1966 Rameirez Revisited

[warren47]

Back in July of last year I asked a few questions about the 1966 Ramirez. Got a few answers and a fair bit of education. So, how to begin? Its nearing the end so I will start there. I have a photo blog to post but here is a shot of the back. Brushed on poly. I will show close ups a bit later but let it suffice to say all of my errors have come to haunt me at this point. Also is shown a picture of the front after the final shellac was sanded. French polish to follow. If you look in the background you will see that I do not have a work shop. I am using what rooms in the house that suit the need. Sanding and plane work were done at our old house or outside here.
Edited. Picture of front has been replaced. Image was a different guitar. Added image of top as bridge is being added. Please note use of exotic tools

[koolimy]

Is your top super thin? I can see the outlines of the braces very clearly in the first photo.

How does the guitar sound? I myself have built 2 37 Hauser style guitars, and it seems pretty easy to get a good sound out of that kit, although I don't follow the plans at all LOL. I wonder what a 1966 Ramirez would sound like, and if it's easy to get a good sound or not. I have heard that Bouchet style guitars are really difficult to do well, but maybe Ramirez is easier.

Does it have the famously long scale length of the Ramirez's? I have heard they can go to 660mm, maybe even more. I shudder to think about playing one, but maybe it's not as awful as one might think.

What are the woods? The back wood seems quite pretty... can't tell if it's some sort of Mahogany or Rosewood type wood.

Great job, and really wonder what it sounds and plays like.

[warren47]

Back and sides were purchased as mahogany. Top was purchased as AAA spruce. I have not strung it up as I do not want to get disappointed before the finish is respectable. I opted for a 650 scale.

[warren47]

I am so sorry. Image of the "top" is an earlier re-top to be described later. Correct image will be added soon. Tops on both guitars are in the 0.070 in range. The image shown is of a top assembled using liquid hide glue. John Hall says that is a no no.

[koolimy]

I see! That mahogany sure is a pretty specimen.
0.07 inches seems to be around 1.8 millimeters... that is quite insane! Is that all over or just the edge? I have heard of 2.4 millimeters, but 1.8 is totally uncharted territory for me. Now I am really curious how it will turn out! Are Ramirez's usually that thin? My only experience is with Hauser so maybe I'm used to thicker tops.

650 is the traditional scale length... was the plan that way or did you modify it? I found myself preferring shorter scale lengths as I come to terms with the fact that my hands are small and my fingers short LOL.

Hope you give us an update on how it sounds!

[warren47]

I may have mis stated thickness. Probably closer to 0.075 (note, movers decided by build notes were not important and did not pack them.) I did not follow the plans too closely. I did not laminate the sides as Ramirez did. I made the decision to shorten the scale.

[koolimy]

I see, 0.075 is still below 2 mm it seems, so it does seem quite thin.
I am interested in how it will sound! I heard that Torres style guitars can go really really thin, maybe Ramirez calls for really thin plates also. Just interested and curious.

Give us updates once you put on the strings!

[warren47]

I am going to continue this build blog even though it is in "Show it Off" I have requested that it be moved to "Blog your Project."

[warren47]

My "kit" began with a custom guitar kit listing on e-bay and a 1/4 in thick rosewood board I have been carrying around for some 40 years. The plans for a 1966 Ramirez are available on line. I had them printed full scale at Office Depot. We went for 100%, 105% and 95% in an effort to get a 1 : 1 plan.
I had not realized how different the kit was from what I needed. The Ramirez has a rather wide and thick binding. The plastic "stuff" in the kit could not be used. The linings were also unusable as the binding channels would have cut right through them.

After evaluating what I had and what I would have to add, I joined the top pieces as well as the back. The only thing of interest here might be my assortment of tools

[warren47]

My first issue was cutting the recess for the rosette. I have a selection of drill press mounted circle cutters. I took the cutter from the smallest and sharpened it to raiser blade thickness and sharpness. Regardless of what I did, the top suffered from break outs when I was cutting across the grain. The same happened when I opened the sound hole.