Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

Hi All,
I have been absent from the forum for some time due to work commitments but managed to get something done

Some details and pics of the last build:

Details:
- Slope shoulder Dread
- Scale length 24.75"
- Width at nut 45mm.
- Brass strings counter plate
- Blonde Shellac finish
- Set-up with 12 gauge silver plated strings
- DJ-526 tuners (nice stuff)
Woods:
- Soundboard: Torrified Spruce
- Back & Sides: Wenge
- Jatoba/Blackwood laminated neck with Wenge fretboard & bridge
- Blackwood binding with maple purfling
- Zebrawood pickguard

The loudest guitar I have ever built with a surprisingly balanced tone. A very responsive instrument.

That looks like a beauty. I am having a new love affair with slope shouldered dreads. Yours has the great J45 shape, and the wenge/spruce combination looks tremendous. A few days ago I was in Copenhagen and visited a local guitar shop that had for sale a Martin 12-fret slope shouldered D-28. It was one of the best sounding guitars I have played in ages. Something like that is written up on my workshop whiteboard wishlist. Any tips about bracing or other building features?

Hi Mark,
This is my first slope shoulder guitar but I agree, there is something special in this shape and shorter scale than usual.
The bracing is a "normal" X but I have used red cedar for the X and spruce for the rest, see pic.
Nothing special in construction other than, if you intend to use Wenge, it is very prone to cracking. Not that is difficult to bend but before you glue the blocks, kerfing and reinforcements you should be handling the piece very carefully, this is valid also for the back, until it is braced it cracks just looking at it
cheers
V.

Beautiful Guitar!

Another amazing guitar build. Great looking guitar!

Wayne