New built start

A new nylon model built started. This is a custom order using the best materials. Top is a premium grade European spruce and back and sides are premium grade Brazilian rose wood. This guitar will be a special one for my customer.

Back material is a premium grade Brazilian RW. Unfortunately, size is very small and barely enough to cut a back for classical model. However, this back is not large enough for my back making process. Actuary, the back making needs an extra half inch for gluing and assembly work. So, I added two tiny pieces to make the back material large enough for this guitar making. You may see the first photo that has two small triangle pieces for filling empty spaces. This portion will not be used for the completed guitar. However, I need this portion during this guitar making process. Now the book match jointed back is large enough for the back. You may see the back has pretty good straight grains. This level of perfectly quarter-swan Brazilian RW back is very hard to obtain.

The book match joint for the top is also completed. This top has almost perfect cross section of grain. Year rings are quite tight. Tap tone of this material is amazing.

A Little bit modification for the Jazz Negra model.

Jazz Negra was sold on the La Guitarra. Before ship this guitar, I need to modify a little bit for my client. This guitar needs to remove Avalon side dots. I removed them and filled with African black wood dowels. Then, the guitar was partially finished with the Emtech EM6000 Acrylic finish. Next week, I polish the finish and install an electrical pick-up system (L.R. Baggs LB-12 with dual source system), and then ship the guitar to San Diego.

La Guitarra

I returned from La Guitarra California guitar festival. There are wonderful guitars in the guitar vendor exhibition. Also, there are wonderful guitar makers. I am extremely happy to see nice people in this guitar makers' community. Thank you so much for being with my friend for Michael Elwell, Tim McCoy, Gil Carnal, Bruce Thompson, and Glen Perry. Those friends were made my exhibition work so comfortable. Thank you for all visitors who stop by my booth to try-out my guitars.

All completed

     Myrtle model was completed this week. Now, both Negra and Myrtle models are ready for the guitar show. Myrtle model showed amazing fiddle back flames including the Maple neck. This is a truly gorgeous guitar. Myrtle model employed a 24.9" short scale for the super high tension strings. Short scale made this guitar for a super easy playing one. This is a Jazz guitarist's choice. I put a GHS high tension strings set (Manuriel Anderson Signature series strings) MA2309. This guitar showed very nicely balanced tone. Bass is a bit too strong; however, I am quite sure that in one year of playing, the strong bass will calm down with more over tones. Last image shows three guitars inducing my personal nylon-strings guitar. I completed this one in August 2014. This guitar has very good tonal balance with a lot of over tones now. First time I tested this guitar, I thought that I made mistake for too much strong buss. After, one year of playing, this guitar has excellent tonal balance.

     For the center hole model (Negra). This guitar has a traditional classical concert guitar tone. Not too strong buss. Well balanced tonal distribution from treble to buss. A lot of over tones are already exist. This guitar is much heavier than the Myrtle model due to the heavier material (Malaysian Black wood) and a steel truss rod installed. This guitar has much longer tonal sustain time.

Negra Model Completed

Negra model is completed. Although the bridge bone is a temporary one. I just installed something available in my shop, and I just put strings as a test. So, the action is way too low at this moment. I just wanted to check the fingerboard surface and fret-wire flatness. It seems pretty good. This guitar already showed an amazing potential. Sound of this guitar is like a grand piano. Bass the strong and deep and treble is crystal clear. I was so stroked from the initial test. I will make a real bone saddle and complete the final setting this week.

Final polishing

I have done final polishing work and bridge making. Both nylon models are completed final polishing with 2000-grit water paper. Bridges are also completed three coats of Shellac apply with a light sanding session. Next week, I will do the bridge install, fret wire leveling, and oil finishing for the fingerboard. So, both guitars will be able to complete before the La Guitarra California 2015. I will show both guitars for the festival. La Gutarrra will be in between September 25 and 27. If you are closer to the San Luis Obispo, please come and check those guitars.

Finishing work is done

Final spray for the finishing work is done last week. I also finished the bridge making this week end. Those guitars need final sanding and polishing. I will start the sanding work this week. Water based Acrylic finish is fairly soft for the sanding. So, I will star the 1200-grit for the Orange peel removing. Then, I will take 2000-grit sanding. Then, I will take hand polishing. I do not use the machine buffing, because the machine buffing makes heat that damages the final coat. Bridges are made by the Madagascar rosewood. So, it looks exactly like Brazilian rosewood. Next week, I will start final assembly.