Sassafras Weissenborn-copy project: The Firefly

[Gwenn]

Dear ANZLF members,

I'm reposting this topic since it didn't survive the ANZLF server breakdown, but no worries, I kept a copy so here it is:
My name's Gwenn and I live in Paris (but next summer I'm moving to London UK with my job).
I got into amateur guitar building a year ago and almost completed a first build (a Padauk OM guitar).

I am now in the early stages of my second build: a "post-1926" Weissenborn-copy. I say "post 1926" as a reference to Tom Noe's book and all the posts I've read on the subject of late 1920s' weissenborn construction (especially those with Tony Francis' comments) which included (among other things) a massive bridge plate (the "christmas tree" bridge plate) a narrower and shallower bridge. I must thank Alan Hamley from Townsville Queensland for the valuable information he's been giving me regarding Weissenborn construction: thanks Alan!

TIMBER:

Regarding timber, I've decided to go with Tim Spittle's exquisite blackhearted Sassafras:

This is just back and sides, but you will see the top later on.

For the other parts it's going to be:
- Headstock: BH Sassafras
- Fretboard: Eucalyptus wandoo (position markers: maple)
- Bridge: Wandoo
- Rosette: Wandoo, maple; w/b/w purfling
- Bindings: Pacific blackwood and b/w purfling
- Christmas tree bridge plate: sugar maple

NAME:

I thought the name Firefly sounded good on a Weissenborn copy, it's got this dusty-mystic-deep south scent to it. I've begun to work on the (how do you call that in English), well the sticker, but there's still room for improvement...:


CONSTRUCTION:

I've started with jointing the soundboard and the back, using the spanish method:





Then I've been working on the wandoo fretboard:



the rosette which consists in 12 30° sectors of wanddo with the grain running from the center towards the periphery, separated as you can see by .5mm maple veneer. It is now glued to the fretboard, but I still need to make it flush with the soundboard and then I'll add purflings inside and outside the wanddo sectors..



Well that's all for now... I also forgot to say that I've got my mould done and my side profiled...

And most importantly and I have been working on this for the last couple of months: I've completed a scale one plan in which I try to include all the details I've found on the properties of those "post-1926" weissenborns, i.e. the christmas tree and the reduced bridge, but also details that really lack in my opinion in the MIMF and Stewmac plans: details on the headstock, the neck doublers, side profiles and other things:



Then, I've been working on my headstock. I still need to refine it but the basic shape/dimensions are there...

So this is a wandoo headplate on a sassafras headstock...



(notice the euro-patriotic photo composition )

Unfortunately I have had issues with my rosette... it didn't stand the process of making it flush with the soundboard (at least part of it did not). I think the grove I cut was too shallow, so I need to give it another try. No worries...

The Firefly is now well on its way!

Saturday was bending session. I've only bent Mahogany and Padauk so far. Both are supposed to be easy to bend but as I'm still a newby, these two timbers gave me some resistance befor they accepted the shape I was looking for. But Sassaras is a totally different story: effortlessly the sides accepted their new shape and no bad surprise during the process:


Then, I worked on the back which is now fully braced.

After having let the sides chill out for a while, I assembled them to the headstock and end block

(If you look well at this picture, you'll see that where the soundhole is supposed to be, there's the Eiffel tower!)

And I also glued the top kerfed lining and the spruce doublers in the "neck" part...

And I reworked on my rosette since my first try didn't work in the end...

So, to resume, I've now got: almost finish sides, finished back, finished fretboard and nearly finish top: looks like I'll be able to close the box pretty soon!

Thanks for watching!


Gwenn[

[ozziebluesman]

Very nice indeed Gwenn. The sassafrass is certainly striking. I like the segement rosette too! Plenty of patience and time needed fitting that.

Thanks for posting and I will be watching with great interest.

Cheers

Alan

[Kim]

Thanks for reposting this thread Gwenn so glad you kept a copy and have rejoined us. Its such a drop dead pretty bit of wood and you are bringing it together beautifully so far.

Looking forward to the updates

Cheers

Kim

[Stephen Kinnaird]

Kim is--of course--right! That is an unusually attractive piece of Sassafras, and you seem to be doing such a fine job with it!
Thanks for (re)posting,

Steve

[Gwenn]

Dear ANZLF members,

Things are moving forward in my basement…

My new rosette is now finished and the soundhole cut :



I braced the top with hide glue and the « Christmas tree bridge plate » I talked about at the beginning of this topic :



My sides are also complete and the housings have been routed in the linings to accomodate the top…




Soon this will be a musical instrument, I hope !

[Gwenn]

Dear ANZLF members !

I have been able to dedicate some time to my project and things are taking shape !

Ten days ago, I have glued the top to the sides and adjusted the edges flush with the sides.
I agree that this bracing pattern looks particularly heavy. It is however the sum of the research I have been conducting on traditional late 1920s’ bracing. I will see what kind of impact it will have on tone…

I have had the chance to play on a 1928 style 4 original Weissenborn in a shop here in Paris, which has the same brace calibre and the sound is very warm and sweet. I understand the comments regarding the impact of lighter bracing on “sound complexity” and “responsiveness”. For the moment I’ll stick to tradition, but don’t worry: I have begun to educate myself on all these factors and I have a plan to build in the near future a lap slide closer to the kind Daniel Brauchli produces. That would involve alternate bracing patterns with carbon fiber laminated lattice, why not laminated sides (just like Bob is doing on his current build) and semi-slotted headstock with perpendicular tuners…

But for now, let’s get back to my heavy bad ass Firefly!

Last week en I’ve closed the box!









Here is a snapshot with the fretboard and future bridge just to give an idea:

A closer look at the Rosette


The back and its constant flames!


The square-neck/headstock joint:



The next step will be bindings. I’m very anxious about this because I don’t like routers. For my first build, the routing stage went OK though, but I didn’t bend the bindings really accurately and didn’t glue them very well to the body so this is my weak point… Bindings
will be pacific Blackwood with b/w/b purfling

So that’s all for now thanks for watching

[ozziebluesman]

G'day Gwenn,

Love it mate! The sassafrass and Pacific Blackwood binding will look great.

The 10mm x 10mm bracing sure looks heafty but that was what my first weissenborn copy build was and it has good volume, sustain and tone.

I hate cutting binding channels too so just have a couple of these and go for it!

Thanks for the update.

Cheers

Alan

[Bob Connor]

Good luck with the binding Gwenn. It is indeed starting to take shape.

In regards to the hefty bracing, I have seen a number of pics of Weissenborn tops with bracing like this and the builders all seem happy with the end result. I'm thinking that the next one that I build I will build to the plan so I can compare the differences. It may be that a slide instrument could be too lively if it's not braced in this manner. Time will tell but it'll be an interesting comparison.

I've been thinking that Celery Top Pine would make an ideal soundboard for an acoustic lap steel. Whilst called a pine it is actually a hardwood and it ages to a beautiful honey blonde colour. I know there has been discussion before about whether it is too heavy for an acoustic guitar soundboard but I think it would be ideal for a this situation.

Regards

[Nick]

Going to be one stunning looking weezy when it's finished Gwen, I do wish you wouldn't post it though I've got enough "I'd like to build one of those!" ideas floating around in my head already & seeing this is only adding more !

[Puff]

Genuine wood envy going here
Wonderful work.

[Gwenn]

Dear ANZLF members...

Now is time to report a little bit on my progress! I have been slowed down by the christmas holidays but now things are moving more quickly:

- I finished binding the instrument
- I drilled the tuner holes
- I drilled the endpin hole
- I positioned the bridge location and drilled the two outer holes
- I sanded the instrument clean for finishing

So here is how it looks:

I just positionned the fretboard and bridge to give an idea, but I put making tape underneath for the finishing process...


There you can see two setbacks: I marred the wood during my first attempt to drill the endpin hole so I had to make a patch larger than the hole itself.. But in the end I think this patch gives a kind of retro style to this part of the guitar... The second problem I've had is a crack in the soundboard underneath the bridge: the humidity level in my appartment fell from 70% to 27% in 3 days (we have collective heating that comes from the floor in my appartment, I don't control it and it makes the athmosphere extremely dry...) so I had to put a maple patch where the crack occured... I think I will maybe try to taint it a little to make it onuptrusive


And the headtsock and tuners:



More later, and thanks for watching!


Gwenn

[Bob Connor]

Looking good Gwenn. What a bummer about the top.

I notice your fretboard is quite thick. I made mine around 3mm so I could reduce the string height and so lessen the amount of torque on the bridge.

I don't know if this is the correct approach. but I guess we'll see when it gets strung up.

I only have to spray mine now but I've been held up by a broken compressor and bad weather.

Regards

[Gwenn]

Hi Bob!

I've been checking regularly on your project and it's really coming along nicely. I can't wait to hear its first sample!

The fretboard as it is shown in the picture is not finished yet and is still too thick. The "standard thickness" is (from the info I've gatherd) beween 3.5 and 3mm. I reckon the fretboard on such instruments has to play a role in terms of section property... There must be a balance to find between the rigidity produced by the fretboard and the added stress produced by high action (resulting itself from thicker fretboards)... So my plan is to tzke it down to 3.5mm...

See you later

Gwenn

[ozziebluesman]

G'day Gwenn,

Gee that sassafrass is spectacular looking wood. When I first saw the picture of the input jack hole I thought the patch was different and I liked the end result. After reading your post what a smart way to fix the problem. As my mate Taffy here on the forum told me once, "no such thing as a mistake when building a guitar". He is absolutely right and I do like your solution.

I have finished the shellac process on my guitar and the bridge was glued on yeterday. My plan today is to make some music with it this arfernoon. Very exciting!!!

Thanks for the update.

Cheers

Alan