Nylon Top complete

     I finished the top construction for the Nylon model. This is a new bracing pattern loosely derived from Kasha design. My version was created by based on my Kasha style guitar making experiences. This time, I changed body length approximately 1" shorter than original Kasha design. I also added a horizontal bracing at the wast portion to increase the fundamental resonant frequency of the body. This time, I want to make more Spanish guitar like sound. Myrtle wood for the back is also selected for Spanish like sound creation. I finished oval hole making and Hawaiian-Koa Rosetta installation.
     I also finished the gluing process for back ladder bracing for both Nylon and Steel models. Myrtle back has Maple like tap tone, and King wood back has very glassy Brazilian rose wood like tap tone. Two extremely different materials showed very interesting tap tones.

Top and back construction

     Top bracing construction has been done for the MD model. I have been using Sitka Spruce for the top bracing for both steel strings and nylon strings models, because the Stka has the best material strength property among spruce family. Top brace shaping is almost done. I need a little bit more final tuning for the top brace. This bracing patter is based on the Taku Sakashita's blue print that I acquired from Taku before he passed a way. He optimized his bracing pattern for strong middle range over tones, crystal clear treble, and fairly tight bass. This combination of the guitar sound characteristic is optimum for finger style solo players.
     Center strip instillation for the back is done. Center strip is Cedro. Back bracing material was cut. I am working on the back brace shaping. I will install back bracing next week. Nylon model uses Cedro for the back bracing, and MD model uses Honduras mahogany.

MD and Nylon

I started new projects for MD and new Kasha style nylon model.
     MD model, I installed spoiled Tamarind Rosetta. Tamarind is a tree from tropical Africa. The tamarind tree produces edible, pod-like fruit which are commonly used in cuisines around the world. This wood has been commonly used for wood workings. Spoiled Tamarind has quite beautiful patterns. I also installed a bridge plate using the Amazon rosewood.
     Both tops for MD and Nylon have been done the thickness gradation process. I have been using a heavily tapered top. MD has 2.7mm thickness at bridge and 2.3mm at edge. Nylon has 2.6mm thickness at bridge and 1.8mm thickness at thinnest points. I use a block plane first, for rough thinning, and then use a random orbit sander for smoothing. I also installed a bridge plate and a sound hole support for the nylon model.

MD and SSJ completed

It has been more than 6 month to complete MD and SSJ projects. Finally, I completed both guitars this week-end. MD showed excellent sound quality as a perfect recording guitar. MD has strong over tones in middle range with crystal clear treble, as well as tightly controlled bass. This sound character is what I wanted to create for a recording guitar. For the SSJ, I tested as 6-strings guitar first. This guitar showed much stringer bass due to the body size. This guitar still has excellent middle range overtones, and crystal clear treble. Once I put additional six strings on the SSJ, this guitar showed typical 12-strings guitar sound. Both guitars are quite loud. Particularly, MD showed very loud voice due to the side ports.

Bridge install

     I finished the final polishing, bridge install, and nut/saddle making for the MD model. Bridge material is Madagascar rosewood. I have been using vacuum clumping technique for the bridge install. This method is able to minimize a bridge slipping issue when glue the bridge. Also, this technique is able to apply tons of clumping pressure for entire bridge surface. Glue is also able to cure pretty quickly in the vacuum environment. So. vacuum clumping technique makes my job so easy.
     This guitar finished final polishing. Now, you may see pretty shiny body. Premium grade of Brazilian RW back and sides are amazingly beautiful. I was so impressed the quality of Target water-base acrylic finish. I have never made this quality of finishing from the water based acrylic. I am quite sure that I do not need highly toxic Nitro-cellulose finishing any more. Finishing quality is almost identical to the nitro finish.