Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Finished making a guitar

What a lovely creation, you are very skilled Chris enjoy many happy hours playing it.

Very nice indeed. Very beautiful. Another vote for a sound file please.
Love the binding too.
Nick

Thanks for all the nice comments.

Time permitting I play classical guitar but have played electric and bass in bands and enjoy a wide variety of music. About 7 years ago I tried to make a Lute, it took a few years doing a bit here and there on weekends. Unfortunately it died a horrible death on a very wet weekend when the house was sort of flooded and very moist inside. I think the tension of 28 strings was too much for the wood in those conditions.



Playing the lute was rather odd, I erred on lower tension strings which I ordered from a Lute string supplier after discussing with them the tensions for each string and it felt like playing Spaghetti. I would like to make another one but wanted to learn some skills before building another lute. I bought some more wood and while looking for a place to band saw the large pieces I found a local luthier who sells guitars though the local music shop, I had a play of some of his guitars and talked to him. I thought it best to build a steel string guitar seeing that is what he specialises in and I don't own one. I own 3 classical guitars, 3 electrics and 4 basses but no steel strings until this one.

I have just starting to build an 8 string classical, I will have a low A and D strings. I can then try play some of the music the Lute was built for and decide is it something I am still interested in and whether making another lute is a good idea or not.

I have about 50 photos of progress builds on my camera I need to get off. I am thinking maybe I should do a Youtube video like Fat Wolfie did of his car build but with me playing the guitar in the background. For now here are a few photos I had on my phone.

Fantastic job, well done

Nice work.

When you finish with the jig they could use it to increase wing production at the factory, oh rats they don't do that anymore do they !

Very impressive. That is lovely looking instrument.

Very impressive result and work!

Chris, fantastic work just love that finish to the wood. Just one thing, I think you slipped in a picture of the factory's wheel arch mould in use.

I made a classical guitar - started it in 1976 and finished it in 2005. We moved house, new jobs and two children got in the way. It has Swiss Pine front, Brazilian rosewood back & sides (it was legal to buy it then) , with a bubinga wood neck with a sandwich of maple and rosewood down the middle. It sounds Ok - the trouble is that until it is finished you have no idea how it will sound. A few years ago I made a clavichord for swmbo - from a kit - but the kit comprised of a book, plans and wood. That took me a couple of years to build - but again I am very pleased with the sound.I tend not to rush things!

Outstanding work Chris.
You wouldn't like to rebuild mine, by any chance?