Reconfiguring the Maccaferri style guitar

[Joe Sustaire]

That sounds like a cool experiment with the torsion box sides Grant.
Is the idea behind the laminated sides and back in the maccaferri guitars, to make a really stiff box for the top to reflect off of? And is stiffness the goal for your torsion box sides?

Watching and learning,
Joe

[whitespruce]

That sounds like a cool experiment with the torsion box sides Grant.
Is the idea behind the laminated sides and back in the maccaferri guitars, to make a really stiff box for the top to reflect off of? And is stiffness the goal for your torsion box sides?

Watching and learning,
Joe

Yes, as I understand it, and yes.

Hope you don't learn any bad habits from me

G

[Dennis Mitchell]

Ok Grant, ya got my attention. So save me a seat on the front row to watch this build! Got my Big Chief tablet and #2 pencil sharpened and ready.

[Eben]

I got some nice Claro veneer with a thicker inner layer from veneer supplies some time ago with this very axe in mind; was always planning to make a vacuum jig to do it up;

Hmmmm...

E

[whitespruce]

I got some nice Claro veneer with a thicker inner layer from veneer supplies some time ago with this very axe in mind; was always planning to make a vacuum jig to do it up;

Hmmmm...

E

Hey E, Once I get this a bit more digested, I will loan you this book so you have the info on laminating backs and sides. It has a very detailed step-by-step in it for clamp laminating and also talks about vacuum laminating.

He uses a 3 layer lamination....good wood on the outside, a center crossgrain layer of yellow poplar, and an inside layer of mahogany.

He also states that much of the veneer currently available is quite a bit thinner (just like sliced bacon) than what was available to Maccaferri and suggests maybe using another layer of the outer wood.

G

[Erik]

Hey Grant,

I just visited a builder a few weeks ago who had made half a dozen of Maccaferri guitars, mostly the petit bouche. He mentioned that he felt they were quite heavily built with massive soundboard bracing. I think he ended up making he later builds a bit lighter than the originals. He also made the soundhole slightly larger.

I don't know if this is neither here nor there, but I thought I'd pass it one anyway.

Erik

[Kim]

Hi Grant,

Just though you may like to take a look at Nick's latest posted at the ANZLF.

http://www.anzlf.com/viewtopic.php?t=1474

Not much info in the post but inspirational none the less. I am sure he would not mind a question or two if you have any.

[Eben]

THAT was it, G - That cool guy that owns veneer supplies recommended his thicker stock yellow Poplar for the middle layer, and that's why I got that Mahogany at the same time!

A mind is a terrible thing to waste, Eben...