Official Luthiers Forum!

Build #9

A comission for the guy who didn't win the last one I put on Ebay.

Walnut back & sides, rosette, & neck

Spruce top (from Stewmac)

Rosewood fingerboard & binding

Maple purfling

Bone nut

Gibson style tailpiece from Chopper's Music on Ebay

Bridge is a Shadow Piezo pickup supplied by the customer

Tuners from Stewmac.

Jack/strap button is a switchjack from Stewmac

Finish is Danish oil. 4 coats, rubbed on, rubbed off, no wax.

The new one is the top one here.

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The photos aren't showing up on my computer.

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

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

mine either

I can see them, if I right click on an icon, view the image and then go back. Don't understand it, but it works.

Now I can see all of them... I like it. Nice work.Aoibeann38989.5919907407

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Aoibeann

Bother.

They're here....

on my blog

sorry bout that!!

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I logged out and back in and I can still see them.

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Aoibeann

Oh allright, different host, lets see if this works!!

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Martin, that baby is sweet! How does she sound? Is the neck walnut also?

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Yup, salvaged from my favourite dumpster at a large shopfitters works!!!

Was back there yeaterday and got some oak.......

sound?

it's slightly more trebley than the original (but then the body is tighter)and it needs a chance to open up a bit. I'll try to post a soundclick before I post the Mando!!

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Ah go on then... here's the soundclick.....

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=563743&s ongID=4495566

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Martin,

Sounds good to me. Lovely walnut too. Do you get your wood from the same skip as George and Dermot

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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

That answers my question about how she sounds. She sounds great! Thanks for the clip.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Martin, what will it be when it opens up? Man, this baby has huge sound and is great looking!

You're an ongoing inspiration my friend!

Serge

[QUOTE=Dave White] Martin,

Sounds good to me. Lovely walnut too. Do you get your wood from the same skip as George and Dermot [/QUOTE]

Nope, they have to pay for theirs!!!!!

Was talking to a guy at my building class last night and he says David Dyke is sold out of Walnut cos the above mentioned gents have scored the lot!!!

Thanks for the kind words gents, as I've said before, a nod from you guys means alot as you've been there, got the splinters.

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Well done Martin. I cannot believe the speed in which you make these instruments.

Lovely "derriere" on the mando...and the finish is amazing for Danish Oil. Howdya get it so glossy? You must be VERY pleased with it.

I would say; the best one so far!!!!

I kinda wished I hung on and commisioned you for one of these mandonaughts, one cannot underestimate the volume and projection of these instruments.

Although my pine/mahog mando is still doin' fine!!

Those Stewmac tops are amazing, I guess you've been lucky.. I am tempted to apply for a credit card so that I can purchase from them. (did a bank transfer with my last order...took DAYS!!)

Martin, ANOTHER question about the shopfitter's wood cut-offs...was the walnut already thin, or did you have to resaw? I am wondering how you know if it is suitable for luthiery, for all the sawmills I have been to so far don't stock wood good enough for instruments, according to the blokes there.

I've been barking up the wrong trees..time to get my Yellow Pages out...

Keep up the excellent work.



Sam Price38989.6960185185

Most of it comes in long planks, ranging from maybe an inch square up to (wait for it) four inches by 8 inches. lengths vary from maybe a foot upto 16 foot!!!!

My biggest block this time was 3" thick by 14" wide and about 48" long. Walnut with a monster of a Knot in the middle,( which was why they's cast it aside) but there will be two sold boies coming out of it!!!

I put them through the circular saw here in school, but it can only handle 3 1/2 inches which explains all my multi piece backs!!


as to how do I know?

Half the time I'm only guessing what the flippin' wood is!!!!

I STILL haven't got a positive ID on the wood I used for the neck of the original mandonaught and the dread. I'm fairly sure it's port orford cedar, but when I asked the foreman yesterday if he had anyidea he hadn't a clue either!!!

My attitude is bung it together to see. if it falls apart I've learned a it, got a bit more experience and all it's cost me is the fingerboard, binding & top. all the rest can be salvaged.

I was resawing oak this afternoon, after all the kids went home. right on the limit of the circular saw's depth and the smoke was incredible!!!! Billowing down the corridor. Thankfully we don't have smoke alarms!!!
But the smell!!!

I actually had someone come up to the Tech dept and THANK me cos it smelled so good!!!!!

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Wow, oak...hope it's good stuff...please let us know how you get on with it.


Martin, you got any plans for anything else after the doubleneck? I am only asking, as you seem to think three builds ahead when I'm still poddling along with #1!!
Sam Price38990.3706597222

Next build after the double eh?

Well, a collegue in work has asked about a 3/4 sized guitar for her six year old.

No pre-requisites other than size.

Could be a home for the oak then!!

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Martin, that looks great!
I love the walnut, and as Sam says, the "derriere".
(Good one, Sam.)

SteveSteve Kinnaird38990.5262268518

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

ah well, said goodbye to this one today. Handed it over to the post office to deliver to Newcastle upon Tyne......

Right, Next build!!!!

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Congratulations, Martin. That's another satisfied customer!!!

Dare I even say I got my first commission the other night at a Ceilidh?
Someone wants me to make them a VIOLIN!!! I was like "Uhhh, you haven't even seen my guitar yet!!"

I think I'm gonna stop telling people now...perhaps I'll forward her onto you, Martin. Fancy making a violin??

Sam Price38992.5926273148

Great work Martin. I have been wanting to go down the mando road for a long time. But I keep getting talked out of it. I've built one and was very happy with it. Your's sounds wonderful!
Sam: my first commission was a fiddle. 5 string viola. It sounds scary but there's not that much to it. Go to your library and check out violin construction books. Then carve the plates in the Benedetto style (drill press). It makes pretty quick work of it.

fiddle?

no ta!!!

I'll have a bash at something I might be able to play (at least a bit) but fiddles?

naw, leave those to people that play 'em!!

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/\ Doesn't really appeal to me either. What puts me off is that she's a real perfectionist, and I'm not...

Aw no way!!!

Don't go there!!!

She'll expect a stradivarius and then give you bad vibes cosits only a flippin' good 2nd build!!!

BTW, where would you fit all your celtic inlay on a fiddle?

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