What I did yesterday

Bob Connor · Post by **Bob Connor** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 8:46 am

Well I thought I'd test the pic upload thing a bit more and post a few pics of yesterday's action in the shed.

I'm on school holidays at the moment and the missus is working in the Soloman Islands so I've been spending every second I can down in the Shed.

This is the first Cedar top we've done.

It was extremely flaccid across the grain before wacking the braces on
but it sounds bloody great to tap now.

I thought I'd try the Lowden type side brace just to see what it does.

You can't see it here but the soundhole is bound with Maple.

I got three cedar tops. This one was the cheapest ($10us) because it was chocolate brown with a heap of streaks through it but the tone in it before I thinned it was twice as good as the two other ones.

This guitar has the code-name of triple-choc. Brown Cedar top. Walnut B&S and White chocolate bindings (maple or cheesewood)

This is the the back and sides in the mold. You can see why I've called these SJ's Barge-arse.

Craig · Post by **Craig** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 9:25 am

I like the shape Bob. It's almost a Lowden type shape.

Good for you using the Lowden side brace thingy ( technical term ).

I'm betting they work better than finger braces . Why else would he swap over ?

Have you used the crossed braced back system before ?

The first pic shows the braces to have a radio active type glow about them mate . Better watch that .

Barge Arse is a very very good handle

I once had a girlfriend like that

Great work . Obviously all Dave's

Bet this one really sings too

Bob Connor · Post by **Bob Connor** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 9:53 am

Now this a secret but I've developed a plutonium infusion process which trebles the stiffnes and halves the weight of these buggers.

You also get brilliant effect with a nice radioactive glow emanating through the soundboard.

I'm thinking of marketing these in Iran.

Bob Connor · Post by **Bob Connor** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 9:59 am

We've been using that cross brace on the back for most of them essentially trying to keep a nice dome in the back.

I wouldn't mind another brace there as well going straight across the lower bout as some of the thinner backs seem to need it to keep the back radius consistent.

My only concern here is that that back would become too stiff and you'd lose the coupling effect with the top.

I've had a few old girlfiends that that would fit the bargey description

Hesh1956 · Post by **Hesh1956** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 10:13 am

Very nice Bob!! Hey wait..... there is no clapping hands emoticon

The walnut looks excellent.

Rod True · Post by **Rod True** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 10:31 am

Sweet Bob, I really like that shape as well. Interesting finger braces there, care to share your thoughts on why you're running them from the front arm of the X-brace (maybe it's an upside down thing, being on the bottom of the world and all

)

I actually got in the shop today for a couple of hours, first times since March I think (honestly)

Bob Connor · Post by **Bob Connor** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 7:28 pm

To be quite honest Rod I spotted those in some pics of George Lowdens shop and thought I'd try it.

I guess you'd just be trying to control the cross grain stiffness in the same way if you had the traditional two fingers braces.

I generally have a peak in the centre of the fingerbraces so adding the single brace is putting the mass in roughly the same area of the soundboard.

Maybe it will aid loosening up the perimeter as there is now nothing in that area.

The Big Bum Small Jumbo it's going on is an experiment in itself and I've never built with cedar so anything might happen

Serge · Post by **Serge** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 6:23 am

I think i'm having my first zoot attack in months, better go lay down me thinks!

Niiiiice Walnut Bob!

Ron Wisdom · Post by **Ron Wisdom** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 2:08 am

Quote: "It was extremely flaccid across the grain before wacking the braces on but it sounds bloody great to tap now."

I love a forum where you can say things like: flaccid and whacking.

Ron

Lillian · Post by **Lillian** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 12:34 pm

I can't wait to really see this one. I think I'm really going to like the shape, but I want to see what it looks like full on, not from an angle. Love the wood.

Ron, you are a bad man. Keep up the good work.

**Note to self, keep inhaler nearby when reading the ANZLF post.

Serge · Post by **Serge** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 1:12 pm

I love a forum where we can also pray for someone we care about!

Ron Wisdom · Post by **Ron Wisdom** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 2:18 pm

I just love a forum with my kind of people!!! I feel like it's Christmas morning, my spirits have been lifted so much already. Thanks to all you fine folks, and Billy.

Ron

Bob Connor · Post by **Bob Connor** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 2:55 pm

Lillian here's a pic of one front on.

It is deceiving because the lower bout is 15" wide - the same as on OM -
so it's quite a small guitar.

Quite voluptuous methinks.

Cheers

Bob

Kim · Post by **Kim** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 3:25 pm

Really loving the shape Bob, very very nice big soundhole too by the looks.

Cheers

Kim

PS: Really good to see my favorite people from the OLF here, Gday Sam and Ron, great to have you with us, here's to ya, bottoms up.

Sam Price · Post by **Sam Price** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 4:47 pm

hey Bob, that's going to be some bassy guitar!! Walnut is a great wood to work with!

Thankyou Kim for the welcome. It's GREAT to be here!

BillyT · Post by **BillyT** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 6:34 pm

Wow Bob! That is tiny! Really cool looking too! This ones going to be nice!

Ron Wisdom wrote:Thanks to all you fine folks, and Billy.

Your Welcome!

Serge · Post by **Serge** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 9:16 pm

WOW, NEET little guitar Bob! Love that soundhole too!

Bob Connor · Post by **Bob Connor** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 9:26 pm

The soundhole is a touch under 4" which is the same as we do on the OM's
so it's actually reasonably standard.

Here's a picture of the two to give it some perspective.

Serge · Post by **Serge** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 9:32 pm

WOW BOB!!!!

Prolific builder you are, both gitters look sweet too!

Gives a perspective of the slight difference in sizes yes.

Bob Connor · Post by **Bob Connor** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 9:48 pm

Serge the OM is one of the reasons I'm going to Tassie tomorrow.

An old friend from uni days asked me to build a guitar for his son's 18th.

So I'm delivering it personally as well as looking for some wood and visiting my folks who live in Hobart.

I'm also staying with another mate of mine in Devonport (up the North of Tas) who I played in bands with for years down there. He has the unfortunate nickname of "The Bum Kisser". My name being Bob and his Neil, well I guess you've heard the Bob down and Neil down jokes. We called our duo 'The Down Brothers" for a while.

Here's a couple of pics of it as well as a sound clip

http://www.mcguitars.com.au/myrtle/marty_noodling.mp3

Cheers

Serge · Post by **Serge** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 10:49 pm

Whooooooaaa, nice playing Bob, love that sound mate!

The kid is in for a treat! Very nice guitar!

Hey Bob, if possible, please bring pics of the happy receiver!

Serge · Post by **Serge** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 10:54 pm

Oh and i saved that awesome soundfile! Thanks!

Bob Connor · Post by **Bob Connor** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 10:55 pm

Hey that's not me playing Serge. I wish.

It's a guy named Martin Kelly and he's playing in a DADGAD tuning.

I'll be taking the camera for sure.

Cheers

Bob Connor · Post by **Bob Connor** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 10:58 pm

Here's another one Serge.

http://www.mcguitars.com.au/myrtle/don_pearl_diver.mp3

This is one of Marty's tunes called the Donegal Pearl Diver

Cheers

Serge · Post by **Serge** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 11:02 pm

Yeah, i saw that when i saved it, anyways, anytime you feel like posting soundclips like that Bob, ya got me blessing mate, it just sounds great!

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