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This one has been awhile coming, and I've been very anxious to finish it. I still have some detail work to do, but not much. I'm letting it settle in so that those details are done right.

Final sanding of the body epoxy filler and French polish are on the list, so don't chide me on that!

I decided that it was time to get back to basics, so I wanted to do a Torres model classical guitar. I plan on doing a more traditional Torres later with higher grade woods, but this one served to get my feet wet.

White cedar soundboard, salvaged from canoe planking in the Torres tradition I decided to keep the center seam in center!

Front:

Lacewood body, 4 piece.

Spanish Cedar neck. Panormo style headstock. I love the sculptural quality of that headstock.

Cocobolo fingerboard, bridge, headstock face, and bindings.

Made my own herringbone for the purfling and rosette.

18 hole bridge

Gotoh Premium tuning machines.

LMI gold fretwire.

Compound radiused fingerboard, 6" at the nut, I'm not sure what it is at the other end...The fingerboard is also shaped to be 1 mm lower around the 7-9th fret so that it rises as it approaches the soundhole.

This is the easiest playing guitar that I've made thus far. The sound is very even and smooth. Nice Bass, nice treble, kind of "golden" if that makes any sense. Strings are D'addario normal tension.

Any questions I'd be happy to answer. Thanks for looking.

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Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/

Wow, Douglas, that's handsome!
Indulge our curiosity by posting a pic of the back?

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

OOPs! Thought that I had. Here it is

_________________
Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/

Really nice, Doug. I love the overall look. The Lacewood really makes a beautiful body. Do you have a close-up of the 18 hole bridge? I am really interested in that, as that's my next step in my process.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Just this one. I can take some other photos later if you need details.

Its pretty simple, actually. Make the trough between the tie block and the saddle ramp fairly deep. Drill the main string hole fairly low, and drill two tie hole above it. The arrangement for each string forms a triangle, but its just as easy to imagine 12 evenly spaced holes in a line above the main string holes.

One thing that I would advise is to build a little "shelf" or lip, at the bottom of the bridge, it helps keep the string ends off of the soundboard. A small issue as the ends are fairly low and point downwards slightly.

_________________
Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/

Looks great, Doug. Very interesting treatment of the headstock. I like it. Gives me ideas. Thanks.

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/

Whoa! That is nice!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Thanks, Douglas. That is stunning...

I love it...

(Sorry, I just had to use that new little guy.)

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Thanks for the bridge picture, and the explanation. That helps me a lot.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Douglas,

That is a really lovely guitar. I especially like the purfling. You should be proud!!

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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

Very nice Doug, I like the use of the Panormo headstock shape, you don't see many of them, (except on Panormos). Which plantilla did you base it on? and don't forget the sound clip when it's settled in please.

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

Beautiful Doug - she is one sexy guitar!!!

Doug -- it looks like an absolute winner. I really like the combination of the Lacewood, binding/purfling selection plus a the very artistic soundport. Congratulations!

Very nice Doug, I assume it sounds excellent!

Thanks everyone.

Colin, it started out with the Torres plantilla from the Courtnall plans, but the Lacewood had a few ideas of its own and didn't quite want to go exactly where it was told. As a result, the lower bout isn't quite as round as it goes up to the waist, and the upper bout is just a little wider. Also, I think that I was also working with the solera a little too high and my eye didn't catch the irregularities until too late. Its not a problem except to my pride, as in "I should have caught that. How could I have been so stupid!". That will NOT be happening again.

Sound clip?! I wish that I could...I don't have the equipment nor the knowledge to post a sound clip. If I could play as well as your Tarrega clip I'd find a way!

David, to my ears it sounds exquisite. Once I get the finish completed, I'll try and get it into the hands of some good players for evaluations.

_________________
Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/

All the details are so thoughtfully designed. Exquisite work!

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Ken Franklin
clumsy yet persistent
https://www.kenfranklinukulele.com

Very nice wood and nice match between its color and decorations. And the shape is quite interesting and reminds of an 18th century type of instrument.

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Build log

Hi Doug,

You've some great stuff going on with that guitar! I love the coco bridge and the panormo headstock design. Panormo was one of the inspirations on my own design. Cocobolo is one of my favorite tonewoods also. Great work!

Congrats,
Max

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Max Bishop
Brighton, Michigan

Thanks again.

Panormo guitars are an inspiration. I feel that they are at the cusp of being the first modern guitars. Definitely anticipating what Torres did shortly after. I have plans on doing a copy.

By the way, I wanted to add that this is the guitar that narrowly missed being built with a Tornavoz. Remember that heated discussion last fall? After that, I realized that there was more to building with a tornavoz than I was able to bring to the project at that point, and that there were no simple answers to building with one. I'm still researching the use of the Tornavoz, and getting closer. I will try on before too long...After Colin's recent guitar posting I'm even more curious.

_________________
Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/

Great work Doug, always nice to see a new classical guitar.

Beautiful!

I wanted to include a shot of the 6" radius at the nut. I have strength and dexterity issues with my left hand, so it was made to accommodate those issues. It works for me.

Before you all say anything, YES! I know that one of the strings is off center! This is the first nut that I made in establishing the string heights and correct curvature. This will be corrected in the final version.

Also, a shot of the 18 hole tie block for Waddy. I hope that this helps you with yours!

_________________
Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/

Nice, Doug, thanks!

_________________
Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars