Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

Well, I got the second Petite Jumbo completed and managed to get a few pictures done before the storm set in this afternoon. This guitar was built at the same time as an identical guitar with an Australian Red Cedar top as an experiment to determine differences in tone and response form Australian Cedar to a more common and known tone wood.

My initial impressions of comparison of the two guitars is that the Engleman top produces a brighter tone, the Aust. Cedar is mellow and smooth. Like a good Scotch. The Engelman has a really strong bottom end, but it could be just the impression that the brighter overtones are giving. I think that each one has it's place, and the Australian Cedar guitar was the favorite of all my guitars by a Jazz player. I think it was the mellow tone that he preferred.

Back and Sides - Qld. Walnut
Top - Engelman Spruce
Bracing - Engelman Spruce
Binding - Curly Tassy Oak
Neck - Qld. Walnut
Fret Board - Lace Sheoak
Bridge - Sheoak
Headstock Veneers - Eucalyptus Burl
Rosette - Spalted Avocado
Tuners - Gotoh 510's

Guitar total weight - 1780 gm.
Top - 199 gm, the same as the Aust. Red Cedar top

I toned down the stark white of the Engelman Spruce with some amber shellac to bring the color more in line with the other tones of the trim. The finish is my standard of WEST Systems Epoxy pore filler and 2 sessions of 5 coats 50/50 Mirotone Lacquer each time, then rubbed back to P1500 and buffed with a foam pad and soft rag.

Allen

You keep raising the bar mate.

This is one classy looking instrument.

Bob

AGAIN ! ...... SUPERB !

A beautiful instrument Allen . The bindings are striking ( mental note on curly Tas . Oak,,,,must get ! )

To have matching neck and body wood is very special Allen , and the way you have done the headstock ,(top and back ) brings real beauty to the wood and shows your craftsmanship . Once again , that Seoak fretboard and bridge' does it for me' also .

The finish looks immaculate with this one as well . Man I wish I lived closer to you mate . Guess who'd be outsourcing

The sound comparison is interesting and I was waiting to see what your views were .


Congratulations Allen on completing two wonderful instruments


Cheers , Craig

beautiful Allen. Great craftsmanship your showing there.

Its interesting what your initial sound comparison between the 2 faces...
I play a more Jazz style and most times I've played cedar faces I've liked them....Hence the OM I'm building has a Cedar face..

A lot of builders don't like using cedar for steel strings . I can hear the pro's and con's for either spruce or cedar though depending on what style you play

Yes I must agree with everything said so far Allen, excellent wood combinations and very classy every where you look. The finish looks like a fresh dipped toffee apple just outstanding.

Cheers

Kim

Nothing left to add to the comments already voiced. Beautiful guitar Allen!

Cheers

Alan

Flat-out gorgeous!

Dennis

Another nice one Allen.

Very nice work Allen!

That is a seriously pretty guitar Allen, well done.

Hey Allen… Simply gorgeous! I’ve always liked Q walnut and having the neck and body out of the same timber looks very classy (and has me reconsidering some timber choices I’ve made recently). I think the same timber combination you have used on this would make an excellent classical.

I was wondering what headstock angle you have used? Just seems to have more kick than normal but could just be the way it looks in the photos.

Wow. I like it. I like it a lot. I want to hold it and play it.

The headstock angle is a bit more than I would do normally. Had a bandsaw mishap and the only way I could salvage the neck was to kick it back some more. Doesn't seem to affect anything though.

If anyone is thinking about trying the Gotoh 510's I'd recommend them. Especially with the black buttons. There silky smooth and easy to install.

And for those of you that like a really thin finish, the top is showing the grain structure telegraphing through. Impossible to see in a photo, but something that I strive for. I like the shine, but not at the expense of having a thick top coat.

Thanks for the accolades everyone.

Allen,

Another great looking guitar!

What are the fretboard dots made of, I sure like the look of them.

Tom

Thanks Tom.

I only had some Paua shell diamonds on the shelf and they looked crap on the Sheoak, so I had a look around and found an off cut of ebony from the fret board of my first guitar. (I knew there would be a use for it).

I turned it down to a cylinder on a small pen lathe. Cost nothing which I like and I think was the best option with the colors of wood that I was working with.