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Hi again

Sorry about my last post (hello, and here's my first guitar).  I couldn't fix the problem with the pics so I'm just reposting the same properly. 

The guitar took me about 5 mos. to build but I'm very happy with how it's turned out.  I'll probably try a steel string next time (hopefully this fall).  I learnt a lot building this one and hopefully I'll be able to improve everything next time around.

In terms of my next, I was thinking of using either sitka again or maybe italian or another european spruce.  Any suggestions?  Also, would Ziricote or Koa sound much different than EI rosewood?

Thanks and enjoy the pics.

 

 

 

 

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-Clint Beacock

Very very nice!   Great feeling to have the first one done isn't it.  Congratulations! 

Clint that is a beautiful guitar!

The rosette is nice, was that custom made by you?

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Joe Breault
Merrimack, NH
Perpetual novice

Um your firts this year??? That is one great first

Well done. How's it sound?

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Really nice Clint.  I like the rosette too.  What is the finish on this guitar? What did you do to soften the color of the Sitka?  Give us the details (fan bracing, size, etc.), or if they were in a previous post that I should know about, tell me to buzz off.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Nice work, Clint!

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Clint - great job - are you sure its your first?

I love the bearclaw top and your name inside on the brace - a very nice touch. 

Laurie

 

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Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.

Very beautiful!!

I also love the RICHNESS of the top's grain. I happen to like character in the grain. WOW!!!

Whachya gonna buid next?

Good job Clint. Really pretty looking.

As far as Italian or Euro Spruce, either will do really well on a classical as well as a Steel String.

For Classicals Sitka is not a typical choice as it takes more to drive the sound than European Spruce although John Gilbert was successful with Sitka topped classical. Sitka is most commonly used for Steel Strings.

The wood used for the sides and back can affect the tone of the guitar but less so than the choice of wood for the top.

Having said that Ziricote is hard and brittle so it will sound much more like a rosewood than Koa. If it is for your second guitar, you will find Koa easier to bend and work with than Ziricote which can be tougher to bend as it is brittle. Koa is closer to Mahogany in both weight, texture and workability.

It looks like your neck is mahogany. If you are going to build another classical try Spanish Cedar and see the difference in the weight. It is related to Mahogany but much lighter with the same strength and since the string tension is much less than a steel string is a lighter alternative.

keep up the good work.

Thanks for the feedback.

The finish is french polished using super blonde shellac.  It took about 3 tries to get the finish to where I was happy with it.  I'm really happy with how it plays and sounds - far better than my Takamine that I was using prior to this.

I built it primarily with Cumpiano's book as a reference but made a few changes inside with the top bracing based on recommendations from an accomplished builder in my area (I added two small braces pointing into the corners where the neck meets the body and angled the lower cross strut down towards the treble side a bit).  I went pretty thin on the top (.080 to .085) on the top and used white spruce for the top braces.

Thanks for the suggestions for my next one Shawn.  I'll likely go w/euro this time and I'll look into those spanish cedar necks.

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-Clint Beacock

Wow! Beautiful for a first or 31st guitart I'm sure. The binding and perf looks perfect! Nice one

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Chansen / C hansen / C. Hansen / Christian Hansen - not a handle.

Christian

Clinton, you sure nailed that one.

Nice execution on the end graft purfling, cut of the back of the headstock and love the bear claw top. You should be very proud.

P.S. Hesh doesn't pass out 5 clapping emoticons too often.

Wow, that is smokin'! Great job, and surely a guitar to be very proud of. Way to go!
Tracy

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Tracy
http://www.luthiersuppliers.com

Good golly, Clint! Very nice work. I'm assuming that the rosette is of your own construction, as I haven't seen anything quite like it before. Nice! Elegant headstock design, too. You also bravely went all-out with mitered purfling, and it looks great.