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Progress on my mahogany/italian
http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10102&t=10981		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  James Orr [ Sat Feb 17, 2007 1:48 pm ]
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Some things just feel really, really good.

Going to back to school had more of an impact on my building than I
thought. I have four hours between student teaching and an evening full
of classes, but I rarely feel up to working on my acoustic before there's
not enough time. But today I had nothing to outline. No papers to start.
No library to spend the morning in. And it led to a notching the sides for
the back and laying them on top...which felt really really good. This thing
might turn out afterall.



Author:  peterm [ Sat Feb 17, 2007 2:11 pm ]
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James, its looking great!!
Author:  Michael Lloyd [ Sat Feb 17, 2007 2:17 pm ]
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It certainly looks good from here, nice lines.
Author:  Don Williams [ Sat Feb 17, 2007 2:31 pm ]
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Alright James! Lookin' good brother!

Author:  Steve Kinnaird [ Sat Feb 17, 2007 3:04 pm ]
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Yeah, I'd feel good about that too, James.
Noticed different species on upper and lower linings.
I've done that as well, but would welcome your thoughts on this.

Steve
Author:  James Orr [ Sat Feb 17, 2007 3:46 pm ]
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Thanks guys!

Steve, I wish I had an intelligent reason. I have spruce and mahogany
linings. I thought spruce would do well against the spruce top, and
mahogany would do well against the mahogany. Why have you done it?

Hesh, my top and back/sides both came from Bob as well. I'm REALLY
looking forward to hearing the outcome! I have a great neck from John
ready and waiting    
Author:  LarryH [ Sat Feb 17, 2007 5:17 pm ]
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Something about mahogany. Nice work, it just looks like it will sound great.
Author:  Billy T [ Sat Feb 17, 2007 8:29 pm ]
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Outstanding work James! Clean!
Author:  James Orr [ Sun Feb 18, 2007 5:05 am ]
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Thanks, Larry! Thanks, Billy! I was about to point out some things I wish
were a bit cleaner, but realized it totally misses the point of the
compliment

I'm going to notch the rim for the soundboard today.
Author:  JohnAbercrombie [ Sun Feb 18, 2007 9:43 am ]
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James-
I think it's pretty amazing that you are going to school full-time and also finding any time to work on the guitar.
It looks good- lots of little steps and it will get done- ya gotta believe!!
John
Author:  Colin S [ Sun Feb 18, 2007 9:45 am ]
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[QUOTE=James Orr] Thanks, Larry! Thanks, Billy! I was about to point out some things I wish
were a bit cleaner, but realized it totally misses the point of the
compliment

I'm going to notch the rim for the soundboard today. [/QUOTE]

Your going to love that combination of woods!

One tip I'd give for the future that I find really helpful, do the notches for the top before putting the back on. That way you have access to the inside of the box. It took me ten guitars to work this out and life has been a lot easier since!

Colin
Author:  Serge Poirier [ Sun Feb 18, 2007 12:05 pm ]
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Looking great and neat James, feels good when we get enough time to concentrate on the tasks at hand!

Keep up the good work!
Author:  nathan c [ Sun Feb 18, 2007 12:28 pm ]
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Nice James. I hope mine looks that good in a few weeks. I noticed you used wider braces for the lower bought rather than tall braces. I plan on doing the same. I like the way they look. thanks for the pics.
Author:  Steve Kinnaird [ Sun Feb 18, 2007 3:31 pm ]
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[QUOTE=James Orr]

Steve, I wish I had an intelligent reason. I have spruce and mahogany linings. I thought spruce would do well against the spruce top, and mahogany would do well against the mahogany. Why have you done it?

[/QUOTE]

James, the times I've mixed species were probably due to a comment made by Richard Hoover of Santa Cruz guitars. He stated that he thought the use of Basswood would be of benefit around the top. His reason was that Basswood was the closest thing he could find to a tonally inert wood. In other words, he was hoping to decouple the top from the sides. Didn't want any of the top's vibration dissipating into and through the sides.
Of course, that's not an exact quote, but I do think it's close to his reason. So I tried that for a few.
It's easy to use mahogany (or whatever) for the back, and Basswood for the top. Does it work? I dunno. Too many other variables, and my building skills seem to be in a constant state of flux. So I'm unable to pinpoint any identifiable result from this one change.

I have used Basswood for maple-bodied guitars just because I liked the light-on-light look.
Lately it's all been Spanish Cedar just because I like the smell.

Sorry for all these words that say so very little.

Steve
Author:  Alain Desforges [ Mon Feb 19, 2007 8:31 am ]
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James, sorry I'm late! That looks fantastic my friend! I really love that shape... nice sensual lines. Your worksmanship looks top drawer as well!!!

I'm really looking forward to the finished product, so, string her up already!!!
Author:  Dave Rector [ Mon Feb 19, 2007 10:27 am ]
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James, very nice looking work you've done! I think you'll love the mahogany/italian combination.

BTW, do you intend to put a back reinforcement strip in there?
Author:  James Orr [ Mon Feb 19, 2007 11:01 am ]
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Hey guys

Thanks a bunch, still! I don't plan on putting a back strip, though I may
order one from LMI tomorrow if I decide to change my mind. What would
you recommend?

My enthusiasm was turned on again as soon as I realized how close I am.
I'm notching the the rim for the top right now. The pic just has the rim
layed over the back, but it isn't glued. My goal is to get it glued on by the
time the evening is over. If I go with a back strip, I'll use hide glue and
lay the strips inbetween the braces by hand.

Alain, it's pretty close to a Traugott R shape, but not an exact knock off.
The lines that go to the waste from the lower bout are a bit less curvy,
though just by an 1/8" per side at the apex of the curve.

I'm really happy with the wood combo. I really like euro tops, and John
Mayes recommended the Italian to me. The mahogany and spruce are
both from BobC. I like the tone of euro quite a bit. It's a lot like adi in my
opinion, but just with some of the sharpness shaved off the initial string
attack.

Thanks again!
Author:  Chris Cordle [ Wed Feb 21, 2007 1:24 am ]
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Looking good James!

Nice and clean work. Also really like the body shape.
Is that your own design?
Author:  Homeboy [ Wed Feb 21, 2007 1:46 am ]
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Beautiful James! I love that Mahogany.

Blake
Author:  Dave Rickard [ Wed Feb 21, 2007 2:17 am ]
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Looks great James
Author:  James Orr [ Wed Feb 21, 2007 4:14 am ]
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Thanks guys!

I glued the back on yesterday and hope to glue the top on this evening.

I wish it were totally my own shape. It's so similar to a Traugott R that I
can't even really say I modified it with too much integrity. There's an 1/8"
difference in the curves that go from the lower bout to the waste, and the
butt is flat.
Author:  Kim [ Wed Feb 21, 2007 7:54 am ]
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Looks very nice James, there certainly is something about Mahogany, classic.

Cheers

Kim
Author:  Alain Desforges [ Wed Feb 21, 2007 8:32 am ]
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Right on James! Just exactly who is this 'Traugott' you're talking about?

... I'm kidding of course! Did you have access to a true live Traugott to make tracings?

I'm looking forward to see this baby come together!
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