Quarantine Classical

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Brian Itzkin
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Nov 30, 2020 6:52 pm

Quarantine Classical

Post by Brian Itzkin »

Hello all, I've just joined the forum on the advice of John Hall! Feel free to read my introduction post to learn more about me!

This is a concert classical guitar in Madagascan rosewood and Swiss spruce I built in Granada Spain during the 48 days of lockdown in March and April. I used a modified Bouchet bracing in keeping with modern Granada tradition as established by the maestro Antonio Marin Montero after his correspondence with Bouchet in the 1980's.

Image

https://youtu.be/M_x08XczVg0
tippie53
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Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 7:09 pm
Location: Hegins, Pa
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Re: Quarantine Classical

Post by tippie53 »

very nice are these french polished?
John Hall
Blues Creek Guitars Inc
Authorized CF Martin Repair Center
president of Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans
http://www.bluescreekguitars.com
Brian Itzkin
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Nov 30, 2020 6:52 pm

Re: Quarantine Classical

Post by Brian Itzkin »

tippie53 wrote:very nice are these french polished?
Yes! This one was polished by the maestro Antonio Ariza in Granada who polishes my mentor Stephen's guitars as well as most of the other makers in Granada. I wanted to spend my time in Spain building instead of polishing
Brian Itzkin
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Nov 30, 2020 6:52 pm

Re: Quarantine Classical

Post by Brian Itzkin »

You can find more photos of this instrument on Siccas' website!

https://www.siccasguitars.com/shop/guit ... zkin-2020/
rcnewcomb
Posts: 359
Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2015 9:04 pm
Location: San Jose, CA, USA

Re: Quarantine Classical

Post by rcnewcomb »

Due you do a traditional Spanish heel for the neck joint? What about on your steel string builds?
- Randall Newcomb
10 fingers in, 10 fingers out - another good day in the shop
Danl8
Posts: 733
Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2014 7:50 am
Location: Chadds Ford, PA

Re: Quarantine Classical

Post by Danl8 »

Beautiful guitar, Brian. What scale did you build it to? Do you have a photo of the bracing that you can post here?
Brian Itzkin
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Nov 30, 2020 6:52 pm

Re: Quarantine Classical

Post by Brian Itzkin »

rcnewcomb wrote:Due you do a traditional Spanish heel for the neck joint? What about on your steel string builds?
Yes I build in the traditional Spanish method in a solara for my classicals. I use a modified Spanish heel joint with wedges as made famous by Jose Romanillos; a wide tapered slot is cut to accept the side as well a wedge which forces the side perfectly against the heel. The maker whom I apprenticed under used the standard 2mm slot in the heel but I find the wedge method to be a better method for me.

I use a bolt on neck with glued fingerboard extension for my steel strings.

Here's an example of the wedged heel joint I use from Wilson Burnham's blog:

Image
Brian Itzkin
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Nov 30, 2020 6:52 pm

Re: Quarantine Classical

Post by Brian Itzkin »

Danl8 wrote:Beautiful guitar, Brian. What scale did you build it to? Do you have a photo of the bracing that you can post here?
Thank you! This one is a pretty standard 650mm scale with 52mm nut width.

Here's the carved fans before gluing the cross struts above and below the sound hole and a photo of the instrument in the solera before the back was glued on

Image
Image
Danl8
Posts: 733
Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2014 7:50 am
Location: Chadds Ford, PA

Re: Quarantine Classical

Post by Danl8 »

Is the Bouchet brace glued to the fan? I know some variations just bridge the fan bracing without touching. Thanks for the comments on wedging the sides slots. I have a neck that has been waiting for decades due to a wider kerf than I thought prudent. :-)
Diane Kauffmds
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Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:13 pm

Re: Quarantine Classical

Post by Diane Kauffmds »

Absolutely gorgeous! I'm a French polisher too. I get into a zen state while polishing. You do really beautiful work.
Diane Kauffmann
Country Roads Guitars
countryroadsguitars@gmail.com
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