The plainer stuff is a wonderfull tonewood & I'll be turning out a few more Tassie Myrtle instruments in the future.

Wish I was busy building Lillian - built 2 instruments side by side this time & it still took 9 months gestation!

Here's some shots of the internals (btw-same design for the blackwood OM)