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Pics of No 1: Macassar ebony
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Author:  Frank Cousins [ Sat Oct 04, 2008 4:27 am ]
Post subject:  Pics of No 1: Macassar ebony
In case yoou missed them, finally pics of Number 1, strung up - OM with widened waist and lower bout + 10mm extra depth (so not realy and OM anymore!)

Specs: Top Geram Spruce
B+S: Macassar ebony with slight flame
BIndings: Curly Koa with maple kerflings
Ebony fingerboard and bridge
Bound fingerboard and Headstock (maple/Koa)
Nitrocellulose finish

Standard forward shifted X Bracing - heavily scolloped but with soundhole reinforcement ring rather than the two short braces, Classical style slipper heal neck block, Dovetail neck join.

Cosmetic flaws: quite a few as the thin high gloss finish is unforgiving!

Tone - surprised Good OM but with more base response as expected

Lessons learnt: Macassar dont half blunt tools quickly! More attention to finishing needed

Enjoyment: amazing 1 and half years of fun (2 hours per week) - bring on Number 2 in which I hope to be able to make good on the mistakes

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Author:  ChuckH [ Sat Oct 04, 2008 5:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Pics of No 1: Macassar ebony
Nice Frank. That flamed macassar is just beautiful.
Author:  CraigSz [ Sat Oct 04, 2008 5:39 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Pics of No 1: Macassar ebony
Wow No 1 !!!!!! Frank that is amazing . I must say I am impressed with your patience 1 1/2 years. That is where most of my problems with building originate. gaah That ebony looks like it was worth blunting a few tools on. :D Great work . [clap] [clap] [clap]

Regards
Craig.
Author:  Burton LeGeyt [ Sat Oct 04, 2008 7:07 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Pics of No 1: Macassar ebony
That shape looks really nice! The gold in the koa and the ebony go well together too. What is the inlay? Did you do it yourself or have it done? Great job!
Author:  Hesh [ Sat Oct 04, 2008 7:32 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Pics of No 1: Macassar ebony
Nice job Frank!! [:Y:] [clap] [clap] [clap] [clap] [clap] [clap]
Author:  Colin S [ Sat Oct 04, 2008 7:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Pics of No 1: Macassar ebony
Very nice guitar for your first Frank (not the Frank Cousins? Brits of a certain age would remember him) Any chance of a soundclip of it?

Colin
Author:  Lars Rasmussen [ Sat Oct 04, 2008 7:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Pics of No 1: Macassar ebony
Wow! Thats a sweet guitar! Just love the look of macassar with koa.. congrats on your first, now keep em coming!
Author:  Pat Foster [ Sat Oct 04, 2008 9:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Pics of No 1: Macassar ebony
Fantastic #1! [clap] [clap] [clap]

I see you're a fan of the Hercules guitars stands. Me too.

Pat
Author:  Dave Anderson [ Sat Oct 04, 2008 10:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Pics of No 1: Macassar ebony
Another very nice 1st guitar on the OLF !. There are so many 1st guitars that
are very well built around here!! It looks real nice Frank with your choice of woods.
Love that headstock inlay. Any chance of showing us a close-up ?
Author:  Frank Cousins [ Sat Oct 04, 2008 1:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Pics of No 1: Macassar ebony
Dave Anderson wrote:
Another very nice 1st guitar on the OLF !. There are so many 1st guitars that
are very well built around here!! It looks real nice Frank with your choice of woods.
Love that headstock inlay. Any chance of showing us a close-up ?


Thanks for all the nice comments - Its appreciated and encoraging which will help with No2 which I started last week. I was a little worried at first about using realtively expensive woods on a first try, but felt that as I was also paying for the the tutoring for 2 hours a week over a year and a half that cost was actually a minor part - I actually have another identical (virtually) set of the Macassar which is the next slice! Saving this I think for a sister 12 string in the future.

I was very lucky to use a pros facilities - and his help, advice and encouragement were so well appreciated. David Whiteman is a well respected maker of classicals here in teh UK nad a very nice man to. Stunning guitars and his stock of old growth Brazilian is enviable... I tried all the fingerboard and headstock binding purely because it was a great opportunity to try and learn these skills whilst with David, Had to take advantage of his experience.

The inlay was my first atempt - its meant to be a Kingfisher, but its a bit on the 'eaten to many pies' side, but looks OK. I cant seem to get a decent picture of it with teh camera and flash and am out all day whilst its light enough for non flash photography, but I will see what I can do.

No 2 is going to be the same body size and top, but I am doing a 3 piece back from flamed Claro walnut with a center strip of flamed maple with flamed maple bindings this time - I want to see the dfference this makes tonally with everything else the same. I suspect a little less bass and a bit more brightness as a whole...we'll see! ;-)

Thanks again - from the quality I have seen on here taht you guys are buildng to, I have a long way to go, but the journey should be fun - and I get to increase my collection!
Author:  WaddyThomson [ Sat Oct 04, 2008 7:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Pics of No 1: Macassar ebony
Very nice, Frank. Couldn't ask for more on a first, in my opinion. [clap] [clap] [clap] [clap] [clap]
Author:  Steve Kinnaird [ Mon Oct 06, 2008 10:31 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Pics of No 1: Macassar ebony
Beautiful guitar, Frank.
I love your wood choices. And your #2 sounds like it will be just as beautiful.

Thanks for posting,

Steve
Author:  Michael Dale Payne [ Mon Oct 06, 2008 10:37 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Pics of No 1: Macassar ebony
Macassar Ebony is among my favorite dark woods under finish. [clap] [clap] [clap]

next time you get to use it try a Redwood top. Fabulous combo.
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