Some progress on kmg 000c

[ColestineGuitar]

Dave, I followed the link you posted. I'm kind of excited about the design choices he's made. Now, regarding that florentine-vs-venetian question of yours, I think you'd need to practice that venetian bend using the kind of wood you're hoping to use for the sides... however, that florentine cutaway really compliments the upper-bout sound hole (as shown at http://www.liutaiomottola.com/instruments/Ipomoea.htm). I'd use it because of that.

[deadedith]

I have not bent a cutaway yet. I have to take 10-40 grams of Ativan to bend a regular side. :-)

But the florentine look is one I really like, and I may give that a try.

[deadedith]

Started as a 000 cutaway. Ken did not know about the mods til yesterday,

[deadedith]

I had some other and I think better ideas for that extension, but just don't know that I have the chops yet.

[Ken Hundley]

Actually, Tony, you bring up a good point....I'm not sure How I would fix those on.....maybe scrape the finish away so I get good wood-to-wood binding. I would be concerned otherwise that vibration, a slight impact, or catching on someones clothes might pop them off. I love the look, but I would think carefully how its done.

[deadedith]

I am not going to leave them at that thickness. I will graduate the end of the fb to the next lower piece and so forth. I think the curves will make a big difference.

[deadedith]

BTW I had some scrap piece of cocobolo around - just enough to cut a binding strip for the rosette. Does not show up too well in the photo, but looks kinda nice. I cut the soundhole with a circle cutter by hand; that cutter really moves in the drill press and freaks me out. I used it to cut the cocobolo and it turned out okay except for a mountain of orange dust everywhere.

[ColestineGuitar]

I really like the look of that soundhole rosette... do you think a similar thing could be done around an upper bout sound port?

[kencierp]

Great WOW!! factor very "Artful" if there is such a word.

I am going out on a limb -- and give a "SWAG" as to the sound that might evolve ( I think its going to take time to break-in).

As compared to a similar OM cutaway this will have a little less bass response, a little less resonance, more volume for the player, less volume for the audience, generally more of a Jazz "F" hole sound quality. I base this prediction of my personal analysis (guess) of the bracing pattern and its "hefty" structure. It seems to me that the ladder brace at the bridge and the tone bar between the lower bout X are not necessary and will tend to "slow" the top response and lessen the decay and natural overtones expected from a "flat top." Single note runs should really jump out. No matter this is a wonderful, beautiful project and I would think the expectation is that it will have it very own personality. -- Way to go!!

[deadedith]

That's a good analysis, Ken, and about what I was aiming at. I want a little dryer sound with a little less sustain than a standard braced instrument.
Some things that do not show in the pic - the braces are thinned quite a bit; in fact, I think the total mass of the braces is more than a little less than the standard pattern.
Also, I did not inlet the braces other than at the headblock. As well, the extra bracing I did add was for two purposes: top crack resistance and better balance tapping around the top. Without those braces there was a lot of unsupported territory on that top.
All in all I agree that it will take some time to open up and that it will, by design, be more on the jazzy side than the wide open sustain style. Oh, and the back with the 3 braces does tap correctly and should diffuse the sound a little more.