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What the heck, I'll post one too. This one is in the hands of UPS at the moment, the third one I've delivered in the past 10 days.










Thnks for looking!

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Instagram: @jfrenchluthier
Web: https://www.jfrenchguitars.com/

Beautiful guitar! That's a very clean back seam. I really like the rosette pattern, too.

Joshua, great looking as always! I think your prices are probably too low given the level of detail you are putting into your guitars

You stated that you delivered 3 in the past 10 days...do you build in batches...if so how many in a batch? Any of the three Flamenco?

Great work, Joshua. I love all the appointments.

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Ken Franklin
clumsy yet persistent
https://www.kenfranklinukulele.com

Joshua,

That's really elegant. I love the top purfling (and it's use on the rosette). Did you make that yourself?

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

Joshua, you already know what I think of you skill as a builder, that guitar truly "Lifts my spirit", truly beautiful.

I think I'm gonna have to build you an Arch-lute!

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Very pretty! What is it made from? I’m going to guess, Madagascar rosewood? Gorgeous rosette!

Thanks for sharing --

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Beautiful work Josh
What kind of purfling do you have around the top and rosette? Is that something you made or can the rest of us mortals purchase something like that?

John

Josh that is a lovely guitar. Tell us more about that perfling. I think I have seen Mario Proulx make something similar

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Beautiful and unusual tone woods at a reasonable price.
http://www.rctonewoods.com/RCT_Store
The Zootman
1109 Military Rd.
Kenmore, NY 14217
(716) 874-1498

LOVE THE ROSETTE!!! Nice looking guitar! What kind of finish did you apply?

BTW, did you study with Romanillos?

Yes. I have Mario use something similar too.

I have asked, and he has explained it once, but it failed to sink in. Can you tell us how you made this? I really like that look.

That is an awesomely beautiful guitar. Congrats.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Thanks everyone!

Lance is right, this one has Madagascar Rosewood for the back and sides. The back is four pieces and requested with no center stripe. The whole guitar is french polished.

The top is Italian Spruce. The rosette and purflings are all made by me. I've been doing this rosette for a while with simpler purflings, but I tend toward a somewhat heavier border because I like the way it defines the shape of the guitar. For me, this particular guitar is the next step as far as defining my aesthetic "style".

The purflings are basically just a half herringbone pattern up against a maple line on one side, then framed in darker lines. I'll look for a close up picture.

Shawn - Thanks! I have a price increase intended for Jan 1st, but I always am reluctant to do so. Eventhough I'm pushing 2 years backordered. I haven't done any Flamenco guitars specifically, but I have made some Cypress classicals, and tone-wise its my absolute preference. The next one going together is Cypress.

Robbie - I took the first Romanillos masterclass in Siguenza Spain, and had I not I would still be struggling to make a good sounding guitar. I went back in 2002 for Jose's surprise 70th birthday party, and I was completely taken back by the things he said to me and about me in front of everyone there. Those are great memories for me. I take great inspiration from him.

Thanks again everyone!

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Instagram: @jfrenchluthier
Web: https://www.jfrenchguitars.com/

I had the pleasure of spending a couple of hours with Joshua at his shop earlier in the year and was very impressed by the quality of his work. He works with a minimum of power tools in a very modest shop and produces beautiful guitars. I was amazed at the relative ease with which he had executed very complex tasks and produced stunning results. Very impressive work, Joshua, and keep it up.

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Jimmy Caldwell
http://www.caldwellguitars.com

Yup Joshua!

I can't add anything else, just beautiful! I love the purfling and the rosette.

Shane

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Canada

A great looking guitar, Joshua. I too like your purfling and rosette design. It catches the eye in a most pleasing fashion. I also like your 18-hole bridge -- gives it a very clean look. Don't see too many of those.

I've read Romanillos' book about the great Antonio de Torres. The man is a true scholar of the guitar. It must have been a fascinating experience studying under him.

Best,

Michael

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Live to Play, Play to Live

Oh man, that's pretty. I appreciate the way the chevrons in your purfling meet in a perfect point at the center seam. Very nice work. I've just got to get down to visit some time.
Say--is this Madagascan from the batch you snagged at Clark's?

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

My goodness,That is a beautiful guitar. You are one Very talented luthier! I love everything about it.

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

That is one of the finest examples of HOW to do a proper classical that I have seen in a long time, everything is nice and clean and I love the rosette and bridge.

Can we get a shot of the headstock?

Very very nice work....

-Paul-

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-Paul-

Patriot Guitars

Aboslutely stunning! I'm really quite enamoured of the rosette design, and the purflings ain't half bad either. Closeups or (even better) pics of how you make those would be much appreciated!

Mattia,

Check out Joshua's website for closeups as to how he builds his rosette logs...

If you look at his website you will also see other shots like that of his top bracing which also shows the Romanillos influence.

I just piling on here but, man what a beauty!

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

Simply Spectacular.

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

Thanks a lot everyone! I appretiate all the wonderful comments. Unfortunately I don't think I have any shots of the head (same shape I always use with a nice piece of BRW on the front), or much of anything regarding making the inlays. As shawn said, you can see a shot of what the rosette log looks like once its glued up on my webpage.

Michael - thanks a lot. You're absolutely right, Jose is first rate as a Historian. He dug up an incredible amount of information, and spent years driving his Family all over Spain seeing guitars, digging through historical archives, and taking photographs. Jose and his wife Marian are two of the nicest and most welcoming people I've ever met.

Thanks again everyone!

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Instagram: @jfrenchluthier
Web: https://www.jfrenchguitars.com/

That's a fabulous great looking instrument! Bet it sounds sweet too!

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com