Help needed to discover the maker

Talk about musical instrument construction, setup and repair.

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mat139
Gidgee
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Jan 17, 2019 7:15 pm

Help needed to discover the maker

Post by mat139 » Wed Jan 23, 2019 5:39 pm

Hi.... I am hoping that the concerted knowledge of all here can help me out with identifying my latest love.

This is all I know of its back story. I'm in the UK and I purchased the guitar from Pablo, a Spanish gentleman who was returning to Spain. He in turn bought the guitar from another Spanish chap called Pablo who was his cousins boyfriend who was also returning home. Pablo (2) says that he bought the guitar in Manchester UK from an Australian man who told him that he had hand made the guitar himself.... As the current caretaker of this wonderful guitar thought that it would be fun to try to trace the roots and if at all possible find the builder.

It has what appears to be a stylised TR in MOP inlaid into the headstock with no other indication of maker.

It has beautiful solid back and sides which I have been told is Padauk as it seems to glow and shimmer more than any rosewood I have ever seen.... I have been told that this shimmer and 3D effect is called "Chattoyance". I wish I could properly describe how the stripes shimmer and move creating the 3D effect when catching the light...ie: the "dark" stripes turn a golden copper and the lighter stripes turn dark.... The Top looks like solid spruce and it has what looks to be an Ebony fretboard inlaid with nice Snowflake markers and the body, neck and headstock are all bound with beautiful flamed maple which also serves as a truss-rod cover. I think that it is a beautiful looking guitar and even with dead strings on it it sounded full and resonant.

I am now in the process of fixing a few minor cracks, cleaning and lightly refurbishing and hydrating it, and while this process goes on.... (Actually, I have decided to get the amazing Dougie Wilkes (http://wilkesguitars.co.uk/) to stabilise the cracks and take any other remedial action required.) I hope you will all jump in with your thoughts and guidance. .... I would love to find out more about it and best of all discover who made it etc.... I know little else about it, so please pitch in with your thoughts!....many thanks.

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kiwigeo
Admin
Posts: 10582
Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2007 5:57 pm
Location: Adelaide, Sth Australia

Re: Help needed to discover the maker

Post by kiwigeo » Wed Jan 23, 2019 7:50 pm

Have you checked underside of the soundboard? Many makers sign and date their instruments in this location.
Martin

mat139
Gidgee
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Jan 17, 2019 7:15 pm

Re: Help needed to discover the maker

Post by mat139 » Thu Jan 24, 2019 12:46 am

Hi Martin,
yeah I had a good look... I dont have the best mirrors etc, but i couldnt see anything
:-(

Mat

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kiwigeo
Admin
Posts: 10582
Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2007 5:57 pm
Location: Adelaide, Sth Australia

Re: Help needed to discover the maker

Post by kiwigeo » Thu Jan 24, 2019 9:33 am

Ok it was just a thought.
mat139 wrote:
Thu Jan 24, 2019 12:46 am
Hi Martin,
yeah I had a good look... I dont have the best mirrors etc, but i couldnt see anything
:-(

Mat
Martin

Fisherman
Blackwood
Posts: 197
Joined: Tue Dec 31, 2013 7:10 pm
Location: Brisbane

Re: Help needed to discover the maker

Post by Fisherman » Fri Jan 25, 2019 1:02 pm

Easiest way is to stick your phone in the soundhole and take a bunch of photos with the flash on...

blackalex1952
Blackwood
Posts: 776
Joined: Tue Aug 27, 2013 6:36 pm
Location: North East Victoria

Re: Help needed to discover the maker

Post by blackalex1952 » Sun Feb 17, 2019 12:40 pm

HD camera on ebay $10 or so...works on a PC or Android. Works a treat inside the guitar, it even has it's own "headlight"!-Ross
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K&K pickup inside a Selmer style guitar taken with usb endoscopic camera.
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"Everything I say on the topic is based solely upon inexperience and assumption!"

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