Seven String Flamenco Guitar: Glueing on the Bridge, Fine Tuning the Frets and Adjusting the Action
The flamenco guitar is an instrument which is narrowly linked to the peculiarities of flamenco art.
Jose Ramirez III, Things About the Guitar, 1990
The seven string flamenco guitar that I built for the lead singer of Ode to the Marionette is finished!
Well, just about. Remember, I do have a side job as a historic preservation carpenter.
I am waiting for the tap plates to install on the sound board, these tap plates protect the top from the golpes, a percussive tap from the first or ring finger nail that a flamenco player uses.
I need to do some intonation work on the saddle, I want all notes to play in tune. I might even fine tune the fan braces that are glued to the inside of the top.
Did I mention how wonderful this guitar sounds? It has a gorgeous voice and it is loud! This guitar has very clear separation of notes on all the strings up and down the neck and all are even in sound with each other.
Don't let anyone tell you that a classical/flamenco guitar with a string length under 650mm won't be loud, that is simply a myth!
Did I mention how wonderful this guitar sounds?
Why does it sound so good? I used tried and true construction techniques that have been handed down by the great Spanish makers and I am developing a better understanding of how to make a guitar that has a soul. Sounds a little corny, but it is true.
I also closely followed the plans of a 1933 Santos Hernandez flamenco guitar, which can be found in Roy Courtnall's book, Making Master Guitars. This guitar is smaller than that 1933 Santos, I used the dimensions of a 1929 Santos Hernandez guitar which can be found in Sheldon Urlik's book, A Fine Collection of Spanish Guitars. Both books can be purchased from Luthiers Mercantile. Click here for their website.
While waiting for the shellac to harden on the bridge I started work on the frets. Here I have taped the fret board and put down a protective cover on the guitar's top.
Leveling the frets with a fine diamond stone.
After leveling I round over the tops of the frets with a diamond rounding file.
Then I do more rounding work with a three cornered file that has been ground to protect the fret board.
Then I polish the frets with wet/dry sand paper and 0000 steel wool.
Glueing on the bridge.
I installed D'Addario EJ45 Pro Arte normal tension nylon strings at Julia's request. I do like D'Addario strings, I have used them for close to 30 years, I think they are great strings, but I have discovered that Savarez Corum Alliance strings make a guitar sound even louder! I also like La Bella 2001 Classical guitar strings.
A beautiful guitar. Soon it will be in the hands of a young woman who will share its voice with the world.
Jose Ramirez III, Things About the Guitar, 1990
The seven string flamenco guitar that I built for the lead singer of Ode to the Marionette is finished!
Well, just about. Remember, I do have a side job as a historic preservation carpenter.
I am waiting for the tap plates to install on the sound board, these tap plates protect the top from the golpes, a percussive tap from the first or ring finger nail that a flamenco player uses.
I need to do some intonation work on the saddle, I want all notes to play in tune. I might even fine tune the fan braces that are glued to the inside of the top.
Did I mention how wonderful this guitar sounds? It has a gorgeous voice and it is loud! This guitar has very clear separation of notes on all the strings up and down the neck and all are even in sound with each other.
Don't let anyone tell you that a classical/flamenco guitar with a string length under 650mm won't be loud, that is simply a myth!
Did I mention how wonderful this guitar sounds?
Why does it sound so good? I used tried and true construction techniques that have been handed down by the great Spanish makers and I am developing a better understanding of how to make a guitar that has a soul. Sounds a little corny, but it is true.
I also closely followed the plans of a 1933 Santos Hernandez flamenco guitar, which can be found in Roy Courtnall's book, Making Master Guitars. This guitar is smaller than that 1933 Santos, I used the dimensions of a 1929 Santos Hernandez guitar which can be found in Sheldon Urlik's book, A Fine Collection of Spanish Guitars. Both books can be purchased from Luthiers Mercantile. Click here for their website.
While waiting for the shellac to harden on the bridge I started work on the frets. Here I have taped the fret board and put down a protective cover on the guitar's top.
Leveling the frets with a fine diamond stone.
After leveling I round over the tops of the frets with a diamond rounding file.
Then I do more rounding work with a three cornered file that has been ground to protect the fret board.
Then I polish the frets with wet/dry sand paper and 0000 steel wool.
Glueing on the bridge.
I installed D'Addario EJ45 Pro Arte normal tension nylon strings at Julia's request. I do like D'Addario strings, I have used them for close to 30 years, I think they are great strings, but I have discovered that Savarez Corum Alliance strings make a guitar sound even louder! I also like La Bella 2001 Classical guitar strings.
A beautiful guitar. Soon it will be in the hands of a young woman who will share its voice with the world.
Comments
Post a Comment