redwood 00

Take us through building your guitar step by step. Post pictures and tell us what you're doing.
ruby@magpage.com
Posts: 1564
Joined: Thu May 24, 2012 8:03 am
Location: Chestertown Maryland

Re: redwood 00

Post by ruby@magpage.com »

1) The plate is usually on the back of the Stauffer head covering the tuner mortices, but I found a handful that had it on the front. In addition, I found an early one with this approximate shape in brass on the back, so I put my Ivoroid overlay on the front using an adaptation of that neat shape. Love the way the strings continue straight through the nut up to the tuners

2) I used Frank Ford's 10:1 banjo tuners and they are very smooth and easy to use. They are pretty heavy and this instrument comes in at 3.8 pounds, but I don't play standing up so not that noticeable. That's my anchor logo above the Ivoroid buttons.

3) Burton LeGeyt (among others) showed how wonderful a self binding can look, so I cut strips off the sides before bending to get a close match. Thanks Burton
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Last edited by ruby@magpage.com on Sat Sep 19, 2020 3:56 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Ed M
ruby@magpage.com
Posts: 1564
Joined: Thu May 24, 2012 8:03 am
Location: Chestertown Maryland

Re: redwood 00

Post by ruby@magpage.com »

1) The rosette is taken from early 20's Gibson mandolins, complete with the cross grained Ivoroid. The rosette and Ivoroid binding on the top took some color from the Endurovar finish. The Redwood has absolutely vertical grain across its full width with 25-50 grain lines per inch

2) The bridge is Resin-Ivory from David Warther. He and his grandfather Ernest are/were remarkable carvers. The material works well and weighs closer to Ebony than Rosewood, but does not have the hardness of either. Saddle is bone and pins are Ivoroid. Mr. Warther told me Titebond works fine, so we'll see
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Ed M
ruby@magpage.com
Posts: 1564
Joined: Thu May 24, 2012 8:03 am
Location: Chestertown Maryland

Re: redwood 00

Post by ruby@magpage.com »

1) The Endurovar is a wonderful feeling finish, especially on the neck. It does give a brownish tint and does not want to polish by hand like other finishes - I don't have spray or buffing equipment

2) I will try to get a sound clip after it settles a bit. It lacks a little clarity right now but has great bass

I really like the Endurovar - goes on well and sands very easily by hand. I am not so enthusiastic with the color it gives, at least in the thickness I applied it. The Frank Ford banjo tuners are wonderful pieces of engineering. Not passing any judgment on the Redwood/Maple for now, but sounds promising. This is my #9 and I am starting to think I understand some of this stuff - going to turn around and start the next one right away - Red Spruce on Ebaria, maybe a jumbo because my Ebaria is 9-1/2" wide

Maybe we'll see you all next time

Ed M
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Ed M
ruby@magpage.com
Posts: 1564
Joined: Thu May 24, 2012 8:03 am
Location: Chestertown Maryland

Re: redwood 00

Post by ruby@magpage.com »

There have been over 300 views of this in 11 days and nobody has a comment??
Ed M
rcnewcomb
Posts: 359
Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2015 9:04 pm
Location: San Jose, CA, USA

Re: redwood 00

Post by rcnewcomb »

There have been over 300 views of this in 11 days and nobody has a comment??
I am in awe. Speechless.
- Randall Newcomb
10 fingers in, 10 fingers out - another good day in the shop
Stray Feathers
Posts: 677
Joined: Sun Sep 08, 2013 11:39 pm
Location: Ladysmith, BC

Re: redwood 00

Post by Stray Feathers »

This is 'way beyond my ken because I am not familiar with the style you are working to emulate, so I would be bluffing if I tried to make constructive comments. I was also waiting for your promised audio clip to put that part into the equation. No question the work is beyond my ability - Bruce W.
Rag Thumb
Posts: 75
Joined: Sat Mar 24, 2018 5:41 pm
Location: Durham, NC

Re: redwood 00

Post by Rag Thumb »

Beautiful work Ed! As said by others, your skill level is way beyond mine.

I think I speak for everyone on the forum when I say thanks for the level of detail in this entire post. I'm sure that had to take a lot of time to shoot and post.

I love your idea using the "hook" of a utility blade knife to get a perfectly rounded top on a saddle. I will definitely steal that idea. That said, does anyone have any advice on tweaking the saddle for compensation? I know the B string gets adjusted often and I understand the concept but not the mechanics on how to file the saddle correctly.

Thanks again Ed.
------------

Rex
ruby@magpage.com
Posts: 1564
Joined: Thu May 24, 2012 8:03 am
Location: Chestertown Maryland

Re: redwood 00

Post by ruby@magpage.com »

My daughter was finally able to make it for a visit. She lives in Manhattan and the Covid has changed many things. She played a tune and I think the guitar sounds pretty good.

https://youtu.be/To7fHRSwzss

This closes the book on my Stauffer Redwood 00
Ed M
jread
Posts: 560
Joined: Wed Feb 13, 2019 9:52 am
Contact:

Re: redwood 00

Post by jread »

I can only hope to build a guitar a fraction of how beautiful this one is some day. I love the guitar everything from the unique sourcing of materials to the amazing bridge and an actual Stauffer.

ps. Not fair how great she is at fingerstyle! Ended just as the phone rang! Was that a..(cough) land line you old relic?
ruby@magpage.com
Posts: 1564
Joined: Thu May 24, 2012 8:03 am
Location: Chestertown Maryland

Re: redwood 00

Post by ruby@magpage.com »

Yes it's a landline. We've had it for a while and it's easier to keep it than to ditch it. And I use a flip phone.
My daughter tells everyone that she learned the guitar from me, but when she was 14 I showed her everything I knew in about a week (seriously) and she was off to the races
Ed M
Post Reply