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Post by andyhowell on Jul 28, 2014 11:09:54 GMT
 This pile of wood should in a month or so be turned into my new guitar by master builder Adrian Lucas. You can read Dave White's interview with Adrian here. This is the first build that I have commissioned. My other high end guitars were bought from my old guitar dealer, City Music in Birmingham (which is sadly no more). I only bought my current guitars after playing them for probably three or four hours. On each occasion I finally came away with a guitar that was not my choice at the beginning of the session. Playing for that long begins to give you a feel for what you can live with and for what inspires you. I've a lot of other guitar players ask me about the commissioning process. It is a bit daunting after all you are (almost literally) placing you life in the hands of your chosen builder. So, along with this build thread I'm writing a series of pieces for my blog on the commissioning of the guitar. How do you choose the builder? How do you decide on the woods and other features? And how does the relationship work? I'll post a link to each of these as they are published. I hope they will help some of you in the future. Meantime, these are the specs that Adrian and I finally settled on: Pavilion Sweep body with Manzer wedge Fanned fret – 660-645 scale Zero fret Honduras mahogany neck Sitka spruce soundboard Wenge back and sides Macassar ebony fingerboard Indian rosewood bridge, Wenge head veneer 45mm nut width Mother-of-pearl fret position markers on side of fingerboard but not face Strap button on heel Yew rosette Gotoh 510 machine heads French polish finish Hiscox Pro II case Headway HE4/G.FEQ pickup Should be ready in September! |
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Jul 28, 2014 11:37:44 GMT
Congrats Andy!  Should be lovely - and quick too. Sensible differential on the multi-scale too, nice. Hope you'll keep us up to date with how tgings are going. Keith |
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Post by andyhowell on Jul 28, 2014 12:00:21 GMT
Congrats Andy! Should be lovely - and quick too. Sensible differential on the multi-scale too, nice. Hope you'll keep us up to date with how tgings are going. Keith I didn't want too dramatic a scale, just a little extra tension on the bass for C tunings. I will keep you in touch. It was commissioned flu or five months ago I think but I decided to put it to the back of my mind and I had untilAdrian began to send the photos through! |
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Post by earwighoney on Jul 28, 2014 12:05:07 GMT
Looks great Andy and it'll be great to follow the thread and read the articles you're planning to write at your website.
One small question however, is that Wenge flatsawn?
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Post by andyhowell on Jul 28, 2014 12:08:40 GMT
Looks great Andy and it'll be great to follow the thread. Is that Wenge flatsawn? Am not sure! I'm sure Adrian will be around here soon to talk about it! I'm trying not to get too fixed on the usual details but just to think about playability and so on. |
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Post by andyhowell on Jul 28, 2014 12:38:45 GMT
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Post by andyhowell on Jul 28, 2014 12:50:38 GMT
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scotch
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Post by scotch on Jul 28, 2014 13:01:40 GMT
Looking great so far. Love that veneer it'a a lovely piece of wood.
I've got a bad feeling. Already I feel the G.A.S kicking in
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Post by andyhowell on Jul 28, 2014 13:05:25 GMT
Looking great so far. Love that veneer it'a a lovely piece of wood. I've got a bad feeling. Already I feel the G.A.S kicking in Grief. I'e only just started! |
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alig
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Post by alig on Jul 28, 2014 15:02:16 GMT
Ready in September, you say...?
I think you should bring it to H'fax.
Just a thought.
Alasdair.
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Post by andyhowell on Jul 28, 2014 15:21:56 GMT
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Post by andyhowell on Jul 28, 2014 15:23:51 GMT
Ready in September, you say...? I think you should bring it to H'fax. Just a thought. Alasdair. I will Alasdair, if it is ready in time. For some reason Adrian seems to be determined to have a holiday in August and so I will have to be patient. The guitar will also be FrenchPolished which I understand takes quite a time to finish. One thing that is certain when buying a bespoke guitar — you have to learn to be patient! |
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Jul 28, 2014 16:20:41 GMT
Andy, the second link, NGC II, takes me back here..... But, using your first link to your blog, I found, read and enjoyed Part 2! K EDIT - second link now goes to correct page. |
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alig
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Post by alig on Jul 28, 2014 18:54:38 GMT
Ready in September, you say...? I think you should bring it to H'fax. Just a thought. Alasdair. I will Alasdair, if it is ready in time. For some reason Adrian seems to be determined to have a holiday in August and so I will have to be patient. The guitar will also be FrenchPolished which I understand takes quite a time to finish. One thing that is certain when buying a bespoke guitar — you have to learn to be patient! Tell me about it! Not too long now though. I'm with you brother... Alasdair. |
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Post by marcus on Jul 28, 2014 19:42:00 GMT
This will be great to follow Andy. I enjoyed your two blog entries about the decision-making process. What ever happened to that mysterious furniture maker?
That's a very interesting looking neck. Do the sides get inserted into those grooves cut into the base of the neck like on a classical guitar?
All the best with the wait.
Cheers, marcus
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Jo whoever he is.
