Official Luthiers Forum!

Walter after considering this for two days, even in the face of an enlightened contrary wisdom, I've decided to proceed in building an all Latifolia guitar, top, back, and ribs from matching sequentially cut woods.

Of course, this will require additional capitalization. Since you live in Las Vegas, is it possible you are feeling lucky? Let me know if you wish to proceed. How would you like an ebony inlaid Mother of Pearl fingerboard in the D45 tradition and matching bridge?

If you're thinking of doing it anyway, why not do it properly? Rosewood neck, fingerboard and bridge!

;-)Mattia Valente38410.2557291667

Bruce
I have a friend, and excellent luthier who is now building violins, who used to make classical guitars pretty much exclusively. He had a shop in the heart of atlanta and was such a craftsman that I once watched him replace the top of a guitar without removing the old binding. He just inlet the new top into the exsisting cup left by the old binding and did so perfectly, no gaps.
   Anyway, the point of this is that he made several guitars with brazilian bodies and tops out of padouk. Padouk is very similar to Indian Rosewood in its density, though it may be a litte more "metallic" in its tap tone response. These guitars sounded great and looked beautiful. They sold, big bucks, to classical guitartist.
   If it can be done using nylon strings on padouk, I'm thinking it can be done using steel on Latifolia.

Good luck with your project, Keep the edges thin, take lots of pics.

John

That's great that you are going ahead with it Bruce.

Would you mind keeping us informed on the progress and any pitfalls that you come across along the way?

And I have to agree with John, if nylon strings can drive padauk, steel strings should be able to drive rosewood without much problem.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Waiting on Walter, the big cheese. Whaddya say? It'll have to be a spare time project, folks are starting to whine!

Well Big "D", you're the Luthier.
Maybe I should not talk outloud.
Like I said earlier...I'm a Gambler.
Let me know what's going on.
Thanks, WalterK

Send check to 1815 Skyline Dr., Russellville, AR 72802, thanks, we'll get on it.

[QUOTE=John Kinnaird] Bruce
    Anyway, the point of this is that he made several guitars with brazilian bodies and tops out of padouk. Padouk is very similar to Indian Rosewood in its density, though it may be a litte more "metallic" in its tap tone response. These guitars sounded great and looked beautiful. They sold, big bucks, to classical guitartist.
   If it can be done using nylon strings on padouk, I'm thinking it can be done using steel on Latifolia.
John[/QUOTE]

Glad you posted this John. I purchased a striped walnut top for an all walnut guitar. All of these posts on EIR had scared me away from trying it. Heck, if it doesn't work I'll still have wall art.

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Don Atwood
Arlington, VA

I love the smell of rosewood in the bender.

[QUOTE=Dickey] I love the smell of rosewood in the bender.[/QUOTE]

Amen to that Bruce!!

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars