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Well, I've been working feverishly in the shop for the last 5 days to get this finished in time for Christmas. I've been finishing up the French polish and the final set-up for the last two days.

It is a Reyes copy flamenca negra from the GAL Tom Blackshear plans. IRW from Allied, Lutz top from Shane, Koa and Tulipwood trim, Padauk backplate on the headstock and Spanish Cedar neck (stock from BobC; aka the Zootman)






The body and neck are all French polished. I've used Tru-oil as a neck finish on my first and I'm anxious to see how the FP holds up on this one.





The Padauk backplate helped to bring out the red and orange hues in the Tulipwood centerstrip on the body and headstock.







The setup is truly flamenco; the bridge is only 7 mm high at the saddle and the strings are only 10 mm off of the top at the saddle. Action is at 2.8mm at the 12th fret for the bass side and at 2.6mm at the treble. I can't wait for it to play in a bit but it seems to really have that great flamenco percussive rasp I was hoping for.



I haven't attempted to do one of my own rosettes as yet. This one is from Dmitri Zhevlakov in Tula, Russia ... along with the matching strip on the tie-block which matches the inner and outer details of the rosette.



I followed the Greg Byers and Paul Jacobsen recommendations for intonation and it seems to be spot-on.

Now I can sit back until at least next Wednesday.( I need few days rest..)

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Peter

Very nice guitar Peter!
excellent french polish and great headstock!
I like it.

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

WOW Peter that is one gorgeous guitar!!!

The finish looks superb too and I really like the action shot of you french polishing.

Great job my friend!!

That's right up my interest alley!  Sweeeeet!  Really classy looking.     

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Very beautiful

Peter,

Fabulous guitar - there are some great fp finishes appearing on the OLF recently. Are you going to put a golpeador on the top?

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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

Great looking gutiar! I particularly like the way the back stripe grain orientation. I had never thought of doing it that way but it really makes sense and it looks great!

Beautiful combination of woods - excellent workmanship! Nice Nice Nice!

Beautiful! I'm just finishing up one from the same plan now, and mine doesn't have that flamenco quality to it. It sounds more conventionally classical to me. Pictures soon, hopefully.

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

[QUOTE=Dave White] Peter,

Fabulous guitar - there are some great fp finishes appearing on the OLF recently. Are you going to put a golpeador on the top?

[/QUOTE]

Thanks Dave,

I have found that the FP looks better and better the more you level between sessions. I used 2500 wet/dry and a few drops of mineral oil as a lubricant to level between bodying sessions and the following FP coats really began to pop.

I will wait a few weeks until the FP firms up a bit before attempting to put a golpeador on it. I plan on using 0.010" clear and gluing it with diluted Elmer's. I don't like the adhesive backed golpeadors because I think that they add an additional degree of damping. Until then I will use a set of "Kling-ons" to protect the top while playing. I definitely won't be playing and adding a golpe for a while yet. It will take some conscious thought to avoid it..

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Peter

Peter,

Outstanding work on the new guitar! I love the center strip on the headstock. Harks back to some of the old time masters. Beautiful.

Congratulations,
Max Bishop
Brighton, Michigan

P.S. I would love to get together and rap about flamenco and guitars some time.

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Max Bishop
Brighton, Michigan

Awesome Peter!! Glad to hear that the sound you were after appeared for you! Have a great Christmas!

Shane

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Canada

Congrats!

One question. Are you sure the end ball of the high E is going to hold. If that string gets away, you'll end up with a horrible ding in the top - don't ask me how I know :(  Since then, I put an extra loop/knot on the E and B.

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Build log

Alex,

Thanks for the word of caution.... I'll do it! I plan on adding a small clear plastic strip about 1" x 2 3/4" along the bottom edge of the bridge to protect from just what you are referring to. I first noticed this on a GV Rubio guitar and thought it was a great idea to add just a bit more protection from those wicked string break scars that seem to inevitably catch all guitars over the years.

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Peter