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Old Growth Honduran Rosewood/Appalachian Red Spruce 000

Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2017 9:34 am
by Diane Kauffmds
I found this set of Honduran Rosewood, which I picked up for an incredible price. I've decided to make a "flagship" guitar out of this wood. I'm inclined to make a 14 fret, 00 short scale, but that's up in the air right now; it could turn into am OM. But both guitars will reflect design changes that I've found will enhance bass and projection. I'm in the process of choosing a top set for, what what I hope will be a knockout guitar, both musically and aesthetically.

I'm undecided between Italian alpine spruce, Adirondack spruce, or white spruce. I used white spruce on my cherry 00 and it sounds fantastic.

I'm also designing an inlay scheme for the fretboard and headstock that will be elegant without being overwhelming. Of course, since it's rosewood, it must have roses. I think some butterflies might visit the roses...stay tuned.

I'm also thinking figured koa for the binding and perhaps cocobolo for the rosette and end wedge, with maybe a wee bit of abalone around the cocobolo rosette.

I'm also thinking of making the neck with figured maple, for a contrast.

If anyone has any thoughts on the soundboard, or other elements, please chime in. I want a well rounded guitar.

So this is my wood:
HRW.jpg

Re: "Flagship" Guitar

Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2017 11:10 am
by Kevin Sjostrand
Beautiful wood Diane, and the scheme sounds delightful!
It will be a fun one to watch.

Re: "Flagship" Guitar

Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2017 3:42 pm
by johnnparchem
The wood looks great! I like 12 fret 00 a little better than 14 but I know the market looks for 14.

Re: "Flagship" Guitar

Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2017 3:13 pm
by Diane Kauffmds
I think I've found the top wood. I remember watching a documentary on tv about two men, one a luthier, who was allowed to log fallen red spruce trees in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. Appalachian red spruce is very hard to find, and when found, the location is kept secret. They found a bunch of old growth trees here in West Virginia, which is why I've been searching for the tops for a couple of years. Ted Davis, the luthier in the documentary, worked with the WV Department of Fish and Wildlife, to find fallen red spruce logs. He died in 2008.


I finally found some of the wood, which belonged to Ted. Assuming it taps well she I get it, this is the top for the flagship:

Re: "Flagship" Guitar

Posted: Mon May 01, 2017 5:07 pm
by Diane Kauffmds
I received the HRW today. It's really beautiful with a nice, resonate tap. Here it is with Naptha:
PicsArt_05-01-04.41.07.jpg
PicsArt_05-01-04.42.18.jpg

Re: "Flagship" Guitar

Posted: Sat May 06, 2017 10:06 pm
by Diane Kauffmds
I got the adi top today. It's a very nice one.
PicsArt_05-06-06.30.32.jpg

Re: "Flagship" Guitar

Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2017 5:43 am
by Diane Kauffmds
I finally started work on this one. I'm going to make an OM or 000. I'm so impressed by the 000 that I restored, that I'm considering copying the bracing pattern for this guitar.

I joined 4 plates yesterday. I'll join the plates for this one today.

Re: Old Growth Honduran Rosewood/Appalachian Red Spruce 000

Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2017 10:42 am
by Diane Kauffmds
I've installed the rosette. I used sapele. I started the rosette at the soundhole. I inlaid abalone, without purfling on either side. I installed BWB purfling only on the outside of the rosette.
PicsArt_07-24-09.32.32.jpg

Re: Old Growth Honduran Rosewood/Appalachian Red Spruce 000

Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2017 10:46 am
by johnnparchem
wow that guitar is going to look great with the rosewood set you have.

Re: Old Growth Honduran Rosewood/Appalachian Red Spruce 000

Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2017 9:46 pm
by Talladam
Looks really cool. I'm looking forward to watching you build it!