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I've just got this finished, another OM. This one has Cuban B&S and laminated Cuban maple neck. The front is from my stash of pre-war Swiss tops, I've only got six left so I'm going to have to be very choosy where they are used. This is the first time I've used abalone purfling, the abalone was a Christmas present from my daughter-in-law. I think she wants me to build her a lute and this was bribery! The binding and headplate are also in maple. It's got parabolic X bracing on front and lower bout of back. The sound is stunning already, with fabulous punch and separation well balanced across the whole range. I know I shouldn't say so, but I'm very pleased with it.

Now I've got to build one just the same but with the Cherry that Tim persuaded me to buy!




Cuban/Swiss OM



Brazilian rosewood fretboard and bridge


Colin

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

Too Cool Colin. Very nice work

Beauty! great looking guitar. Id love to see some close ups of the details..

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Colin,
Stunning abalone details.
Very clean!
What benefits do you attribute to the x braced back?
I could ask the same of the parabolic X bracing as apposed to covension.

Wade

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Wade
Nashua, NH
http://www.wadefx.com

Wow Colin, That is a beauty!! Bet she sounds great. Have you got any recorded samples of your guitars?

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Very Nice Colin.

gorgeous top. Swiss spruce did you say? looks like very nice stuff.

Matt

Beautiful work Colin. Flip side pics? And as someone suggested detail shots. We're an insatiable bunch. Incredible drool factor, curb appeal, or just guitarlust? It's got it going on, congratulations.

Very nice Colin. Have any shots of back and sides. I know, but really like looking at beautiful guitars like this one

Very nice guitar. Your work is quite inspiring.

Thats brilliant Colin. Very lovely work. I want (need) to see the Cuban mahogany back and/or sides. What finish did you use & how did it progress? Details, man, more details.

Skip

Amen! to all that praise. And I 2nd (or 3rd or whatever) the desire for a look at that Cuban back.

Also love the little abalone detail on the bridge. Very creative.

Now--more shots, please.

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

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Colin,
What a Beauty!!!!
Can I break it in for a couple of months??
More Pic's PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for sharing
WalterK

Very nice! I too would like to see the back...

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Only badly."

Colin,



Lets see some more pictures!

jeff

Very nice work Colin. I guess the general consensus is we want to see the Cuban!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Beautiful instrument, Colin! Keep up the good work!

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Nicely done Colin. I too would love to see the Cuban back.

BTW, you are going to like the results you get from cherry. May I recommend a cherry neck as well?

John

That is sweet Colin! Nice work.

Thanks for all your kind words. OK, OK I will get my son to take some more pictures for you (I'm afraid I don't own a digital camera, except for ones owned by the US military they are not detailed enough for my work yet).

I'm afraid you'll all be mightily disappointed with the back, Cuban is a great tonewood, but not even it's own mother would say that it looked great! It's just sort of even dull brown, and your all zoot obsessed!

The finish is nitrocellulose, Mohawk's classic instrument lacquer.

See now, John How asked the right question, the one that really matters, what does it sound like?

Colin


Colin S38394.2112847222

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

John, yes I'm going with cherry necks on my cherry guitars. Following a 'conversation' with Tim I bought three sets of cherry (for 00, 000, OM) and the wood for three cherry/maple/cherry necks. I now have a policy of trying to use the same wood for the neck as for the back and sides whenever realistically possible. I've got some Bocote neck wood for my Bocote B&S set as well. I believe that only the amateur building for themself can take the risk of building outside the envelope.

ColinColin S38394.2098032407

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

Wade,

I'll detail my thoughts on bracing in a new thread. I think it might provoke a debate amongst those more qualified than me, but it follows the thoughts of many of the UK pro luthiers for the styles of music that dominate here.

Colin

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

Very nice Colin, gives us newbies something to aim for.

And being a newbie, I'm not sure what you mean by parabolic X bracing, I don't supose you've got pictures of the front and back bracing?

Parabolic, as opposed to Scalloped X-bracing. The way Cumpiano and Natelson describe it, basically.

I've just started a new thread on bracing profiles.

Go look and get arguing.

Colin

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