Show us your Instruments

Bob Connor · Post by **Bob Connor** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 5:52 pm

Hi Jaz and welcome.

I've just been having a look at your website and there really is some serious craftswomanship going on in your cellos.

I look forward to seeing and maybe hearing your number two completed.

Bob

Bob Connor · Post by **Bob Connor** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 6:01 pm

Hi to Tom too and welcome aboard.

The maple dobro with maple bindings is very tasty Tom.

How much does the wood selection affect the sound on resonators? I'll admit to not knowing too much about Dobro's but I'd like to build one eventually.

Bob

Tom Morici · Post by **Tom Morici** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 8:48 pm

Bob
Thanks for the welcome. Im glad to be here.
I am no expert on Dobros, this is my first. I have played a number of them over the years and all of them had plywood bodies, soundwell rings,
and round screened soundholes. This build was an educated guess on how I would build one. No soundwell, post and baffle instead, I turned the posts from spruce. I also laminated my own plywood cone support, it spans from neckblock to tailblock. The back is domed instead of flat and the sides taper from tailblock to neckblock. Instead of straight sides

So far only one Dobro player has tried it out, he was stunned by the volume and tone and the looks of it. I knew the minute I strung it up that I was lucky to get it right on my first try. Im sure glad I made a full set of templates and patterns as I was building it.

I listened too as many recordings as I could find on the web from other builders. Tone changes seemed similar to our acoustic builds, Maple a bit brighter, mahogony a bit warmer etc.

Tom

Craig · Post by **Craig** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 10:08 pm

BillyT wrote:Good to see ya Dave!! You ever wear a bikini?

You'll have to excuse Billy , Dave . He's been particularly bad of late .

BILLY !,,,,, TAKE THE TABLETS !

Hey welcome Dave , fantastic to have you here with us , and welcome also to the other Dave !

Jaz , Your cellos are incredible. I've also checked your site and followed the building progress with great interest . Great , great work ! Welcome to the mad house. I know we are all going to learn a lot from each other.

G'day Tom , Dobro and mando ! and both look to be superb. I look forward to learning more about them . Welcome mate , and try to ignore Billy ,we find that works best

Cheers, Craig

Tom Morici · Post by **Tom Morici** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 3:53 am

Hi Craig,
Thanks for the welcome! Ignore Billy? It is too late, he has already cast his demented spell on me, without him I risk forgetting how to laugh.

Tom

Dave White · Post by **Dave White** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 7:38 am

Thanks for the welcome all - it's good to be here!

Jazz - making that cello was amazing to follow on your website, and nearly all done by hand. Hats off to you, that is fantastic!!

Tom - lovely stuff. Was it you I saw on the OLF making a harp madolin? How did that go?

Dave White · Post by **Dave White** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 7:38 am

Oops ... double post

Tom Morici · Post by **Tom Morici** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 5:59 pm

Hi Dave
Great to see you here!
Yes Im the guy building the harp mandolin. I was just thinking about it today and planned to bring it back in the shop to finish it. It is now ready for the binding work. The rebates (rabbits) are cut and waiting for me to install the purflings and binding. Fretboard is slotted, peghead face is ready etc. I had some orders to build, and the harp mandolin was put on hold. I'll be back to it soon. I will post an update when I make some progress. Thanks for asking.

Here's a couple of pic's so others know what we are talking about.

Note: pic's are before I cut the purfling and binding ledges.

Tom

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 6:22 pm

Well, it seems we have a bunch of new people that may not have seen any of my guitars, so here are 3.

This is my second guitar.
Australian Cedar and Tassy Blackwood OOO

This is the 3rd.
Cypress OOO

And number 4
EIR and cypress OM

Craig · Post by **Craig** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 8:17 pm

Tom , when I scrolled down to see your Harp Mando, I nearly fell off my chair ! ,,truly ! That is so bloody cool .

Allen, your Cypress had the same affect. Man, that stuff rocks. One of the nicest tops I've seen , It's a knockout ! . Could you tell us how the Cypress and Cedar tops sound . Great guitars Allen

Cheers , Craig

Dave White · Post by **Dave White** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 10:22 pm

Tom - You must have had fun binding that. It's looking great though.

Allen - Nice guitars. Those cypress tops look wild. They give curly redwood a good run for its money and are probably a lot more stable

BillyT · Post by **BillyT** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 6:28 am

Man! The Harp mando, the Dobro and Allen's outstanding work !! This is just getting better and better!

Outstanding work guys!

Demented spell

I use a spell checker!

Thanks Tom!

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 6:41 am

Craig L wrote:Tom , when I scrolled down to see your Harp Mando, I nearly fell off my chair ! ,,truly ! That is so bloody cool .

Allen, your Cypress had the same affect. Man, that stuff rocks. One of the nicest tops I've seen , It's a knockout ! . Could you tell us how the Cypress and Cedar tops sound . Great guitars Allen

Cheers , Craig

Thanks Everyone

I love both tops. I think the cedar was braced too heavy, and it's the one I gave away to a mate with cancer so I haven't had much of an opportunity to observe it. He plays it everyday and loves it. I heard it about 3 weeks ago and it's really opened up. It's got a lovely sound that I'm sure is going to develop over time. I'd love to get my hands on some more cedar so I could build a lighter one.

The cypress is great to work with. Doesn't dent like softer woods and has beautiful figure. I would say its has a bright and clear sound, and people must like it 'cause the first person that picked up the cutaway and played it for a bit said it was the most amazing guitar he had seen or played (OK...I'm in North Queensland and they don't get out much

) then asked how much and bought it.

The all cypress guitar is the one I torture (I mean practice on) and so far its my favorite. It's the lightest built and really responsive. Not quite as punchy as the cutaway, and perhaps thats because of the EIR back and sides on that one.

matthew · Post by **matthew** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 11:04 pm

Is that the same cypress pine used on my kitchen floor? Where are the knot-holes????

Serge · Post by **Serge** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 4:11 am

Welcome to Jaz and Tom, outstanding workmanship from both of you and your input here will surely be appreciated by all of us!

Tom, so good to read your posts again bro! Glad you found your way and time to get here my friend!

Serge

Serge · Post by **Serge** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 4:12 am

Oh and Allen, i just love the look of the cypress pine top, i think i'm gonna be on the look out for wood like that, really beautiful!

Tom Morici · Post by **Tom Morici** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 9:06 pm

Truth is acoustics are, and always will be my passion. But!!! Electrics have there place. I shipped this one out late september.
The owner uses it for blues on stage.

Black Walnut stump wood face, from stock I cut in 88.
Black walnut chamberd body.
Curly maple binding and neck.
Ziricote fretboard and bridge cover.
Volume, Tone, and balance controls.

Tom

Craig · Post by **Craig** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 9:35 pm

Outstanding Tom !

Cheers Craig

Sam Price · Post by **Sam Price** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 5:41 am

Tom,

I really like the instruments you are building- very original in shape and design. The curly maple binding on that electric is stunning.

Tom Morici · Post by **Tom Morici** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 2:34 pm

Craig,
Thanks for the compliment!

Sam,
Thanks for the nice comment. BTW, the Cittern looks great, that Celtic Knot rosette looks cool, but the carved soundport cover takes it to the next level, I can't wait to see your next build.

Tom

Hesh1956 · Post by **Hesh1956** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 12:04 am

Very cool Tom and welcome to the ANZLF my friend!

BillyT · Post by **BillyT** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 6:20 am

Good Work Tom!
I like the top wood!

sebastiaan56 · Post by **sebastiaan56** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 8:42 am

Hi folks,

Plenty to aspire to, and Tom... my man!!! Mano's and a Harp Mando, way cool. Now I have another mando guru to hassle for information.

Allen, where did the Cypress come from?

Sebastiaan

Lillian · Post by **Lillian** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 3:24 pm

Tom, nicely done. I keep coming back to look at them. I'm trying to figure out what it is about them that I like. I can't pick one thing, so it must be the whole package. Oh, welcome aboard.

Tom Morici · Post by **Tom Morici** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 7:39 pm

Hesh,
Thanks for both the welcome and the compliment, glad to be here.
It is always nice to visit friends.

Billy,
Thanks for the pat on the back, BTW I never knew there was a program for checking spells, good one!

Sebastiaan,
Thanks for the big thumbs up. Ya I have a thing for mandolins, Guitar and mandolin duets, have always been one of my favorites.

Lillian,
Thank You for your kind comments, I am glad you like them.
And Thanks for the welcome!

Thanks Again! Tom

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