Figured Maple

[Dave M]

I haven't been too productive this year but have managed to finish these two which I am very pleased with.

One is a standard Trevor Falcate steel string. A design I keep going back to since it works so well. and the other is my Torres influenced classical. Yes I know it Doesn't look much like Torres but if we agree that what goes on in the upper bout doesn't matter much. Then I have braced it very closely to the SE 114 drawn by Geoff Elliot. If you look at my outline superimposed on the Torres you can see that the lower bout outline is not that different.
Bracing like so. Also you can see the fairly shallow body.

Sorry I can never seem to place pics where I want them. I have added some more general views. It really was some nice maple. My first time using abalone - a bit rough but not too bad.

I was worried that the thinly braced top (just over 2mm) would be stiff enough but Trevor's 2 degree rotation reassured me. And it really is a nice sounding classical, Just as it is a good SS.

[Fisherman]

Two lovely looking guitars, Dave. I built my last classical using maple and loved using it. These are very classy looking instruments - the bindings and purflings match nicely with the maple.

Im glad you are enjoying the tone. If you dont mind me asking, did you edge thin on this one? With my Torres inspired builds I have worked to introduce flex by thinning the bracing down quite a bit below the bridge and then edge thinning a bit too. Im just interested to know your thoughts on what works ...

[Dave M]

Thanks Fisherman. I didn't show them but my mitred purflings at the tail strip are gradually improving!
And that is a good question. I keep thinking I should be doing some thinning but on this build I felt it was really such a light weight top that I didn't.

It is Engelmann, taken to around 2.1 to 2.1 mm. Unfortunately I didn't do the usual measurements on it. The fact that it shows Trevor's 2 degrees of bridge rotation suggests that at least in the bridge area it is around the right stiffness. Whether thinning the edges would have improved we won't now know!

It is however by far the most responsive CL I've built. In particular the trebles remain clear and loud right up the fretboard. I don't have to sell them so I always include a cutaway even though they always give me grief. I have attempted to play the VIlla Lobos 1st prelude (badly) and the cutaway makes life much easier.

[kiwigeo]

Nice work Dave...are both guitars going to the same owner? Would be a shame to split them up.

[Dave M]

Thanks Martin. I will be keeping the classical to do my terrible playing on since I have got rid of most of my others.
The SS I'll have to see if anyone is interested.

[WJ Guitars]

Two great results. Like figured maple timber finish.

Wayne
https://wjguitars.wixsite.com/mysite-1

[lamanoditrento]

Great pair of guitars Dave! The finish on the maple back looks gorgeous too

[Fisherman]

Noting your obvious building skill, I suspect another reason it turned out well is the Engelmann - it is super stuff for classicals!

I have a few different spruces in the stash but keep reaching for the Engelmann....

[kpcart]

Englemann, Lutz, 50% of available Sitka, Apalachian Red Spruce, Colorado Blue Spruce... all these 5 North American Spruce are as good as traditional Euro Spruce (overall), not enough makers rank it because they don't try them! Maple is in the ballmark of Rosewood type weight and stiffness, but so are many more woods now turning up. Flamed Maple always look beautiful, love North American rock maple too.