Here are a couple of recent demo videos that I recorded in the new shop last week. This is the Torres/Romanillos model guitar that I made for myself at the end of last year. It is a very traditional design based off of the Antonio de Torres guitar owned by Francisco Tarrega and a relatively similar José Romanillos guitar.
Slowly Making Progress in the New Shop
Slowly making progress in the workshop after the holidays. Making shelves, hanging up tools, making a new solera and getting ready to start work again in the coming weeks. It's cold and snowy outside!
Last Three Guitars of The Year
Finished stringing up these three guitars over the last few days. Two Romanillos/Torres models and one Torres model. I'm happy to say that I've finally managed to set one of these aside for myself. Very much enjoying it!
Clear and complex tone. Loose action with a good amount of bloom to the note, but with enough detail and definition to be articulate, provide a rich tonal palette and a balanced frequency response.
- European spruce top
- Indian rosewood back and sides
- Honduran mahogany neck on the first. Spanish cedar necks on the other two
- Macassar ebony fingerboards on the Romanillos models. East Indian ebony on the Torres
- Combination of cocobolo and rosewood headplate veneers
- Hand engraved Alessi tuners on the two Romanillos models and Gotoh premium tuners on the Torres
Three New Guitars Ready For Finish
Three new guitars ready for polish! These will done by the end of November and the last three of 2016. I haven't had much time to take photos of them in progress, but here a few while planing fingerboards and a bunch of prior to sealing bindings and the first coats of shellac.
New Kevin Callahan Video
Kevin Callahan just sent me a video of guitarist Jamie Balmer playing a piece that he wrote 20 years! It's a cool piece and very goodperformance, so I though I should share it.
Pile of Shavings
Spent the day planing, starting to brace tops and gluing center strips on backs. Accidentally stayed up until two in the morning looking at new tools online...
Two New Guitars Off The Bench
Just strung up these two guitars yesterday. Very happy with how they turned out! Light, lively and balanced.
Both are Torres models and made with basically the same materials. The second has a custom 636mm scale length with a 50mm nut. The other is standard 650mm and 52mm. European spruce top, Indian rosewood back and sides, Spanish cedar neck, ebony fretboard, Hand engraved Alessi tuners on one and Gotoh premium tuners on the other.
New (ish) rosette
Newest rosette with the same theme, but a little more color from the Spanish cedar and walnut.
French Polishing
Took about a week off to do some camping and backpacking. Now, I'm back in the shop and plugging away at these two guitars and getting ready to start a couple more. Here are some photos of the messy residue from pore filling and French polishing as well as the two guitars a few days away from bridges and final polishing.
New Michael Partington Video
Thought I would share this great new video of Michael Partington performing a new piece by Stephen Goss. It's a very cool composition and beautifully played. I'm a big time fan of Mahler's ninth symphony which is prominently quoted in it. Make sure to watch in in HD.