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Guys (and girls):
Several people have asked for more info about this little project guitar. I knew basically what would be appropriate for Joan but it wasn't until someone here mentioned silk strings a couple of months ago that all the pieces fell into place..
Joan had to give up on her steel string guitar a year or two ago because her fingers hurt, she's been playing a Taylor NS42 ever since because the nice soft strings are easier on her hands. However, she never really cared for the tone and it was big and heavy. She enjoys playing the Hawaiian slack key style music and the nylon strings just weren't quite what she was looking for.
I figured that a triple 0 was small, short necked, easy to hold, and was pretty to look at in a old-timey style. I even shortened the scale length to 24.9" for softer strings, (it ended up with 21 frets, oops). As the silk strings don't have a lot of energy to impart to the sound board I knew I had to use a very light, responsive top, hence redwood. I believe (like Hesh) that lightness is paramount so I built this guitar extremely light, it probably doesn't weigh over 3 1/4 pounds. The top has been thinned to .105 and is braced in the traditional Hauser 7 fan bracing style. The neck is a standard LMI, mortised bolt-on, slot head with carbon fiber installed instead of a truss rod. The nut width is right at 1 3/4", maybe a tiny bit less, with the classical bridge string spacing it feels a little bit funny, but your right hand soon adjusts. Overall I was very pleasantly surprised with the tone using the silk strings, maybe a tiny bit lacking in the lows, but we'll see in a few months. When I tried some nylon strings it was less pleasing, maybe I'll try some different brands or tensions. I made two complete sets of saddles and nuts for both string types and action heights, she can string up and play whatever she wants.
I didn't mean to start a ruckus, I just wanted to share a slightly different, interesting project with you all. Hopefully James and Philip will go ahead and experiment, have some fun! I would label my project a success, it still looks, feels, and sounds just like a really nice guitar!
THANKS for giving me a place to talk to other people with similar interests.....
Mike
P.S. The more I play it the better it sounds, those silk strings are really cool!
_________________ The Biggest Little City, Nevada www.hammondguitars.comI love building guitars!
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