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Finished two -- classicals
http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=16402
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Author:  Marc [ Fri Mar 14, 2008 12:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Finished two -- classicals

I finished my 4th and 5th classicals around January and completed the FP in February. EIR with a spruce top the other HRW with a cedar top, otherwise identical in bracing and geometry. They are both made according to the drawing represented in my avatar, Spanish heel, BRW bridges, ebony and maple purflings, side cut-offs for bindings, bone nut/saddle, hide glue throughout, French polish.

I was really curious what the sound difference would be because they had very different tap tones along the way of the build. The HRW/WRC had a consistently more bell like tap tone, which I’ve found to be characteristic of this wood combo. The tap tone difference seem to translate into the HRW/WRC having more of a sustained ringing sound than the EIR/Spruce, which is a little softer and more articulate and clear, when played.

I made a sound clip of each for comparison. I don’t have a local musician to produce a recording for me so I made the clips myself. A few disclaimers, the recordings are very amateur. I’m really not a player I just play enough so I can enjoy the guitars, compare them, and find out which sounds better and why. Also, I don’t have any decent equipment for recording; the recording was done on my pocket-size office voice recorder. Try to hear through the limitations of the recordings and hear the difference between the two guitars, it’s difficult. The differences are much more pronounced when you actually play the guitars. Pics are a little bigger if you click on them. Thanks for looking and listening.
HRW/Cedar
EIR/SPRUCE

Author:  Dave Rector [ Fri Mar 14, 2008 1:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Finished two -- classicals

Marc, both guitars look sweet! And your playing is better than you indicated too! I only got to listen to the EIR one but it sounds excellent to me. Download is a little slow here today, I'll try to get a listen to the other tomorrow.

Great job. [clap] [clap] [:Y:] [clap] [clap]

Author:  Dave White [ Fri Mar 14, 2008 1:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Finished two -- classicals

Marc,

Lovely guitars and thanks for posting the soundclips - I'm always interested in hearing these. Your playing is very nice too. It's very early days and the sound is going to change a lot. The cedar/HRW sound rounded and more "played in" but the spruce/EIR one sounds as though there could be more complexity in there when it opens up more. Both sounded nicely balanced and are definitely ringing and sustaining very well. It's fun to keep doing recordings over time and listen to the change in sound - your ears sort of register it but it's hard to remember much back in time in your head - or at least I find it so.

Well done [clap]

Author:  WaddyThomson [ Fri Mar 14, 2008 2:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Finished two -- classicals

Nice job Marc, playing and building. Both guitars look great and sound great. I, personally, hear a lot of very nice note separation, that appeals to me, in the spruce top. It is a very clean sound. The cedar top is, as Dave said, sounds more played in, but also has more overtones working in the background. The spruce, while not opened up yet, gives every note a full value, and blends them well in a chord. [clap] [clap] [clap] [clap] [clap]

Author:  Terence Kennedy [ Fri Mar 14, 2008 2:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Finished two -- classicals

Very classy instruments! Nice playing. It would be fun to hear sound clips in 6 months to see what happened to both of them.
Terry

Author:  John Kinnaird jr [ Fri Mar 14, 2008 4:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Finished two -- classicals

They both look great. My favorite, is the indian with spruce top. It looks, for want of a better word, classical. No flies on the honduran though. I love the way you killed the binding into that back wood that goes over the heel.

John

Author:  Alain Moisan [ Fri Mar 14, 2008 5:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Finished two -- classicals

Good job Mark!

I really appreciate the sound clips. We really can hear a difference. I personnally prefer the EIRW one, but that's just me.

I never heard HRW before, just heard others talking about it. Now with your clips, I finally understand what people meant by 'brittle' sound.

Thanks again!

Author:  Colin S [ Fri Mar 14, 2008 5:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Finished two -- classicals

Marc, they look splendid. I definitely prefer the voice of the spruce topped guitar on the Lagima, but then I'm not a great fan of cedar topped classicals, especially on Spanish music. It's a little tight at the moment, but should open up to become a very nice sounding guitar, well suited to the Tarrega. You should be very proud of your work. What strings are you using? If you get a chance put some Goldins on and see if you like the sound.

Colin

Author:  KenH [ Fri Mar 14, 2008 5:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Finished two -- classicals

Both guitars are beautiful and you should be congratulated on a job well done! I, too, prefer the spruce topped guitar but both may sound similar in a year or so after the spruce has a chance to open up. The cedar definitely has a more mellow overtone.

Author:  Robbie O'Brien [ Fri Mar 14, 2008 6:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Finished two -- classicals

Nice work Marc! [clap]

Author:  douglas ingram [ Fri Mar 14, 2008 10:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Finished two -- classicals

nice guitars, and nice FP finish, too! I know what a pile of work these represent. (Details, will they never end!)

Author:  Marc [ Sat Mar 15, 2008 7:34 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Finished two -- classicals

Thank you everyone for the very kind remarks, very much appreciated.

Colin, they have D'Addario EJ27N strings. I ordered a couple of sets Goldins last night on your recommendation.

Author:  jfrench [ Sun Mar 16, 2008 11:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Finished two -- classicals

Great job Marc! Very well done. Congratulations.

Author:  MaxBishop [ Mon Mar 17, 2008 5:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Finished two -- classicals

Congratulations on two beautiful instruments, Marc. You did a great job.

Regards,
Max

Author:  senunkan [ Tue Mar 18, 2008 3:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Finished two -- classicals

Lovely guitars and workmanship.
Congratulations!
I too, like the sound of the spruce guitar better.
I think it will sound even better after it openes up.

Sen

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