francis
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My main instrument is: Whatever I'm building...
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Post by francis on Aug 7, 2023 11:27:52 GMT
Last week an old friend turned up out of the blue as they say and proceeded to do his usual (almost annual) tour of the guitars hanging on the study wall. However, this time I have a parlour with me that's been back to me for some soundboard repairs and my friend took quite a shine to this guitar. After a chat over lunch he went back to the study to play guitars again and I had a chat with his wife over coffee and she asked me to build him a parlour without him knowing as a surprise.
As my friend is not a forum member he won't see this thread and his name won't be mentioned so there will not be be any link that way until the hand over.
Anyway that's the background.
The build:
12 fret to the body parlour 632mm scale length Sitka spruce top Yew back & sides Ebony or Bog Oak fretboard (to be decided) Headstock fracing Yew Fret wire - Jescar Evo Gold Bindings front/back ebony Purfling front - crows foot purfling back - BWBrWB lines Finish - Pre Cat lacquer
Mock-up:
Back plate:
Sides bent and the linings being added:
TBC...
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Aug 7, 2023 12:12:14 GMT
Oooh, exciting! I'm looking forward to watching this, Francis! Great stuff.
Keith
PS Don't suppose your friend would lend me his wife for a visit if I should turn up at yours out of the blue....?
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leoroberts
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My main instrument is: probably needing new strings
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Post by leoroberts on Aug 7, 2023 12:12:29 GMT
Yay! A francis build thread - which always means fantastic photos 😀 |
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Post by earthbalm on Aug 7, 2023 15:02:36 GMT
Brilliant news that your back in building mode francis. |
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francis
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Posts: 2,482
My main instrument is: Whatever I'm building...
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Post by francis on Aug 9, 2023 10:14:47 GMT
Working with the laminated mahogany linings and side stiffeners. A tail block was also fitted so the linins could be fitted against it. Once the they were glued in place and the glue sufficiently cured the front and back edges of the sides were first planed then sanded to profile against a sanding disc. Front to a 20 foot radius and the back to a 15 foot radius. Detail of the tail block, linings and stiffeners.  Overview of the sides.  |
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Post by earthbalm on Aug 9, 2023 10:38:24 GMT
Fantastic pics francis . Are you able to say what nut width the instrument will have? I love the look of the yew!  Dale |
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Post by scorpiodog on Aug 9, 2023 10:52:48 GMT
That looks lovely, francis. The World needs more of your wonderful guitars. More power to your elbow (if that's the relevant bit of anatomy)in your continuing luthiery career.  |
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francis
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Posts: 2,482
My main instrument is: Whatever I'm building...
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Post by francis on Aug 10, 2023 14:51:03 GMT
Fantastic pics francis . Are you able to say what nut width the instrument will have? I love the look of the yew! Dale Hi Dale, Thanks. The nut width on this is likely to be circa 44 - 45mm. I say circa because my friend finds the parlour he played here a touch wide but! he found he could finger the strings more easily because of the extra width - so he liked the extra width...?? I will probably finish it 45.5 at the nut and roll the edges over slightly so it feels a lttle narrower.
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Post by earthbalm on Aug 10, 2023 15:27:52 GMT
Thanks francis. I'm watching this 12 fret parlour build with a keen interest. Dale |
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Post by andy3sheds on Aug 10, 2023 22:45:28 GMT
I once had the long loan of a yew classical guitar that a friend had made and despite not been able to cope with classical dimensions I loved what the guitar sounded like and have appreciated the tonal qualities of yew ever since. Aesthetically I think yew is stunning and I love it’s eccentric variations of grain and colour
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francis
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My main instrument is: Whatever I'm building...
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Post by francis on Aug 11, 2023 21:56:29 GMT
Some internal woodwoork today. Something for leoroberts (as he likes a bit of Go-Bar's in a project) transverse back braces have been fitted first to allow their shaping in situ followed by the marriage strip (pads in this case). I was going to use rosewood rectangles but decided they were a bit OTT and went with Yew rectangles in keeping with the back. I made a little cardboard jig to position the pieces and keep them in position while the go-bar rods were applied. Finally the four smaller braces were fitted and all now being left overnight. The two halves of the sitka spruce front have also been joined together. They too are being left overnight to fully cure.    TBC... |
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Aug 11, 2023 22:02:38 GMT
Coming along nicely, Francis! It'll soon be a box - exciting.
keith
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francis
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My main instrument is: Whatever I'm building...
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Post by francis on Aug 27, 2023 10:52:17 GMT
I'm back. Been a quiet couple of weeks but I've managed to get a bit done so here are a few images. I'll try and put a description with each image if it lets me!
Guitar back plate
Interior back bracing and the yew broken marriage strip
The headstock facing. Light coat of shellack applied
Sitka spruce soundboard with white/black/white lines and an Indian Rosewood inlay
Back plate is on. Still to be trimmed and cleaned up.
Ditto - just a different angle
Interior now cleaned up and a coat of shellack applied to lessen moisture problems once the box is closed and the guitar is in use.
Ditto just a different angle
Back plate trimmed and shellack coat rubbed on to reduce handing marks.
Not shown but the neck has been glued up but no attempt to start carving yet. Falcate bracings for the soundboard are made I need to test the resin I have to make sure it's not gone off before attempting to apply the carbon tow fibre. The bridge has been roughed to shape and will be finished on the sander once I replace the current sanding belt... TBC...
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Post by earthbalm on Aug 27, 2023 11:43:18 GMT
Really, very beautiful looking guitar francis. |
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Aug 27, 2023 12:25:59 GMT
Looking lovely! Beautiful work, Francis.
Keith
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Jo whoever he is.
