Small Concert, SC, Prototype BRW/ Itialian
Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 11:02 am
So I've been asked to build a parlor/OO guitar. I decided to take the challenge and build my own prototype, SC (Small Concert), which as I found out is the exact same thing my pal Brian Ap is doing-- as well as designing a hollowbody prototype, like I am also doing too. We're way too similar in thinking, and in life.
Here's my design and build prototype process. I love comparison design. I trace and layout the patterns off all the guitars in genre that I like or think that I might want to have compliment the shape (thanks to my apprentices who went to school for building here in MN and have all the shape templates you could think of). I chose a Parlor, a Martin OO, The Olson SJ, and the Martin OM. It was really interesting to see that the OM was bigger then the SJ. Well basically they're the same shape. Here's a photo of that. The Blue is the OM, the SJ is in Pencil, the Green is the OO and the Red is the Parlor.
The next thing I'll do is start to pencil in points and lines where the shapes overlap and have similar movement that I may like and start to draw in what I like. I also will use my shape templates and change their angle to see if I like the results. The orange shape is what I came up with. It's the SJ/OM but minus about 1.5 inches from the center. So it's not as small as the parlor, but the interior of the upper bout still fits inside the OO upper bout. And the lower mimics the SJ/OM that is the reason I build.
So here's the final shape.
Now to pick the wood. I have a bunch of backs and sides that are ready to go and a bunch of throw away tops that my pal has sold me. They're just his rosette experiments that he wasn't happy with so I get them cheap. I'm using an Italian Spruce top that has the rosette design that I designed for my pal already inlayed. I'll insert my version of that process later. And a Brazilian Rosewood back and side that I got that has some back wing additions that the seller said he'd never build with. So while it might be master grade stuff all of my material for this build is stuff that better builders have said they didn't want.
Hurray for cast offs!! Here's the top size/ perspective shot.
And the back perspective check and closer to see the perfectly quartered grain.
That's what I have to start.
Here's my design and build prototype process. I love comparison design. I trace and layout the patterns off all the guitars in genre that I like or think that I might want to have compliment the shape (thanks to my apprentices who went to school for building here in MN and have all the shape templates you could think of). I chose a Parlor, a Martin OO, The Olson SJ, and the Martin OM. It was really interesting to see that the OM was bigger then the SJ. Well basically they're the same shape. Here's a photo of that. The Blue is the OM, the SJ is in Pencil, the Green is the OO and the Red is the Parlor.
The next thing I'll do is start to pencil in points and lines where the shapes overlap and have similar movement that I may like and start to draw in what I like. I also will use my shape templates and change their angle to see if I like the results. The orange shape is what I came up with. It's the SJ/OM but minus about 1.5 inches from the center. So it's not as small as the parlor, but the interior of the upper bout still fits inside the OO upper bout. And the lower mimics the SJ/OM that is the reason I build.
So here's the final shape.
Now to pick the wood. I have a bunch of backs and sides that are ready to go and a bunch of throw away tops that my pal has sold me. They're just his rosette experiments that he wasn't happy with so I get them cheap. I'm using an Italian Spruce top that has the rosette design that I designed for my pal already inlayed. I'll insert my version of that process later. And a Brazilian Rosewood back and side that I got that has some back wing additions that the seller said he'd never build with. So while it might be master grade stuff all of my material for this build is stuff that better builders have said they didn't want.
Hurray for cast offs!! Here's the top size/ perspective shot.
And the back perspective check and closer to see the perfectly quartered grain.
That's what I have to start.