New Gypsy Build

[DJ Parker]

Finally! Florida's hot summer is coming to an end for my un-conditioned garage workshop and it's time to crank out some instruments. This one is a Myrtlewood/Mahogany/Spruce 'ronde bouche' modeled after Selmer's transitional period, 670MM scale, Macasser Ebony fretboard and bridge, flamed Maple binding, Miller tuners, and my first attempt at French Polish. I have a long way to go honing my finishing skills but it turned out pretty decent. It's got that Gypsy tone as well.
Thanks for viewing.

[Marshall Dixon]

Nice looking guitar.

The way the peghead tapers toward the top makes sense for the lay of the strings. I'm building a 7 stringer now and shaped the peghead that way.

Have you built or heard one of these with the internal membranes? I'm wondering how they sound.

[Bob Francis]

Nice DJ!

[DJ Parker]

Thank you Bob, Thank you Marshall.

Marshall,
The tapered headstock is the traditional shape for Gypsy style guitars. It is understated and quite functional.

I have read and seen pics about the internal resonator used mostly on the Maccaferri era guitars in the the 1920's & 30's but have never seen one up close. I have heard them (via YouTube) on some early Selmer guitars but whether they make a difference on volume I can't say.

Regards.

[Marshall Dixon]

I've started another guitar that is making use of some narrow pieces of top wood that have been kicking around for 10 years or so. It'll be about 12 1/2" wide but normal length.

From my time building loudspeakers I thought about the folded horn and transmission line designs, where the internal length of the box is labrynthine and the increased length effects the resonance of the fundamental frequency. So I added an internal membrane in the lower bout to hear what happens.

In researching this I couldn't find much but the following link. He mentions that the internal resonators didn't make for more volume, but effected the timbre of the bass.

http://www.lutherie.net/bckgrnd.html

Again; love that myrtle. It's one of our local woods out here in sw Oregon. A stately tree with aromatic white blossoms. There are two huge dead ones on the property where I live. Three or 4 feet in diameter. I was told by an arborist they were killed by watering them in the summer time. I'm hoping to salvage some of the wood.

[Marshall Dixon]

Whoops; in my last post got my madrone a myrtle mixed up. It's madrone that can't take the watering during summertime. And that's what those big trunks are. Never seen madrone used for back and sides though.

[DJ Parker]

Thanks Marshal.

I appreciate the article.

The Myrtle gypsy is my 3rd gypsy strung up and is the first solid back and side gypsy that I've built since Myrtle veneer is rare to find. I just love it and wish I had a stack of it. Gypsy #4 is in the works and I'm back to a traditional laminate build. It will be walnut/walnut. #5 is maple/maple.

[Jo Dusepo]

Beautiful!