PING Tony Done
Mike Brown
thinking about selling for a while. It's a shame to see such a nice
guitar sitting around not getting played.
If it happens, I plan use the proceeds to order a guitar from Jack Spira
using all Australian timbers. I have some ideas, and know the sort of
guitar that I want, but will take Jack's advice on most things. It will
be a classic size 12 fret cutaway (steel string) with a 1 13/16" neck
and a short scale (probably about 24.75, or something that Jack likes to
build in about that length). It won't be at all fancy except for some
nice wood and workmanship.
I haven't heard or played one of Jack's guitars, but have heard good
things, including from Tim Wright, who knows him, likes him, and admires
his work.
More when I've spoken more to Jack and it starts to get real with the
details settled.
MJRB
Tony Done
"Mike Brown" <rock...@chariot.net.au> wrote in message
news:4a8bf853$1...@news.comindico.com.au...
Heh, sounds like a good move to me given your interests. What did you have
in mind for timbers?
<g> I'll offer some unsolicited advice. My first choice for "all Oz"
(depending very much on the luthier's agreement) would be bunya/blackwood
with jarrah for the fingerboard. Not sure about the neck, one of the local
luthiers, Gary Albrecht, didn't think that Maton's Queensland maple was a
good choice, but I don't know what the alternatives are. Maybe blackwood?
King Billy pine would look really pretty for the top, but the very few I've
played have sounded as dead as a door nail.
How about a cutaway like this?
http://exceptionalguitars.com/images/catalog_photos/medium/BourgeoisFT/BOFT071099_1.jpg
Ibanez have also stared using this style, and I think it looks pretty
classy.
Tony D
Tony Done
Added thought. By "classical" do you mean putting the bridge nearer the
centre of the lower bout than is found in traditional Martin style 12-frets?
My Bourgeois is like that, so is the Martin Norman Blake model. I think it
is a great idea, <g> especially with that style of cutaway I indicated.
Tony D
Mike Brown
The Bunya top is my thought too, b&s I'm still thinking about, probably
either W.A. Sheoak or Blackwood. Fingerboard and bridge will be Bull Oak
(which Jack uses a lot), and the neck Victorian Ash. Bindings I'm also
not sure of, just something hard that contrasts well with the b&s.
W.A. Sheoak
http://www.jackspiraguitars.com/103backclose.jpg
Blackwood
http://www.jackspiraguitars.com/No2back.jpg
http://www.jackspiraguitars.com/159back.jpg
Some of his guitars are somewhat unusual in shape, but mine will be
pretty conventional classical shape and size (except fot the cutaway).
None of this is certain yet until I aquire the cash and talk to Jack,
but making plans for it is great fun.
Thanks for posting his site address.
MJRB
Mike Brown
Yes, also body sape and size. My Tim Wright parlour has the bridge
"centred" and that is a brilliant guitar.
MJRB
MJRB
Tony Done
Looking at the pics, he has some killer blackwood, and that timber has a
good tonal reputation. One ex-local luthier, Gary Albrecht, has some
interesting blackwood in a dark coffee colour, not as nice as your pics, but
I would have been happy with it.
I did a quick check on Vic ash, it seems to be the same species as Tassie
oak, E. regnans, and I can see it being a good candidate for a neck. It is
straight and seems very stable, being used for making dowel and narrow
strips. It used to be common in big pieces for cabinet making 30 years ago,
but much less so now.
I prefer plastic binding myself, but brigalow would be a good fancy trim if
you can find any. It is can be almost as dark as ebony but with more red. I
don't know if it comes in big pieces though, I have only ever seen it in
small pieces made by wood turners.
Tony D
Mike Brown
Thanks Tony. I'll investigate the Brigalow.
MJRB