Official Luthiers Forum!

Yes I agree it won't do anything longitudinally, but the crosswise laminations should reinforce the heel somewhat, which would otherwise all be short grain. Besides, there are only 3 thin cross grain layers, so it really won't make much difference to anything.

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"I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it."
Pablo Picasso

https://www.facebook.com/FenskeGuitars

I've been working on the neck a bit. Got the headstock roughed out.





I'm also getting the linings on. Cue the classic 'peg shot'...



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"I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it."
Pablo Picasso

https://www.facebook.com/FenskeGuitars

Cool headstock design. I like the arc or buttress you've added to the treble side. The design on your drawings looked a lot like a Parker Fly headstock. I like this one better.

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Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right - Robert Hunter

Thanks! I was marking out the headstock and it just didn't look as good as I was imagining it, so I added the extra bit. It's been a bit of a pain though as it curves downwards as well as sideways, so I couldn't cut the headstock to thickness as I normally do. Worth it in the end though I think

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"I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it."
Pablo Picasso

https://www.facebook.com/FenskeGuitars

My thoughts exactly.
Yes, worth it!

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A man hears what he wants to hear, and disreguards the rest. Paul Simon

That's is the key point. Besides that, a lot will be removed by the truss rod route.

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A man hears what he wants to hear, and disreguards the rest. Paul Simon

I'm digging the headstock.

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

Thanks Bryan.
Actually I wasn't planning on fitting a truss rod. I kind of want to keep this one as simple/pure as possible, with no metal parts (obviously the tuners and frets are the exception). I believe most classical guitars don't have them and I've never felt the need to adjust one on any of my guitars.
Any opinions?

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"I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it."
Pablo Picasso

https://www.facebook.com/FenskeGuitars

Still no progress I'm afraid, and it doesn't look like there will be any for quite a while so I may have to pull out of the competition, but we'll see. :/
Just posting really because I've just seen this guitar from David Antony Reid which is using my rim soundhole idea! Looks like I wasn't the only one to think of it after all. He's using a normal soundhole as well though, but he says it's the best sounding guitar he's ever heard.

This is what he says about it:
"What you see in these images is the end result of closing and opening different areas around the peripheral of the guitars back, shaping the bass, mids and treble, just as you would electrically with an EQ, but purely acoustically; then binding-up those closed areas. The end result was the purest, clearest, most well balanced and crisp guitar tone I have ever heard, with a separation of every single note that I have always dreamt of; and with this work compleated I now can accept closure on what has been just shy of 19 years of guitar making development from me, knowing that I have achieved my goal, sharing this, for me, is the most important of all guitar developments: total, complete and utter control of tone."

http://www.darluthier.com/photos-of-FOR-SALE_13

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"I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it."
Pablo Picasso

https://www.facebook.com/FenskeGuitars

There's still a good amount of time. Don't give up yet!

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

I hope you can still stay in. I've really been looking forward to seeing how your design comes out.

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Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right - Robert Hunter

Thanks guys, I'm not giving up, I just think it's very unlikely I'll be able to finish it before May. But I'll keep posting updates when they happen!

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"I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it."
Pablo Picasso

https://www.facebook.com/FenskeGuitars

Well whaddya know, I guess I shouldn't give up on ideas so quickly Still, I think he was wise to only do it on the back, and keep the soundboard perimeter fully intact. But I could be wrong again.

Sorry to hear you're too busy to work on it at the moment. But do keep posting even after the game is over, because I definitely want to see how this one turns out.

Yeah he does make guitars totally different to everyone else as well. I guess his backs would be totally reflective and rigid being made sort of like a lute back, so that might mean the rim behaves differently to normal guitars. His plate tuning methods sound highly dubious to me, but I certainly can't argue with the results!
I do really want to finish this one, but I'm currently converting my van into a camper which is taking up most of my time at the moment!

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"I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it."
Pablo Picasso

https://www.facebook.com/FenskeGuitars

I just ran across another example of a rim soundhole guitar. The Contreras Carlevaro which has a top without a conventional soundhole, but has a gap all the way around the top between the top and the sides. The edge of the top is connected to the sides by some little blocks. The design is currently being built by a German builder named Eberhard Kreul.



And here's a photo of how it's braced:

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Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right - Robert Hunter

I'm liking the side spreaders.
Tough to improve on the simplicity of that design...

Yes, but the knot compromises the integrity of the design!

Alex

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"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker

I think the knot is there so the spreader can be installed in the proper orientation.

I have a special block of wood that looks just like that that goes in my binding jig to brace the router to prevent any unwanted movement.

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Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right - Robert Hunter

That's pretty cool! Not sure I like the shape though! I'd like to hear what it sounds like.
Haha thanks. It's engineered to perfection - the knot is there as a fail-safe so it doesn't exert too much pressure and break the mould... Actually I'm just too tight to buy those rigging screw things!

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"I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it."
Pablo Picasso

https://www.facebook.com/FenskeGuitars

I really want to see this build finished. There's a lot going on with the design.... It needs to come to fruition.

Thanks

Not the best recording, but the best I could find. He starts playing around 1:40. It sounds pretty much like a more conventional good classical guitar to me. Very clear with lots of sustain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqQP-NxfRAU

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"I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it."
Pablo Picasso

https://www.facebook.com/FenskeGuitars

Bumping the finished entries up to the top. . .

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.