28 Dec2018

Super Slim guitar under way # 1

During his recent visit (described below), Massimo Raccosta and I discussed building a very slim guitar optimised for use with a pickup.  He showed photos of a very slim classical guitar made by Hauser, though this went further than just having a fitted pickup.  In the back of the guitar was a removable panel giving access to not only the pickup but also a tiny amplifier and loudspeaker.

Not having heard this in action, I can’t give an opinion as to how it sounds.  But in any case, this isn’t the concept we settled on.

 

To start with, I prepared sides from Malaysian Blackwood, which works so well on my Steinbeck guitars.  But I reduced the depth drastically.  The sides are shallower than standard at the neck, but not too much so as body rigidity here provides stability for the neck.  But towards the tail the sides are much shallower.

The picture above shows the sides joined by neck and tail blocks, cut down to receive the back, and with the back lining fitted, and lining and sides notched to receive the back braces.

06 Dec2018

Roman on the Roman Wall

Last week a truly enthusiastic Roman visited with his partner and was impatient to see Hadrian’s wall. Massimo and Francesca came from Verona Italy to collect a Steinbeck guitar to add to his huge collection of outstanding, interesting and historical guitars, both acoustic and electric.

Massimo’s original plan was to visit in the spring but eventually came in late November – despite warnings about Northumbrian winter weather. In the event, we had a mixture of light rain, sunshine, heavy rain, and hail.

Hadrian’s wall was built by the Emperor Hadrian (not personally, although he visited the site) around AD 125 and reached from coast to coast. It was the Roman Empire’s northern boundary.
To avoid collusion with locals, it was Roman policy to man postings with troops from outside the area. These would be moved on regularly before too much fraternisation could occur.

The weather on our visit was a fine example of why Roman troops would much rather not have been posted here. Especially those from North Africa.

We followed our walk along the wall with a visit to the museum at Vindolanda.  There Massimo saw, among many other items, letters home (on wooden sheets) from Roman soldiers asking for more socks.

Massimo is originally from Rome and was thrilled to see the wonderful wall built by his ancestors. He wasn’t in the least troubled by the weather we encountered.

The famous Sycamore tree

Massimo standing by the famous Sycamore tree.  If you saw the film ‘Robin Hood Prince of Thieves’ you will have seen this same view. It was supposedly on the route from France to Sherwood forest. Hmm.

 

13 Nov2018

State of the Ark technology #5

 

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Go Bar Jig

Said to have come from Japan via the US, this is a wonderfully simple and convenient way of gluing complex arrangements such as struts and braces. The springy rods (colour coded according to length) push up against the roof of the jig and down against the part to be glued.

No actual clamps are needed, allowing good access for cleaning up any surplus glue.

Here German spruce struts are being attached to a Malaysian Blackwood New World guitar back.

 

20 Oct2018

State of the Art guitar – Steinbeck S

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My latest Steinbeck S.  Bearclaw Sitka soundboard, Malaysian Blackwood back and sides, Wengé neck, ebony fingerboard and bridge, Gotoh 510 tuners with black buttons.

Strung just 48 hours ago and it already sounds absolutely lovely.

14 Oct2018

State of the Ark technology #3 – neck carving

Necks can now be shaped by CNC routers.  These necks will be absolutely consistent and identical one to another.

Hand carving a neck takes much longer, especially in a hard and uncooperative wood like Wengé.  But hand carving tells me a lot about the particular piece of wood the neck is made from.  And the profile can be adapted to suit the wood used, to suit the fingerboard and also the preference of the player.

There are companies who could shape necks for me, but mine are all individually hand carved to suit the guitar they are part of, and always will be.

13 Oct2018

State of the Ark technology #2 – bubble wrap


Bubble wrap jacket protects newly laquered latest Steinbeck S while bridge is glued on and frets and fingerboard are checked and cleaned.  Because the jacket moves along with the guitar there is no possibility of scratches.  And any sharp particles that might get in fall into the gaps between the bubbles and can cause no damage.  Very simple and very effective.

05 Oct2018

State of the Ark technology – clamps

Gluing the soundboard on my latest African Blackwood and German spruce MS S model development guitar, with modified bracing and soundboard. I love the cam clamps, such simple technology but lightweight and effective.

Steel spring clamps holding bottom lining in place while glue dries.  Fixing linings is the only process I use them on; useful here but I don’t love them.

23 Sep2018

Interview and demonstration by Michael Watts

Michael Watts has a blog https://www.michaelwattsguitar.com/blog in which are clips of interviews he has done with various luthiers.  Last month he visited my workshop in Whitley Chapel where we chatted and he played four of my guitars.


The first was a six string arch-top built in 1981.  It was in fact my first guitar, built after a decade of building first Appalachian dulcimers and then citterns, bouzoukis and mandolins.

Next he played a figured Sitka and Malaysian Blackwood D guitar, then my latest Martin Simpson S model, and finally a Steinbeck S.

All these can be heard in the blog clip, along with our chat at

https://www.michaelwattsguitar.com/blog/blog/luthier-workshop-visit-sobell-guitars-uk

My thanks to Michael for taking the trouble to visit and interview me.

15 Sep2018

Steinbeck S for sale

Steinbeck S Model guitar for sale.  Details on my Available Now page