Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

As usual, when I get to posting my build, there is a flood of beautiful instruments to make me look ordinary


This has taken 4 months of actual build duration. The neck rough-out actually started a year or so ago and then sat on a shelf until Oct.

An interesting exercise for a tone-deaf non-musician, but the culmination of something which caught my imagination some years ago, when my son first started playing. Handling his dready, I became obsessed with trying to do something similar.

Details of the build are:

Soundboard Engellman spruce. (thanks Sebastiaan)
Back and sides Q/S Silky Oak (Cardwellia)
Neck Figured Queensland Maple
Headplate veneers New Guinea Rosewood/Jacaranda/Imbuia
Bindings and backstripe Imbuia
Finish Blond Shellac French Polish
Fretboard Solomon Queen Ebony
Bridge New Guinea Rosewood
Nut and Saddle Bone
Tuners Rubner 110 Ebony buttons
Strings D'Addario EJ45 Normal Tension

The build has followed Cumpiano's book and methods closely, but sticking to the very lower limits of his specs on thickness and bracing.

The errors and st#ff ups have been all mine.
There have been a number of "moments" during the build, but I am reasonably happy with the technical aspects, and the finish. (about as happy as my anal nature permits anyway )

Regarding the musical standard, I'm more challenged, and have to rely on input from my musical family. So far they have been positive, so I hope I can believe them

"The errors and st#ff ups have been all mine"

I can't see any errors, must have used some good luthier magic

very impressive and great selection of tonewoods.

I'm looking at some really great details on that instrument Alistair. The back of the headstock definition and transition into the first position on the neck is very well done. The shape of the heel is elegant, and what I'd expect to see on a well made Classical guitar.

Alastair, well done!

Love the back wood and the headstock veneers. Also the heel is very elegant, I like that.
I bet it sounds good too.

Cheers
Richard

Nice work Alistar.

I've been watching your build over on the Woodworkers forum.

Thanks for sharing.

Cheers

Alan

Nice work Alastair....the FP finish looks great.

Beautiful work Alastair. I can't understand why you even think of spelling the word "ordinary" when talking about this guitar . At least to me, "ordinary" means a design that minimises potential mistakes.
The finish looks simply great: very even but not too glossy. Beautiful woods. Neat joints. Smooth outlines. Elegant design.

Cheers,

Well Done Alistair, Its a beautiful looking instrument. I really like the Silky Oak. Beautiful rays on the back, it must be very close to the quarter to look that good.

John

Many thanks for the kind comments guys.

While I'm not set up for recording with any expertise, I'm looking at adapting my son's mike to my laptop, and get him to record a .wav to post.

Ordinary? Ha! Very pretty guitar!

How was it, carving the figured Qld Maple? Did it want to tear out?

Dennis

Thanks Dennis,

There was some tendency, but luckily the figure itself was the best indicator......... just made sure I carved and scraped accordingly.

Fortunately most of the tearout occured on the headplate during machining, and conveniently disappeared under the veneers and tuner plates, leaving one divot, which was filled with CA.

I like that, very nice. Though classicals aren't my bag usually.

I like the body shape. Did you draw that yourself following C&N? If so it has a nice balance and proportion, definitely a keeper.

I like the choice of woods too, they all work well together, from a colour standpoint.

I can't see any stuff-ups from where I'm sitting.

Cheers,

Paul

Hi Paul, and thanks.

The body shape is a bit of a fusion (read cheat).

I used the bout dimensions out of C&N but traced the transitions off my wifes 40YO Yamaha.