Dream Acoustic Guitar Build#2: Bashkin Placencia OM

racman · 2011-05-20T12:05:37+00:00

Although the build is scheduled to start in August this year, I thought I would get the thread started so long. As a result of all the hours of research, dis...

Dream Acoustic Guitar Build#2: Bashkin Placencia OM

racman

Thx Bob, I am waiting for Michael to let me know what wood the inner sides are made from. My sense s that the inners do not have as much impact on the sound as teh back and soundboard but I will wait for his reply to my mail.

I will have to pace this as he has sent me about 15 pics!

racman

@Bob - just checked Michael Bashkin's website and this is what he has to say about the double sides:

"My building theory regarding the sides of the guitar is that they are mainly structural members of the soundbox. The stiffer and more stable the sides, the more of the strings energy is focused into the top. To maximize this effect, my guitars are constructed with a solid piece of wood glued to the interior face of the primary side. The net result is extremely stiff and stable sides, which helps create a responsive and powerful guitar."

Nothing about the type of wood used - it looks a little like MadRW, but then what do I know. I initially thought EIR but the grain is a little too wide for that in my opinion.

racman

Working on the back. The center Sapwood will be trimmed a little during the process:

Michael is working on another guitar together wth mine (African Blackwood):

racman

The last few for a week or two:

Squonk

Looks very impressive Roy

Love the grain in the back piece, will look incredible when finished.

Pity Mike doesn't live done the road, Would love to see him in action

Bob-Dubery

zohn wrote: Many builders have been using thicker and/or double sides like Del Langejans, Greg Smallman, Irvin Somogyi and "our own" Hans vd Berg.
My Berg and Canteri have thicker sides than the back plates, and additional braces for more structural rigidity. Another technique used by some is to use reversed kerfing (the strips that the top and back is glued to the sides to), and if I recal correct Charles Fox puts a cap on the inside of his kerfing for additional torque resistance of the rim.

It seems to me that stiff sides school of thought reaches it's logical conclusion in Mervyn Davies's guitars. The sides on a Smoothtalker/Jaywalker are nothing like the sides on conventional acoustic - they're about 2cm thick.

jeremy-Budgen

They are very different to the norm as they say, i should know as i do all his cnc work here.

Everything has locating pins so that they fit together without my hassle.

jeremy-Budgen

Racman

Where is Micheal based as i might want hime to bandsaw me up some curly maple for some acoustics that i have planned

racman

jeremy Budgen wrote: Racman

Where is Micheal based as i might want hime to bandsaw me up some curly maple for some acoustics that i have planned

Hi Jeremy,unfortunately he is based in Fort Collins, Colorado, USA...

racman

As per Michael:

"There are 5 small wedges of cocobolo from an offcut of your back. I like to tie in the rosette to the rest of the guitar. Also, it is autumn here and the leaves are starting to change so I thought the red/orange of the Coco gave a "seasonal" feeling. The rest of the pieces are torched mango. The very thin white lines are a Holly and the thicker white lines are bone. The pics don't really capture the colors and figure in the rosette."

I like it ... 8)

Squonk

that piece of wood looks good Roy!
Bet you cant wait ?

racman

Thx David - should be here early next year. Maybe that would be a good time for a few GFSA'ers to get together...

Norman86

Very pretty ?
i cannot wait to see the end result ?

Neon-Gecko

wow! Wow! WOW! Good lookin' timber... Good looking inlay... Good lookin' everything. I can't wait to see the finished result. You be a luck man, that's for sure...

racman

A few progress pics: Florentine Cutaway formation.