Official Luthiers Forum!

Finally got the back glued on the classical yesterday and this morning it
came off the workboard for the first time and is starting to look like a
guitar.

Not quite as visually impacting as many of the instruments being made by
others in this forum but its my first classical so Ive kept things fairly
simple......most of design is based on a Torres instrument and materials
are noting adventurous...rosewood back and sides, Sitka top.

First time posting photos, please let me know if the pic doesn't cmoe out
right.

Cheers Martin


kiwigeo38782.2962962963

[QUOTE=Hesh1956] Hi Martin. A classical is on my rather long list of
guitars to make in the future so I would be most interested in seeing
yours. Regarding the materials that you used, your list makes the most
interesting guitars to me in as much as how it's put together is the focus.

Your picture(s) did not show up so if you wish PM me and I can talk you
through it. Some tips for now:

1) Resize to something like but no need to be exactly like 600 X 450.

2) Save the resized photo with a new name (so you preserve the full sized
one) to your desk top.

3) Right mouse click on the picture's icon and then left click "properties".
You are looking for it to be no larger than 150K. If it is the OLF will not
upload it and you can resize it smaller than above.

4) Lastly a .jpg file is desirable if you need to convert the file type.

I hope this helps.

[/QUOTE]


Thanks Hesh,

The pic was within specs.....I suspect the problem is to do with the mac
Im working on. Will double check and re try.

Cheers Martin

Still having problems uploading photos. Anyone else on the forum using a
Mac. Im on a Power Book running OSX (jaguar) and pics have been
converted to jpeg from iphoto format.

Cheers Martinkiwigeo38781.8662384259

Ok technology getting the better of me here.....will have pics up as soon
as Ive sorted out some bugs.

And people ask me why I love building guitars....low tech..low stress!!!

Cheers Martin

Problems tracked down to the Mac's native browser (Safari). I switched to Firefox and everything seems to work ok. Anyone else had problems with Safari?

Cheers Martin

nice work Martin. Let us know how it turns out when you get the strings on it.

Robbie

Hi Martin,
            Good looking work so far . I always take my hat off to people who pipe bend their sides.
I really like the look of that rosette . Did you make it or buy it ?
   How about a closer shot of it.

Regards KiwiCraig

_________________
CRAIG LAWRENCE of AUSTRALIA
_____________________________________________

[QUOTE=kiwigeo] Problems tracked down to the Mac's native browser (Safari). I switched to Firefox and everything seems to work ok. Anyone else had problems with Safari?

Cheers Martin[/QUOTE]

Me too. OSX Tiger , 10.4.4, Safari 2.0.3.

_________________
now known around here as Pat Foster
_________________
http://www.patfosterguitars.com

[QUOTE=Hesh1956] Hi Martin. A classical is on my rather long list of guitars to make in the future so I would be most interested in seeing yours. Regarding the materials that you used, your list makes the most interesting guitars to me in as much as how it's put together is the focus.

Your picture(s) did not show up so if you wish PM me and I can talk you through it. Some tips for now:

1) Resize to something like but no need to be exactly like 600 X 450.

2) Save the resized photo with a new name (so you preserve the full sized one) to your desk top.

3) Right mouse click on the picture's icon and then left click "properties". You are looking for it to be no larger than 150K. If it is the OLF will not upload it and you can resize it smaller than above.

4) Lastly a .jpg file is desirable if you need to convert the file type.

I hope this helps.

[/QUOTE]

Hi Hesh,

If you want to see classicals, drive 40 minutes south and see the "twins" I am working on.

BTW, there was an interesting article in the local rag today about a luthier in Ann Arbor who has won a $500K grant over 5 years to study and improve the art of violin making. His name is, Joseph Curtin. At first, I thought he might be you and then he said that he didn't have any power tools in the bathroom. I was going to post a link to the article but it's not available in the on-line version.

Steve

martin,

safari sucks....... firefox rocks!!

i am a Maccy too, and i just select the photos i want in Iphoto and then click the share tab at the top, then click export, and scale images no larger than 600x400, and i havent had any problems,

sorry if i'm teaching you to suck eggs!!

paddy

KiwiCraig,

The Rosette is a stock standard Stewmac job (see photo). Getting the thing fitted was a tale of much woe and nashing of teeth. Ended up going through 2 spruce tops before I got it right:

Attempt 1 - used Dremel and Stewmac rosette jig. Routed one of the channels in the wrong place.
Attempt 2 - used Dremel again and routed the channels in the right place but while routing the depth adjustment on the router jig slipped and I went right through the sound board!
Attempt 3 - Used a Trend T5 router and a circle cutting jig (see photo) and did a perfect job. Also made a much cleaner cut than the Dremel.

Cheers Martin

Martin, your box looks very neato and your craftmanship seems flawless! Good job mate and good on ya!

[QUOTE=Serge Poirier] Martin, your box looks very neato and your craftmanship seems flawless! Good job mate and good on ya! [/QUOTE]

Neato..yes. Flawless.....no. Being my first classical there are a few flaws in this instrument:

1. Sides dont mate flawlessly into the heel block...theres a visible gap. I hand sawed the slots and was slightly out with angle of the slot.
2. Problems as described in previous post with routing of rosette channel.
3. Stuffed up trimming back braces the first time around...ended up replacing all back braces (replaced cedar braces with sitka spruce) and most of back lining.
4. Headstock veneers were too thick and looked awful when glued up. Planed them off and slapped on some thinner veneers.
5. hand cut the channel for back seam inlay....cut it a tad too wide for the inlay I had selected but luckily had a slightly thicker inlay that wasn just as nice.

Lots of mistakes but one's I've learned from.

Cheers Martin

[QUOTE=Robbie O'Brien] nice work Martin. Let us know how it turns out when you get the strings on it.

Robbie[/QUOTE]

Thanks Robbie,

Have to head off to work in a few days so wont be doing much more work on the classical until I get back. Currently racking my brains over selection of purfling and binding.

Cheers Martin

Looks good, Martin. I'm most interested in your revolutionary tuning gear arrangement in the first photo.

Don't forget, He's from down under. Most things seem a little upside down to us, but not to worry...It all comes out in the end.

Good job Martin Joe Beaver38782.7100347222

_________________
Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

[QUOTE=CarltonM] Looks good, Martin. I'm most interested in your revolutionary tuning gear arrangement in the first photo. [/QUOTE]

Aaaaand the chocolate fish goes to Mister Carlton!!!

I was actually sitting swooning over my baby last night and suddenly noticed something strange about the machine heads and then there was the horrible thought that by then half the world had probably noticed as well. I then decided to say nothing about it and see who would be the first OLF'er to notice.

It does pose the question though....why do the tuners HAVE to go on the underside of the headstock????

Cheers Martin

[QUOTE=kiwigeo]Aaaaand the chocolate fish goes to Mister Carlton!!![/QUOTE]
Mmmm...chocolate! I'll start at the tail! Should I use lemon?

[QUOTE=kiwigeo] [QUOTE=Serge Poirier] Martin, your box looks very neato and your craftmanship seems flawless! Good job mate and good on ya! [/QUOTE]

Neato..yes. Flawless.....no. Being my first classical there are a few flaws in this instrument:

1. Sides dont mate flawlessly into the heel block...theres a visible gap. I hand sawed the slots and was slightly out with angle of the slot.
2. Problems as described in previous post with routing of rosette channel.
3. Stuffed up trimming back braces the first time around...ended up replacing all back braces (replaced cedar braces with sitka spruce) and most of back lining.
4. Headstock veneers were too thick and looked awful when glued up. Planed them off and slapped on some thinner veneers.
5. hand cut the channel for back seam inlay....cut it a tad too wide for the inlay I had selected but luckily had a slightly thicker inlay that wasn just as nice.

Lots of mistakes but one's I've learned from.

Cheers Martin
[/QUOTE]

Well, Martin, let me say that you have the right attitude towards mistakes and learning, it probably that my novice's eyes are not accustomed to fine details but to me, your guitar workmanship skills look great from here. i have to admit that i did not notice the tuners were on the other side tho! Very interesting concept! Keep up the good work bro!

[QUOTE=CarltonM]
Mmmm...chocolate! I'll start at the tail! Should I use lemon? [/QUOTE]

I wouldnt recommend lemon.....chocolate chips maybe.

Martin