Weissenborn Lap Slide

ozziebluesman · Post by **ozziebluesman** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 10:59 pm

Hello everyone,

Just a few pics of the weiss build thus far.

The first pic is of two slabs of Tasmanian Sassafrass that I aquired about two years ago. The slabs had been air dried at the timber mill in Tassie for two years.

In March this year a friend re-sawed the slabs for me into top, back and side sets.

A few weeks back I joined the top and back using the wedge method. The job went ok but I used too much Titebond which ment a hell of a lot of time needed to be spent using a scraper to remove it.

These are the finished plates.

I'm using the MIMF weissenborn plan and intent to do a style 1 copy. That means no binding and a very simple rosette.

At first I was going to use some Balckbean for the fingerboard and bridge. It is so dam hard to work with I have decided against using it. A friend is sending me some Tasmanian Myrtle suitable for a fingerboard and bridge that will add a great contrast the Sassafrass. I will post a pic when it arrives.

My mould is just about finished and the gobar deck is built.

I have just finished building a humidity box to store the wood in. Its an attempt to try and regulate the humidity and keep the wood nice and dry for glue ups. Thanks to a fellow North Queenslander formite for that brilliant idea. I'm living in far North Queensland and the humidity can be very high here.

So thats the progress so far.

Thanks all for looking.

Cheers

Alan

Bob Connor · Post by **Bob Connor** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 11:26 pm

Looking good Alan.

I'm keen to hear what you think of the Sassafras as a tonewood. I've only ever seen one picture of an instrument made from Sassafras and have never heard one. We've just started building a little fingerpicker from it so I'll be interested to compare notes with you when you get the Weiss finished.

It's a little harder than Mahogany so that's where I'm hoping the sound of it will sit. Warm with some mid-range punch. If it does, it should suit a slide instrument.

Thanks for the pics and keep us updated

Bob

ozziebluesman · Post by **ozziebluesman** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 11:51 pm

Thanks Bob for your encouragement.

When moving the wood around on the tiled floor in my home the sassafrass sounded very lively, responsive. If that makes sense? At the time I had a slab of Westen Australian Jarrah and Sapele. When moving them around they both had a a totally different sound and very dull.

I haven't had enough building experience to offer an opinion on sound differences in tonewoods. It will be an interesting to see how it sounds though.

Do you think my wood is Golden Sassafrass? I was reading your posts on Aussie Tonewoods and was interested in your Sassarfass infomation.

Thanks Bob

Alan

Serge · Post by **Serge** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 2:57 am

Looking real nice this far Alan, i just love them progress pics, can't wait to see that one coming along with more pics, sweeeet!

ozziebluesman · Post by **ozziebluesman** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 9:50 am

Thanks Serge. I will keep you all updated. Steady as she goes. Next job is to make the headstock, fingerboard and bridge. I have some Tasmanian Myrtle for that job. Will post pics.

Cheers

Alan

Bob Connor · Post by **Bob Connor** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 7:47 pm

Alan

I think that Golden Sassafras may be a local name for Sassafras that doesn't have the black fungal staining through it.

It's a bit like the Tassie Myrtle. You'll see it advertised as Red, Deep Red, Gray, Streaky, Tiger, Curly, Fiddleback or Pink Myrtle but it's essentially the same tree - Nothofagus cunninghammi.

It's more a description of what the cut timber looks like rather than a different species.

Cheers

ozziebluesman · Post by **ozziebluesman** » Sun Nov 11, 2007 10:39 pm

Hello everyone,

Completed the headstock today with the chisel, handsaw, half round wood rasp and a small hand tool called a micoplane. The headplate is Tassie Myrtle and the headstock is Tassie Sassafrass.

I really enjoyed doing the job by hand as it is giving me valuable experience wooking with wood and a feel for building. I know a bandsaw would have had the job done in no time but I haven't got YET!!!!

Thanks for looking

Cheers

Alan

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 7:00 am

That's looking good Alan. You deserve get a big pat on the back for doing all this by hand. I've got a lot of patience, but I'm not sure if I have enough to do one of these all by hand.

Lillian · Post by **Lillian** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 7:42 am

Am I the only one who can't see the first set of pictures??

Bob Connor · Post by **Bob Connor** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 7:45 am

The pics are on Photobucket Lillian and not on our server.

Do you have a problem getting to the Photobucket website?

Bob

ozziebluesman · Post by **ozziebluesman** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 10:01 am

Thanks Allen for you comments.

Sorry Lillian, the pics are back again.

Cheers

Alan

Lillian · Post by **Lillian** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 10:46 am

Thanks Allen. It looks like its going to be really sweet.

Bob Connor · Post by **Bob Connor** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 11:05 am

Looking good Alan.

Hey, what's the wood like in those Palm Trees along your fence.

Got a chainsaw.

Cheers

Bob

ozziebluesman · Post by **ozziebluesman** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 11:18 am

Bob its a Ghost Gum in the neighbours property. I love the tree but this time of the year it loves to shed its bark and cover my back lawn along with fill the gutters. BTW how dose Ghost Gum go for stringed instrument building?

Thanks all for your comments.

Cheers

Al

matthew · Post by **matthew** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 10:59 pm

Amazing things can be done by hand.

ozziebluesman · Post by **ozziebluesman** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 11:46 pm

Good one Mathew!!! I just hope my headstock stays together as well as the stone one.

Cheers

Alan

ozziebluesman · Post by **ozziebluesman** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 6:11 pm

A little more progress this weekend.

These are made from Tasmanian Myrtle. There will be no fingerboard binding on this guitar and the fret markers are 1.5mm maple. Also I addressed the bridge hole placement issue from the first bridge making effort so hopefully all will be good.

Thanks for looking

Cheers

Al

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 6:19 pm

Are there fret wires installed on a Weissenborn, or are those just lines to indicate where the fret would be?

That myrtle sure is pretty.

ozziebluesman · Post by **ozziebluesman** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 6:36 pm

G'day Allen,

Traditionally, original weissenborns used fret markers like I have installed. I have seen some copies that have used fret wire too. Seen the strings don't touch the frets it is sort of pointless having wire frets. The maple fret markers are easier to see also.

Cheers

Al

ozziebluesman · Post by **ozziebluesman** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 9:56 pm

G'day everyone,

This weekend was cutting channel for the rosette and cut out the soundhole. It is my first effort so it is a very simple design.

No drama and I am very happy with the end result.

Cheers

Alan

TimS · Post by **TimS** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 10:54 pm

Looks like that piece of myrtle went in well Alan.

regards

Tim

Dave White · Post by **Dave White** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 11:36 pm

Alan,

Simple is almost always best. That's looking really nice - keep the pictures coming.

Kim · Post by **Kim** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 12:04 am

Looking sweet Alan, as Dave said simple is almost always best and what you have so far is very elegant indeed. Keep up the good work mate.

Cheers

Kim

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 6:29 am

That looks great Alan. It doesn't need anything more elaborate than that. It's always best to simple really well, than elaborate and stuff it up.

Tom Morici · Post by **Tom Morici** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 5:10 pm

Alan,
Your work looks excellent, you should be proud. Im sure when complete,
it will be a great instrument. Keep up the good work, and thanks for showing it.

Tom

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