Great Time, Great Place, Beautiful People at Thomas Lloyd Guitars - School Of Acoustic Guitar Making!
Thanks Chris Wynne,
Summer Student - Sam Digiglio 2008
27 August 2008
Crazy Headstock
Great Time, Great Place, Beautiful People at Thomas Lloyd Guitars - School Of Acoustic Guitar Making!
22 August 2008
Sassafras Design
It was a long wait between enroling and starting the 10 day intensive acoustic guitar making course.
When I walked into the Thomas Lloyd Guitar workshop my first instinct was to duck - otherwise I would have been unconscious before I made it to the workbench. Yes, the roof is low. The building is National Trust listed and was used as a stable in the 1930's...and perhaps the large white statue of a horse above the machine shop is a reminder of that past. Luckily, the stable was extended and the workshop opens up into an airy light filled space - only those under 5' 8" are relegated to the low roofed area by the door.
Suffering a bad cold (it was the middle of winter) Chris introduced me to the other students and to the machines. I originally had an idea that I would make my guitar from Tasmanian Fiddleback Blackwood and that was my intention right up until Chris showed me another build in progress utilising Blackheart Sassafras.
I was interested in having a look at it...still thinking the blackwood will be my choice. He then dealt me a bunch of sassafras to have a look through. The sassafras just spoke to me. The figure on the sides meanders like a river and gave a sense of the geography from whence it came.
While the back left me the impression that I had the very heart of the tree. Somehow I forgot about the blackwood, the cold virus and the low roof (ouch).
I wasn't sure that I could finish a guitar in the time allotted and especially from the pace that Chris set. Everything seemed to go very slowly...plenty of tea breaks and a long lunch (something I am not used to in my usual day job). All the techniques for making the guitar were very simple and I was surprised and how easy it was for a guitar to come together so quickly.
However, there are some parts of the build that require experience and guidance...both of which Chris has in spades. And sometimes even a mistake can become a surprise innovation (just as I was finishing my rosette it cut loose and span out - I took a chunk out of it which made it impossible to align with the grain of the soundboard -hence my rosette is at a 45 degree angle to the grain of the soundboard). Although when it counted Chris was there to ensure the best outcome.
As I settled into the relaxed pace I also found time to craft a timber string winder. This little project seemed to cause Chris to smile a lot but I wasn't sure why (and hence my comment on the soundboard on the wall -"stop bloody smiling").
One of my favourite aspects of the build included the shaping of the neck - where I sat on the bench outside the workshop and moulded the Queensland Maple into something that resembled a musical instrument.
When I was deciding on the veneer of the headstock Chris said he had something to show me... a crazy piece of sassafras ....here was the piece that would make a statement. "If you use this you will be in the running for the head stock of year award" said Chris.
I was really unsure what to do for the headstock but as soon as I saw the piece Chris had in mind the sigmoidal design immediately sprung to mind...I mirrored that shape on the fret board over the sound hole.
After we strung the guitar we had a play and there was a bit of buzzing...back to the workbench...add a sliver of wood to the bridge...try again...this time no buzzing...hey, that sounds pretty good...gees, that sounds extremely good...hey Chris, can I play my own guitar?
So what did I get out of the course? Not only did I learn some new skills at the Thomas Lloyd Guitars school I found that the stresses and worries of the work world were forgotten. I can honestly say that I have never been so relaxed. I have found something that can take me out of the hustle and bustle and give me that perfect wave...where you are at one with what you are doing and the extraneous world melts away.
I now have a new guitar, a more relaxed attitude, a timber string winder...and a small bump on the top of my head. I'm still waiting for my headstock-of-the-year award though!
Thanks Chris Wynne - the guitar sounds great!
When I walked into the Thomas Lloyd Guitar workshop my first instinct was to duck - otherwise I would have been unconscious before I made it to the workbench. Yes, the roof is low. The building is National Trust listed and was used as a stable in the 1930's...and perhaps the large white statue of a horse above the machine shop is a reminder of that past. Luckily, the stable was extended and the workshop opens up into an airy light filled space - only those under 5' 8" are relegated to the low roofed area by the door.
Suffering a bad cold (it was the middle of winter) Chris introduced me to the other students and to the machines. I originally had an idea that I would make my guitar from Tasmanian Fiddleback Blackwood and that was my intention right up until Chris showed me another build in progress utilising Blackheart Sassafras.
I was interested in having a look at it...still thinking the blackwood will be my choice. He then dealt me a bunch of sassafras to have a look through. The sassafras just spoke to me. The figure on the sides meanders like a river and gave a sense of the geography from whence it came.
While the back left me the impression that I had the very heart of the tree. Somehow I forgot about the blackwood, the cold virus and the low roof (ouch).
I wasn't sure that I could finish a guitar in the time allotted and especially from the pace that Chris set. Everything seemed to go very slowly...plenty of tea breaks and a long lunch (something I am not used to in my usual day job). All the techniques for making the guitar were very simple and I was surprised and how easy it was for a guitar to come together so quickly.
However, there are some parts of the build that require experience and guidance...both of which Chris has in spades. And sometimes even a mistake can become a surprise innovation (just as I was finishing my rosette it cut loose and span out - I took a chunk out of it which made it impossible to align with the grain of the soundboard -hence my rosette is at a 45 degree angle to the grain of the soundboard). Although when it counted Chris was there to ensure the best outcome.
As I settled into the relaxed pace I also found time to craft a timber string winder. This little project seemed to cause Chris to smile a lot but I wasn't sure why (and hence my comment on the soundboard on the wall -"stop bloody smiling").
One of my favourite aspects of the build included the shaping of the neck - where I sat on the bench outside the workshop and moulded the Queensland Maple into something that resembled a musical instrument.
When I was deciding on the veneer of the headstock Chris said he had something to show me... a crazy piece of sassafras ....here was the piece that would make a statement. "If you use this you will be in the running for the head stock of year award" said Chris.
I was really unsure what to do for the headstock but as soon as I saw the piece Chris had in mind the sigmoidal design immediately sprung to mind...I mirrored that shape on the fret board over the sound hole.
After we strung the guitar we had a play and there was a bit of buzzing...back to the workbench...add a sliver of wood to the bridge...try again...this time no buzzing...hey, that sounds pretty good...gees, that sounds extremely good...hey Chris, can I play my own guitar?
So what did I get out of the course? Not only did I learn some new skills at the Thomas Lloyd Guitars school I found that the stresses and worries of the work world were forgotten. I can honestly say that I have never been so relaxed. I have found something that can take me out of the hustle and bustle and give me that perfect wave...where you are at one with what you are doing and the extraneous world melts away.
I now have a new guitar, a more relaxed attitude, a timber string winder...and a small bump on the top of my head. I'm still waiting for my headstock-of-the-year award though!
Thanks Chris Wynne - the guitar sounds great!
Grant - Student 2008
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