Official Luthiers Forum!

I want to build an L-00 for my daughters boyfriend. Of course, I am thinking 1st of the L-00 Hondouran/ Europe Top.
In your experience, are there other woods, built the L-00 'light style' that can render the L-00 blues sound and, at the same time give more color, figure, density, etc. I don't want to sacrifice too much, if any of the Mahog. sound.--Do-able?

Hi Bob - This is kind of a tough question because there are a lot of considerations here.

First although I have built a Hondo/euro L-OO the originals were not built with euro and I am not sure about the back and sides.  So..... the authentic L-OO "blues" sound would probably best be obtained by using exactly what Gibson did in say 1937ish.  GAL has a plan now that Dave Anderson recently found and some of us ordered which may tell us more.  I'll let you know when I receive the plan.

Second my other L-OO as you know is Lutz/ Tiger Myrtle and although both guitars are braced exactly the same the old blind guitarist would never be able to guess that they have anything in common beyond body style.  Does the second one retain the original L-OO blues sound - no, it is more like a modern finger style guitar IMO.

Anyway the impression that I have is that you can do anything that you want with these little guitars with big butts.  A recent thread on bringing out more of the fundamental would be applicable here too if you want to check that out.

If it were me and I wanted to start with the original L-OO tone and make some changes I would start with the GAL plan, the same woods that Gibson used, and then the tricks of the trade to blend in the changes that I wanted.

I'd stick with honduran mahogany if you want a more authentic sound. If you want a bit more colour to the sound try using Cuban mahogany, Dave White always says it's mahogany with pretentions to be rosewood. I think it's more to the mahogany growl end of the continuum. Euro would be fine.

If it were me though I'd just use Honduran mahogany.

Colin

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

Great advice-to be followed.
I am curious about the 'other blues guitar', The Stella.
Can you generally compare and contrast the two, esp sound wise., and any other info you may have-playability, players comparisons, materials and where can i find best set of plans for one of these babys.
Thanks

Mahogany and Spruce, or Maple and Spruce, although I think a Black Walnut and Spruce can work. Red Spruce is preferred, but Sitka can work.

If it must have the vintage tone right away, it must be built at that "ready to explode" lightness that takes courage to approach. Very little arch to the tops and backs, and a "relaxed" build is important to get a "loose" sound. The small triangular bracing is a key point, no scalloping, but cut away on the brace sides.

Binding must be a simple single layer, no purfling, and sometimes no back binding at all. I wonder if plastic binding is better than wood on these in this case. Small rectangular bridge and small bridge plate. Oh, and 24.9" scale, 14 frets to the body, 12 works great too, just re-arrange the bracing to match.

_________________
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008907949110

I agree with Colin,
My friend has a 37' L-oo and it apprears to be made of Mahogany and it sounds just the way it is suppose to...beautiful. I'm trying to purchase the guitar but money stands in the way!

Stay away from exotic woods and play it out of tune and you'll have a winer.

walter

I have built a very light L-OO. It has a "thin top" Lightly braced and has a
great blues tone. I really like this one. I DID you some exotic woods.
Lutz Top/B&W Ebony back and sides

My own bracing design

_________________
Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

[QUOTE=bob J] Great advice-to be followed.
I am curious about the 'other blues guitar', The Stella.
Can you generally compare and contrast the two, esp sound wise., and any other info you may have-playability, players comparisons, materials and where can i find best set of plans for one of these babys.
Thanks[/QUOTE]

Bob,

Stellas were ladder braced.

_________________
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

I'm just impressed that your daughter has a boyfriend that you'd want to build a guitar for!

I'm still a few years (but getting close fast!) away from that stage, and I'm crossing all of my fingers to be so lucky.

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

I'm just starting an L-00 with Hon. Mahogany and Adirondack top and I'm perdy much building it like Andys. A thin top ,light Adi bracing,Brw fb.and bridge, and nitro finish.
I hope it turns out gooood! Have fun building your L-00 Bob.

_________________
Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Dave,
Are you proposing that the great 30's L-00s wee topped with ADDI? or something else?
Thanks for your and the others' great input.

Bob, I'm not proposing that. I'm just building mine with a nice adi top I have. I'm really not going for that 30's blues tone on this one,just a nice balanced sound that I like because this is going to be for my own use.

_________________
Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755