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Re: redwood 00

Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2020 2:20 pm
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

Re: redwood 00

Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2020 2:23 pm
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

Re: redwood 00

Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2020 2:30 pm
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

Re: redwood 00

Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2020 1:01 pm
by ruby@magpage.com
There have been over 300 views of this in 11 days and nobody has a comment??

Re: redwood 00

Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2020 8:02 pm
by rcnewcomb
There have been over 300 views of this in 11 days and nobody has a comment??
I am in awe. Speechless.

Re: redwood 00

Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2020 10:09 pm
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.

Re: redwood 00

Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2020 11:08 am
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.

Re: redwood 00

Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2020 4:43 pm
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

Re: redwood 00

Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2020 5:30 pm
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?

Re: redwood 00

Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2020 7:17 am
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