Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

Don't think Ive ever posted in this sub-forum. Anyway today I finished the multiscale Gore OM after 2 years of slog. Tomorrow Kym it's new owner picks up the guitar.
Specs:
Top: Swiss Spruce
Back and Sides: Indian Rosewood
Neck: Queensland Maple
Fretboard: Indian Rosewood
Bridge: Tasmanian Blackwood (with CF, second CF layer between top and bridge patch)
Bracing: Falcate made from triple laninated sitka spruce.
Rosette: Jason Kostal inspired "stained glass" design using Coobah burl.
Finish: French Polish (Shines hard shellac)
Scale Length: 658 to 638mm
Bias Fret: 7th Fret
Tuners: Schaller M3 minis. Straigh string pull headstock with Indian Rosewood veneer.
Strings: D'addario medium guage.
Pick up System: Fishman Elipse mini mic/under saddle with on board preamp/mixer.

Excellent work Martin, thats the job for sure I'd be all over it like a flea on a dog!

Steve

Beautiful work alright. You have really a great visual balance of the bridge which I often think look cockeyed on multiscales

Also very envious of your fp job!

lamanoditrento wrote: ↑

Sat May 27, 2017 7:40 am

you have really a great visual balance of the bridge which I often think look cockeyed on multiscales

+1 on that!

Lovely looking build. I bet she sounds as good.

lamanoditrento wrote: ↑

Sat May 27, 2017 7:40 am

Beautiful work alright. You have really a great visual balance of the bridge which I often think look cockeyed on multiscales

Also very envious of your fp job!

Thanks Trent, I obsessed for weeks over the bridge design. I basically trawled the internet for every picture of a multiscale bridge I could find and found one that worked for me. I find the curves of the design I arrived at go well with the curves of the guitar body.

Here's Kym the guitar's new owner (also a forum member) playing his new baby for the first time. I also did some final tap testing on the instrument. T(1,1) = 97Hz, T(1,2) = 182Hz and T(1,3) at 232Hz. The back appears to be coupling with the top giving a decent peak on the top spectrum. With Kym playing the instrument I got a decent chance to listen to the guitar..she's got alot of volume but she's evenly balanced. Plugged in she sounded great on just the under saddle pickup but with the in-body mic mixed in she starts to sound a bit too alive....

We all feel like we have been on this journey with you Martin. Thanks for sharing all of the trials and tribulations. Looks like a triumph in the end. I hope Kym loves it.

Congratulations- looks amazing!!!

Thats very nice work Marty, bridge suits it perfectly, Im sure Kym will be very happy with that

Cheers Tod Gilding

Congratulations Martin, the guitar and finish looks great

Three sound clips of the OM from Kym (with thanks). Kym commented that he's still getting used to the fan fretting at the nut end of the fretboard so there are a few finger fumbles (can't hear them myself). The clips are stereo recordings into twin AKG A-6 large diaphragm condenser microphones. Straight into a Scarlett 2i2 interface and then by USB to the StudioOne DAW on a Windows 10 box. No EQ or effects: the recordings are straight off the DAW after lifting volume slightly. The guitar is in a DADGAD tuning.
Shenandoah: Cairo: The Dark Island:

Nice job Martin.
looks good. well done. persistance pays off
I`m going to be building a multiscale soon.

soulman wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 12, 2017 8:22 pm

Nice job Martin.
looks good. well done. persistance pays off
I`m going to be building a multiscale soon.

Thanks mate. Good luck with your multiscale......be prepared for a healthy injection of asymmetry into your life

I`m sure i`ll face many challenges.
On the scale length's you've chosen, what approximate strength increased have you applied for braces compared to a say 25" scale.

Thanks
Ross

soulman wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 12, 2017 9:31 pm

I`m sure i`ll face many challenges.
On the scale length's you've chosen, what approximate strength increased have you applied for braces compared to a say 25" scale.

Thanks
Ross

Hi Ross,

Braces themselves haven't been modified apart from being a tad higher (9mm) than on Trevors plans. Because the bridge is angled the braces have been positioned to maintain equal area between each brace...this means the braces aren't symmetrical and means individual primary and secondary braces have to be made up rather than making up one brace and slicing it in two as per Trevor's book.
I used Dave White's method for making up the nut end of the headstock.

Kym the owner of the multiscale has just sent me another clip of him playing the instrument: https://app.box.com/s/nzotk22toxp1utd5cmm4liia4aks6cxy

Thanks Martin.
Really appreciate your reply.
I'll have to get hold of Trevors books at some stage. Would like to try a Falcate brace style guitar

Ross