Festival Guitars Finished
- Bob Connor
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Festival Guitars Finished
The four new guitars for the festival are essentially finished.
Just let them settle in for a few days and give them a final tweak and setup.
I'm pleased they're all done because I'm knackered. So here's some final pics.
Native Olive Dread.
I'm pleased to report that this tonewood indeed lives up to the expectations of all those who have tapped, bashed and flexed this stuff.
It has only been strung up since yesterday with the final setup today.
It has a beefy bottom end, nice punch in the mids and clear fat trebles.
And it is loud. I had it around at Daves place about an hour ago and played it in the back yard. Some friends of ours were there and had to raise their voices over it. So it's going to be a real Bluegrass canon when the Adi top eventually opens up.
Blackwood 12 String
We finished this one yesterday, installed the K & K powermix system in it and I played it for 4 hours at a wedding last night.
After 4 hours of playing it was a very different sounding instrument this morning. More bottom end, less jangle - essentially what you'd expect.
Very, very happy with the sound of it and a big thanks to Craig Lawrence for the excellent tutorial on setting out the six pin bridge.
I tuned it up at the start of the gig and it stayed in tune the whole night Most unusual for a 12 string.
I also put a thin bridge saddle in it because of the under saddle K & K pickup. Intonated the B string and surprisingly everthing else is pretty damned close. The harmonics are spot on with a tiny sharpening when you fret at the 12th fret - again what you would expect.
Blackwood/King Billy O model
The King Billy reminds me of Engelmann in sound and sounds fairly open from the get go - like cedar or Engelmann. plenty of bottom end considering it's such a small instrument but nicely balanced across all strings.
Ziricote/Euro O model
More mid range punch and brighter top end than the King Billy but still balanced and responsive.
Both these O's will make nice little fingerstyle guitars.
Thanks fer lookin.
Bob
Just let them settle in for a few days and give them a final tweak and setup.
I'm pleased they're all done because I'm knackered. So here's some final pics.
Native Olive Dread.
I'm pleased to report that this tonewood indeed lives up to the expectations of all those who have tapped, bashed and flexed this stuff.
It has only been strung up since yesterday with the final setup today.
It has a beefy bottom end, nice punch in the mids and clear fat trebles.
And it is loud. I had it around at Daves place about an hour ago and played it in the back yard. Some friends of ours were there and had to raise their voices over it. So it's going to be a real Bluegrass canon when the Adi top eventually opens up.
Blackwood 12 String
We finished this one yesterday, installed the K & K powermix system in it and I played it for 4 hours at a wedding last night.
After 4 hours of playing it was a very different sounding instrument this morning. More bottom end, less jangle - essentially what you'd expect.
Very, very happy with the sound of it and a big thanks to Craig Lawrence for the excellent tutorial on setting out the six pin bridge.
I tuned it up at the start of the gig and it stayed in tune the whole night Most unusual for a 12 string.
I also put a thin bridge saddle in it because of the under saddle K & K pickup. Intonated the B string and surprisingly everthing else is pretty damned close. The harmonics are spot on with a tiny sharpening when you fret at the 12th fret - again what you would expect.
Blackwood/King Billy O model
The King Billy reminds me of Engelmann in sound and sounds fairly open from the get go - like cedar or Engelmann. plenty of bottom end considering it's such a small instrument but nicely balanced across all strings.
Ziricote/Euro O model
More mid range punch and brighter top end than the King Billy but still balanced and responsive.
Both these O's will make nice little fingerstyle guitars.
Thanks fer lookin.
Bob
- Bob Connor
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Thanks guys.
It's actually really good to string all these up in just a few days.
It's like having four Christmas's in a week.
You'd like the Native Olive one Kim. The wood has all the promise that was expected from it.
I was bashing the bejaysus out of around at Dave's this arvo just to see if I could overdrive it.
I need to get some stiffer picks.
Bob
It's actually really good to string all these up in just a few days.
It's like having four Christmas's in a week.
You'd like the Native Olive one Kim. The wood has all the promise that was expected from it.
I was bashing the bejaysus out of around at Dave's this arvo just to see if I could overdrive it.
I need to get some stiffer picks.
Bob
- ozziebluesman
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Congratulations guys , they are all fantastic. I have no favorites Bob . They all have there own attraction. I don't normally go for scratch plates , but your choices here suit extremely well.
I'm certain your guitars will really standout at the festival Bob, and you guys will enjoy great success ! Oh, and I'm pleased my shared pin tute. was useful to you guys .
Cheers Craig
I'm certain your guitars will really standout at the festival Bob, and you guys will enjoy great success ! Oh, and I'm pleased my shared pin tute. was useful to you guys .
Cheers Craig
Welcome to the ANZLF Richard, nice to have you with us.Richard wrote:Beautiful guitars indeed. Wish I could go to Port Fairy to see them in person (along with the artist lineup that is great as always) but decided a few months back to do WOMADelaide which is the same weekend. Next year maybe...
Cheers
Kim
- Dave White
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Bob,
Wow - you and Dave have been busy boys indeed. That's a fabulous portfolio to take to the show. Great choices of woods and beautifully put together. I really like the Euro/Ziricote O but the others are fabulous too.
Well done!!
Wow - you and Dave have been busy boys indeed. That's a fabulous portfolio to take to the show. Great choices of woods and beautifully put together. I really like the Euro/Ziricote O but the others are fabulous too.
Well done!!
Dave White
[url=http://www.defaoiteguitars.com]De Faoite Stringed Instruments[/url]
[url=http://www.defaoiteguitars.com]De Faoite Stringed Instruments[/url]
- sebastiaan56
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- Bob Connor
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Thanks very much everyone. It's a real relief to have them done in plenty of time..
Allen most of the pickguards are the John Greven Tortis type available from LMI or direct from Greven.
The Mirotone is much easier to work with than the Hard Shellac. I got one of the spec sheets which reckons that the Mirocat 3220 100% gloss is sandable in 24 hours and fully cured in seven days. Most of these were sanded and buffed a week after the final spraying!!!! I know you recommended 2 weeks Allan, but we were under the pump and had to do it. Hasn't seemed to affect the final finish at all.
Hi Richard and welcome to the forum. Hope you have a great time in Adelaide.
Bob
Allen most of the pickguards are the John Greven Tortis type available from LMI or direct from Greven.
The Mirotone is much easier to work with than the Hard Shellac. I got one of the spec sheets which reckons that the Mirocat 3220 100% gloss is sandable in 24 hours and fully cured in seven days. Most of these were sanded and buffed a week after the final spraying!!!! I know you recommended 2 weeks Allan, but we were under the pump and had to do it. Hasn't seemed to affect the final finish at all.
Hi Richard and welcome to the forum. Hope you have a great time in Adelaide.
Bob
Last edited by Bob Connor on Mon Mar 03, 2008 5:23 pm, edited 2 times in total.
- Dennis Leahy
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I agree with everyone's comments, they look great. I don't have a favorite they all look pretty awesome from where I'm sitting.
You've sold me on the Mirotone, if I can achieve a finish anywhere near as good as you guys have done, I'll be a happy camper. Don't think I'll bother having another crack at the hard shellac.
You've sold me on the Mirotone, if I can achieve a finish anywhere near as good as you guys have done, I'll be a happy camper. Don't think I'll bother having another crack at the hard shellac.
- Tom Morici
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- Dave Anderson
- Blackwood
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- Location: Florida, USA
Hey Bob and Dave,
Super guitars, All four ! I am very interested in the Native Olive. It looks fantastic under finish!
And I'm glad to hear that it is sounding good allready.Just wait til the adi opens up !! :serg
The blackwood O is very cool and the Ziricote is some super Zoot !
Have a great show guys!
Super guitars, All four ! I am very interested in the Native Olive. It looks fantastic under finish!
And I'm glad to hear that it is sounding good allready.Just wait til the adi opens up !! :serg
The blackwood O is very cool and the Ziricote is some super Zoot !
Have a great show guys!
Dave Anderson
Port Richey,Florida
Port Richey,Florida
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