New Falcate Guitar Build in progress

[WJ Guitars]

After finally completing two bath room renovations I am now able to progress my next guitar build. I have prepared some photos where I am up to now closing the box.

Wayne

[56nortondomy]

Hi Wayne. That Cooba looks great I wouldn't mind trying it out. Keep the photos coming.
Wayne

[MAPP]

Looks great Wayne, great set up!

[asgilbert]

Very nice Wayne. Oh for a workshop!!

[kiwigeo]

Wayne, did you do any stiffness testing on the King Billy Pine bracing stock? I used KBP for the first top in my falcate multiscale and it stiffness was so low I ended up making a new top with spruce bracing. Ive found KBP quite variable in terms of stiffness

[WJ Guitars]

Thanks all for the comments on the guitar build and the workshop. As time permits I will add further progress photos. Hope to start building the neck soon.

I left out one photo sheet from the original posting. See below.

Wayne

[WJ Guitars]

Wayne, did you do any stiffness testing on the King Billy Pine bracing stock? I used KBP for the first top in my falcate multiscale and it stiffness was so low I ended up making a new top with spruce bracing. Ive found KBP quite variable in terms of stiffness

I purchased a few batches of the KBP bracing wood from "Tasmanian Acoustic Tonewood". In the back of my mind I seem to recall Martin your post when you were considering KBP and I have gone through my KBP bracing batch. From my selected pick I have tested its stiffness. The results appear to be OK. I did find the KBP easy to work with when bending.

Wayne

[WJ Guitars]

Now limited at home with the lock down I have made some further progress on the guitar build. For details see progress photos.

Wayne

[WJ Guitars]

The guitar construction continues. I have been using the pantograph router jig for the inlay work and it is proving to be a valuable tool.

See progress photos.

Wayne

[WJ Guitars]

The build is continuing and I have now reach the stage to start grain filling. I decided instead of using a water base grain filler to use epoxy. This is the first time I have a used

this method. See build photos.

Wayne

[WJ Guitars]

After completing the grain filling and drilling the tuner holes the guitar build is now ready spraying. See photos.

Wayne

[WJ Guitars]

The first nitro lacquer coat has been applied, however, I have had to order more lacquer. Hope to be able to continue spraying more coats on when it arrives. See photos.

Wayne

[kiwigeo]

Looking good there Wayne and thanks for the detailed documentation of your build.

[WJ Guitars]

by kiwigeo » Tue Aug 17, 2021 8:30 pm

Looking good there Wayne and thanks for the detailed documentation of your build.

Thanks Martin for your response. I hope that sharing some aspects of my build methods may be helpful to some in the forum.

Today I completed the 8th final 50:50 nitro lacquer coat. Will need to allow around three weeks to cure before buffing and polishing. See photos.

[56nortondomy]

Cooba looks even better now with some finish on it Wayne. Have you used it before? Just wondering what it sounds like.
Wayne

[WJ Guitars]

by 56nortondomy » Mon Aug 30, 2021 4:41 pm

Cooba looks even better now with some finish on it Wayne. Have you used it before? Just wondering what it sounds like.
Wayne/quote]

Yes Wayne I do like the Cooba with the lacquer coats on now. This is the first time I have used it. I am of the understanding that it will sound similar to Blackwood being in the Acacia wood family. However, it will be interesting to see how well it performs with the Carpathian Spruce top.

I now just have to be patient and wait until the nitro lacquer cures over the next three weeks. Once completed hopefully around the end of September / October, I will make a recording and include the recording with the guitar photos in the 'Gallery' section.

Wayne

[seeaxe]

Looks very impressive Wayne.

[WJ Guitars]

Thanks Richard for your encouragement about the guitar build.

Fortunately, the Nitro Lacquer has cured earlier than expect and I have been able to buff and polish the guitar. Today in between taking
my 96 year old Mother (in Aged Care) to a medical appointment I have been able to installed the bridge and start setting up the guitar. See photos.

Wayne

[kiwigeo]

Wow....that's a fine looking instrument Wayne. Nice work!

[56nortondomy]

Looks great Wayne, keep the updates coming. Be nice to hear it when you're done.
Wayne

[WJ Guitars]

Today I received my Baggs guitar pickup and have installed it, see photos.

With the initial setup completed I am liking the sound of this guitar. When the guitar settles in over the next week I will then review the intonation and make adjustments if required. I will do the frequency tests soon and then make a recording. I will include a sound recording when I post the completed guitar in Gallery section.

Wayne

[WJ Guitars]

Today, I was able to do the 'Low Frequency Resonances' tests on the guitar and the results are good for a large SS guitar. This guitar has no wolf notes issues with any of musical note scale frequencies. For details see the 'COOBA' Guitar Specifications attachment. The frequencies in Gore/Gilet book, 'Table 22-1', for large SS are: 90Hz, 160Hz and 202Hz.

The next step will be to spend some time preparing and making a recording that I will post with the completed guitar photos in the forum's Gallery.

Wayne