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Here's the latest creation taking shape. A first for me as it's a Weissenborn type acoustic lap-slide. As a prototype, I'm trying to make it as much as possible from odd pieces of wood I have had around the workshop for a while. So it will have English walnut sides with Sapele top and back. The top and back will each be 4 piece.

Here's the rim set with peghead attached - a totally new experience in neck building for me:



The top rough cut with rosette installed:



A closer view of the rosette:



I'm doing a photo-documentary of the build on my website.

Thanks for looking.Dave White39031.8354050926

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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

Khaya?

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"It's a Tone Faerie thing"
"Da goal is to sharpen ur wit as well as ye Sgian Dubh"
"Sippin Loch Dhu @Black lake" ,Kirby O...

Very nice Dave, I hope someday to do a ladder braced version similar to that. And yes, you get away with a real short neck huh. Keep the progress pics coming and let hear a sample when you string'er up.

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

oops Sapele

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"It's a Tone Faerie thing"
"Da goal is to sharpen ur wit as well as ye Sgian Dubh"
"Sippin Loch Dhu @Black lake" ,Kirby O...

Cool Dave! I'm liking it!
You wouldn't believe how many folks have been asking me about Weissenborn sets lately. Must be they're getting popular with the builders.

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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."

Very cool. I would love to see picts as you progress with construction.
Please post more

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Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

Excellent Dave,

I have been hoping to see how one of our more experienced members tackle a Weissenborn and I am really pleased that it is you who has picked up the ball.

I will follow the photo-doc closely. Have you had the opportunity to hear Aussie Jeff Lang play? He does incredible things with a weissenborn and has recorded some good albums of late.

It may interest you that he post the various tunings he uses for each track on HIS WEBSITE from memory, he also has a few low bitrate tracks to download from there as well, "London" is a nice track and "1952 Vincent Black Lightning" is a classic.

PS, if you have the bandwidth here is a small DVD clip of his track "London"

Cheers

Kim

larkim39031.8968865741

Wow, Dave, that's going to be mighty pretty! Indeed, keep us updated on your progress.

Dave, Very nice and interesting instrument! I will look forward to more progress pics and soundfiles as well!

Thanks!

Finally, someone to do a Weissenborn!! Very nice Dave. I just ordered my Weis. wood and should be able to start next week. Nothing sounds like one. Did you use the Stewart/Mac plans?

David

I have been asked to build one too, I'll be following your build, Dave. Good timing!      

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

Brilliant! Another fantastic build progress to follow...

I can see why you have been insprired by Christophe Grellier; his White n'borns are beautiful!!!
Sam Price39032.1515162037

Another of your special projects DAve, I love it when you post one, keep us updated as this is a first for the forum and I'm sure we are all keen to see how it goes. Nice walnut is it from Andy?

Colin

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

Dave that is looking very nice. I'm glad to see you tackle this project. Look forward to following your progress.

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1109 Military Rd.
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(716) 874-1498

Right on Dave!

Very cool instrument and very interesting project!

I too am lookin forward to the updates...

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

Thanks all.

John - a ladder braced one would be cool, but from the research I have done not many of these were made and the sound of the X braced ones are generally preferred (whatever that means )

Don and Bob - I'm happy to help generate sales of Weiss sets

Kim - lap-slides seem to be very popular down under, both in terms of builders and players. "London" is really cool, that instrumental break is amazing and funnily enough reminds me a bit of Richard Thompson's "New St George" on "Henry The Human Fly". The other player I really like is John Butler.

Hsh - Cool mon

David - I made my own plans, based around the dimensions I found in the Acoustic Guitar article on Weissenborns. The bracing etc won't be "traditional" as I'm trying to see how my methods translate to this insrument. The top and back will be domed to my usual degree and the back for example will have a double X brace.

Colin - No. I bought some walnut pieces from Isaac Lord here in High Wycombe a few years back including a long 3"x3" piece that I thought would be useful for necks and binding. It's perfect for Weissenborn sides:



I'll post pics of progress from time to time, but you can follow it at your lesuire here.Dave White39032.3950347222

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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

Man, I hope this generates suppliers to carry at least a few pcs. in longer length(here in the States). Koa can be found at Volcano Guitar Works and I was really glad to find mine there. Some other wood that I personally like to find in Weis length is Myrtle. The Sapele your using is nice too. Wouldn't mind getting my hands on some of that. You can't tell that you've done the top w/4 pcs!! A true craftsman.

David

Very nice Dave! Can you play one of those things?   I'm planning on building a lap steel, but might try one of these. Is it just an acoustic lap steel?

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

Ron,

I play some slide guitar, and plan to learn how to play a Weissenborn using Kelly Joe Phelps homespun video and some good websites I have found. The techqniques will be different as you use a bar slide and all of the string muting techniques I'll have to subtly re-learn, I love the sound though so am really looking forward to it.

Yes - I think it is an acoustic lap steel.

There are some good things about the building though - you don't need frets as such - just fret positions so you can use wood veneer; no intonation issues to ponder - the saddle is at the scale length for all strings; and the neck set is not an issue either

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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