Thomas Coleman

That's lookin' real nice Urban!

Woot woot!

Parabens!

Bruce, do you think the carved kopf of viola da gamba's were also a specialized type of work? I recently tried my hand at making baroque guitar rosettes and quickly understood why even today it is mastered by specialists. I believe I remember reading or seeing that Kevin Kelly found remnants of a geometric construction for a baroque guitar rosette on a paper cello pattern housed in the Cremona museum. Do you think the Stradivari workshop made the rosettes for the guitars?

Thanks Jim. I really like the look of the pear wood. It's color almost looks like cherry sometimes. I got the thin (first practice rosette, .5mm) veneer from an ebay seller named acutemaquetry. I've bought from them before and have been pleased. The thicker veneer I cut from a bigger piece of pear that I got, I believe, from Cook hardwoods. I'd be happy to send you some of the thinner veneer when I get back from vacation if you'd like. Lemme know.

I've been knee deep in trying to learn the finer points of baroque rosette making. I can totally see why Masters like Elena Dal Cortivo and Mateo Cremades specialize in them and if I decide to make another baroque guitar I will give serious consideration to purchasing one from either of them! After much practice and frustration I have a rosette that I am happy with. Far from great but usable. The top layer is 1mm Swiss pear, cut out with a jewelers saw and then glued to the second, still whole, .7mm Swiss pear layer. The second layer was also cut out with a jewelers saw and the both of these layers were glued to the third, still whole, .4mm layer of cotton paper. The third layer was cut with an xacto knife and posed the most challenges. I was having a hard time sourcing parchment that I thought suitable and my guess is that while parchment poses it's own unique challenges (hard to glue being one) it would've been easier to work. Anyway, the challenges were fun, if not a wee frustrating...and now, after a 2 week vakay to see family in Montana, I can continue with the guitar

Fun videos Fox.

That book looks great. I believe that Warren Shingleton is making a baryton. He does exceptional work. Thanks for the line on that book, I'll keep an eye out. I was recently surprised to find a french language viola da gamba building book available for Kindle! I bought it even though I don't speak any french, a wee bit of spanish and italian, but no french. I just appreciated the idea of supporting the author and I may be able to glean a tidbit of info. Building a gamba is high on my list.

Not very likely that you'd find a cast iron Delta scroll saw in Europe.

Ach! I would love to. I doubt it would ever get passed the "dreaming" stage

Thanks Shelbow! I love early music and it's instruments and think your bows are too cool!

Awesome find! Is your turntable up and running?

Baroque guitar bridge. I debated just drilling string holes in it as opposed to cutting the triangular string channels but then I read about a speculation that the triangles contributed to the tone of the baroque guitar. This makes sense seeing that the bridge on a guitar acts as a kind of brace. The triangles would definitely allow more movement of the top. As everywhere on this Stradivari inspired guitar it is built very lightly.

As others have mentioned, I would stay away from any pre-made store bought template that is currently available. I would take Duane88's advice. If you can find a poster, you can reverse engineer a mold outline from it. I tape a poster or something similar to a big window and tape a piece of paper over that. I trace the outline and then draw a line inside of the plate outline at a prescribed distance (overhang plus rib thickness). I glue this to a piece of thin sheet metal (aluminum) and cut out on my bandsaw and finally file to the line. I usually just do one side and I usually use the back to work from (less wear on the back). Won't be exact but unless you are making an exact bench copy that won't matter. This is a simplified explanation but you get the idea? Maybe others that know much more than me will chime in with advice.

Sad news. My condolences to his family.