So a good friend of mine, Bertie Buck, has been building tasty acoustics for a little while now, and I always wanted him to build me something. Well at the end of last year I got a loyalty bonus from work, and what better way to spend it, than to spunk it on a tasty guitar! I've got electrics coming out of my ears that I'm pretty happy with, but I wanted a nice acoustic, a real keeper.
So it was around this time that Bertie had joined up with Chris of Sabre Guitars to produce a line of acoustics under the Sabre name, branded Buck Guitars. Having played one of Bertie's builds there was only one geezer who was getting my money! So I've paid a lump up front, and Bertie and Chris have started the build.
I thought it'd be cool to start a thread so I can splooge my excitement somewhere, hopefully you guys will find it interesting too. So enough rambling, here are the specs (subject to change!).
Soundboard: Bearclaw Spruce
Bracing: Spruce/Carbon fibre laminate
Back: Wenge w/ mahogany strip, bloodwood trim
Sides: Wenge
Fretboard: Ebony
Neck: Under a bit of deliberation. Could be wenge/rosewood/maple 5-piece.
Binding: Bloodwood/maple
Bridge: Rosewood/Carbon fibre
Scale length: 25.5 - 26" fan
Nut: 43.5mm, Ketron peek HPV
As you can probably see, Bertie and Chris are keen to try a few new things with this build, while keeping a lot of traditional sensibilities. The body will be a folk size, with a cutaway and a slight bowl back.
Oh yeah, pics!
Starting the rosette, Bertie's design.
http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd489/Bydytron/IMG-20150107-WA0002_zpsy3d0wjfc.jpghttp://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd489/Bydytron/IMG-20150107-WA0003_zpsm5jnmbhv.jpgHow it looks now, it's ebony with mother of pearl accents. I fucking love it.
http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd489/Bydytron/IMG-20150107-WA0005_zpsvnqjbrnc.jpgNo build thread is complete without a photo with shitloads of vices in it. This is the laminate bracing being made.
http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd489/Bydytron/IMG-20150113-WA0000_zpsrdkn09dp.jpgCheeky CAD impression of the body design and the bracing pattern.
http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd489/Bydytron/IMG-20150114-WA0002_zpsuw8oqntl.jpgMock up of the bracing pattern, with the bracing laminated and cut to size.
http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd489/Bydytron/IMG-20150114-WA0004_zpshibrhfos.jpgAnd making the mould for the soundboard.
http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd489/Bydytron/IMG-20150115-WA0003_zps7drboxee.jpgBertie and Chris are aware of this thread, so I'm hoping they'll create an account and fill in any blanks!
Gawd I'm excited!
Comments
http://i.imgur.com/Jl0OaG4.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/m33kb6I.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/5FQjfCX.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Zv4Iu5R.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/oONzJyt.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/0INiCSt.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/628oSyv.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/qmYiQLV.jpg
Yeah, Bertie's been really good with sending loads of photos to satisfy my excitement! They're a talented couple of fellas, that's for sure.
http://i.imgur.com/oAhM5kH.jpg
Channels cut.
http://i.imgur.com/nt41cOU.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/EqTE4cp.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/DBw9X7D.jpg
Bound!
http://i.imgur.com/ui8X21k.jpg
Notice the sexy curve at the neck joint
http://i.imgur.com/sOcjzNw.jpg
Neck's on!
http://i.imgur.com/X3GpF0y.jpg
Bit of bloodwood accenting
http://i.imgur.com/1CkgLDs.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/8seiZGz.jpg
I've held it in it's current form, and it's such a nice size and shape. It's almost parlour size, but with a nice jumbo-esque shape. I can't wait!
Bertie's really pulling out all the stops...
http://i.imgur.com/blswjcr.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/hpCy2vw.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/tplh6xK.jpg
It's cool because to me that doesn't look wierd, whereas on more obvious fans it sometimes looks like it is being out there for the sake of it.
Love the fact he cut that sound hole decoration out of a square piece of wood leaving a massive amount of waste. Ie sparing no expense haha.
How much roughly would one of these set someone back?
Yeah, the fan is more for function than anything. I like to play a lot of drop tunings on acoustic, and this should give a touch more tension on the lower strings.
Price-wise I couldn't say for certain, this is a kind of prototype, as Sabre currently only make electrics. But there is scope for an acoustic line.
Have a look on their website or drop Chris an email. He can give you more info than me
It's got frets and everything now!
http://i.imgur.com/GPhg4Q8.jpg