Official Luthiers Forum!

I've posted this guitar elsewhere, but not here. So here it is, it's essentially D size for the lower bout, but with a much tighter waist and different curves. 25.6" (650mm) scale, 1 13/16" nut, 2 5/16" bridge, the back is a 4-piece, black Braz headplate and butt wedge and oil varnish finish. Buck Curran of Arborea is currently playing it.
http://www.myspace.com/arborea2
http://www.flickr.com/photos/spinningonair/sets/72157603729042940/show/

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Laurent Brondel
West Paris, Maine - USA
http://www.laurentbrondel.com/

Another beauty! I like your skinny headstock with the bridge. Does your bridgeplate extend far beyond the back of the bridge? The heel is nice too, what kind of neck join are you using?

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Burton
http://www.legeytinstruments.com
Brookline, MA.

Yeah, I was wondering about the neck join too. Very delicate looking heel.
Very nice.

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Horton, MI

I like the heel, is that a bolt-on or dovetail?
Terry

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

About .600"




Bolt-on mortise and tenon.

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Laurent Brondel
West Paris, Maine - USA
http://www.laurentbrondel.com/

Laurent,

That's a lovely guitar. Parts of it are very "Sobellesque".

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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

Real purty.What exactly is the finish,and how is it applied?I`ve done different finishes,but would like to learn about more.
James W B

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

Nice, Laurent! I like it all. I, somehow, thought a Bloodwood guitar would look too red, but that one really is mellow. Good job on keeping in that way.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Dave, there was a thread on inspiration on the forum. Stefan's work is definitely inspiration to me although his way of building is quite unique. I'm using a more traditional method for bracing and neck joint for example.


James, it's an oil varnish. Behlen Rockhard over a shellac sealer. Applied with a 2 1/2" brush, between 6 and 10 coats (you have to scuff between each coat). Final coat is wet-sanded through the grades to P2500 and buffed on the wheel with Menzerna fine and superfine. Bruce Sexauer was of much help for the process and the kinks. His work inspires me as well, beautiful guitars.


Bloodwood is a great tonewood, very dense and not too easy to work with sometimes, but it's well worth it. No pores to fill either, I won't complain about that. The varnish tones down the redness. If left to oxidise (without finish) bloodwood turns more brownish.

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Laurent Brondel
West Paris, Maine - USA
http://www.laurentbrondel.com/

As tasteful as always, Laurent.
Very nice guitar.

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Very tasteful. I like the "lines", geometrically graceful. Clinton

Thanks all for the kind comments. If you're so inclined there are 2 sound samples of the guitar here:
http://www.laurentbrondel.com/images/A-1_it_bw/A1itbw1.mp3
http://www.laurentbrondel.com/images/A-1_it_bw/A1itbw2.mp3

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Laurent Brondel
West Paris, Maine - USA
http://www.laurentbrondel.com/

What a beautiful looking and sounding instrument you've got there. I love it! Congratulations

Great job Laurent.

Did Buck ever complete that guitar he was building?

He did an article for Acoustic Guitar magazine on the 78 Hedges/DuBourg .

Interesting music on MySpace.

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

Bruce, which one?

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Laurent Brondel
West Paris, Maine - USA
http://www.laurentbrondel.com/

It sounds really nice. What setup was used for the recording?

Very elegant! I too love the heel and you head stock has understated beauty!
Does it sound as good as it looks?

2 x small diaphragm condenser mikes about 1' from the guitar, one pointed to the neck/body joint, the other toward the bridge. No EQ, no compression.


Barry, there are 2 links for samples on a previous post.

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Laurent Brondel
West Paris, Maine - USA
http://www.laurentbrondel.com/

Sorry I missed that. The sound is very refined with great clarity.
The sound is in keeping with the elegant look. Well done Laurent.

Bloodwood is currently talked about as one type of replacement for pernembuco (violin bows) so I've always wanted to hear one. Do you have a dedicated sound clip, guitar only? I'm very interested in this guitar, with the Iti top!~

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Here is what a Parlor Guitar is for!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEa8PkjO6_I

I think bloodwood has a tremendous potential as guitar tonewood, it's very dense and has a beautiful tap tone, geared toward a bass fundamental with nice overtones and a clear ring. It's heavy though, but no more than the average cocobolo or Macassar ebony. And it's so stiff that it can be thicknessed quite thin.
Not sure of its use for bows, I can't imagine a classical musician playing a red bow, although it's easy enough to find dead straight billets.
As usual the hype will take off when (if) this wood becomes scarce and unaffordable.
Sound samples here:
http://www.laurentbrondel.com/images/A-1_it_bw/A1itbw1.mp3
http://www.laurentbrondel.com/images/A-1_it_bw/A1itbw2.mp3

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Laurent Brondel
West Paris, Maine - USA
http://www.laurentbrondel.com/