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[QUOTE=John How] I'm thinking about adding...a thin piece of carbon fiber but I'm really not sure yet as I want it to sound like a stella.[/QUOTE]
Do it, John! You'll want it to sound like a Stella (and be playable) for at least your lifetime, I would think. Some compromises are more than warrented when they correct an obvious shortcoming, and you've already done that by adding carbon in the neck. Some carbon sheet or small bar on the bridge patch sounds ideal in this situation, and it might give you the best sounding "Stella" ever heard! It might also help to prevent a similar set of soundboard cracks on your new instrument, too. BTW, this is a very cool project, and I bet it's going to sound sweet no matter what you decide.

John, that is cool guitar, just plain cool!

Steve, thanks for sharing those pics! LanceK38807.6252199074

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

So, since John went through all this effort to catalogue the dimensons of the Stella, does this mean there might be some OLF Stellar Stella plans in the works maybe? I think it would make a great addition to the library of plans. No pressure. Just wondering out loud.

Steve, your grandfather's guitar is a beauty!

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Joe Breault
Merrimack, NH
Perpetual novice

Well, many thanks for the kind words, guys. I felt a little queasy with my pics, not wanting to cut into John's superb post. But just think of it as another nod to the past, and perhaps inspiration to go beyond today's herringbone or abalam trim. There are other options.

John, a spruce bridge patch is standard issue on Bruce Petros' guitars. Only he laminates a thin veneer of ebony over the spruce for longevity's sake. And his guitars are all howitzers. I'd add the CF without another thought.

SteveSteve Kinnaird38807.8077546296

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

ok, lets start a thread just to nudge John into getting those plans into the library. No pressure though . For some reason this project has really caught my eye. I guess cause I really like the delta blues but know so little about the history, but I'm learnin it here. I'd like to build a similiar guitar myself, as if I could play the stuff .
Mike

I could do that If MichaelP is willing to make ot look nice.

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

Excellent john, I hope MichaelP will clean them up. Not just becuase I'd like to build something similiar, but also because it truely is a part of our musical history. Did that sound convincing enough?

Absolutely georgous! But what isnt out of your shop!
I saw a Stella repro project over at frets.com as well -

http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Museum/Guitar/Gryphon/Stella Clone/stellaclone.html

I just love those old guitars having had a few over the years, i wish I had of kept em.
Cheers
Charlie