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View Full Version : c.1930? Sousa Portuguese Guitar (from Sao Jorge, Azores I.)



Jake Wildwood
Sep-09-2011, 5:18pm
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jgwQ6UFLFg8/Tmodel5HxPI/AAAAAAAAOjg/SVgMmOyoP_4/s1600/guitarra1.jpg

I know it's not a mando, but... it is... in its own way. Anyone fado fans here? Or English guitar fans? I love these guys. This is the first one I've worked on that looks a little earlier than the 60s/70s ones I've worked on in the past, and has much more of a folksy (but excellent-playing/sounding) feel.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1FtpjQESD3Q/TmodeUWrSpI/AAAAAAAAOjY/kuo52vhM_aQ/s1600/guitarra2.jpg

I'm very tempted as I keep letting these instruments slip through my grasp!

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NfWiv3XJRog/TmodeZQKnoI/AAAAAAAAOjQ/VzSsaPcIVJE/s1600/guitarra3.jpg

Want to see more pics/writeup? Check the blog entry (click here)! (http://antebelluminstruments.blogspot.com/2011/09/c1930-antonio-inacio-de-sousa.html)

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eYxul5JTn8I/TmodIE6bf4I/AAAAAAAAOiQ/IUclG02AbS4/s1600/guitarra11.jpg

crazymandolinist
Sep-09-2011, 8:14pm
I'd keep that one if it were me. Just sayin.....

Willie Poole
Sep-09-2011, 9:00pm
Looks like the player would have to make his/her own loops in the strings where they attach to the tuners shafts.....I love it, myself....

Jake Wildwood
Sep-09-2011, 11:33pm
Willie: exactly right... I stick an awl in my vise, find the spot where I need to make the 2nd loop, wrap it around the awl, then twist off over and over until it seems like it'll hold. A pain, but the payoff is the nice short, very lightweight headstock. This thing is feather-light.

Tavy
Sep-10-2011, 3:21am
Willie: exactly right... I stick an awl in my vise, find the spot where I need to make the 2nd loop, wrap it around the awl, then twist off over and over until it seems like it'll hold. A pain, but the payoff is the nice short, very lightweight headstock. This thing is feather-light.

Once you get the hang of winding your own loop ends it's not actually that bad - I do have to do this for my waldzither - also feather light - and really nice sounding.

Bill Snyder
Sep-10-2011, 8:10am
I seem to recall Paul Hostetter posting a picture of a tool for making the loop ends. I could be wrong about who posted the photo though. There is one on Frank Ford's site Frets.com.
http://www.frets.com/fretspages/Musician/Strings/Loops/LoopsViews/loops02.jpg It seems like with a bit of thought it would not be too tough to make something similar to clamp to your work table.
As far as that goes using a bar tie twister tool (http://www.lowes.com/pd_11794-1278-BTTWEAR_?masthead=true&selectedLocalStoreBeanArray=%5Bcom.lowes.commerce. storelocator.beans.LocatorStoreBean%402bdc2bdc%2C+ com.lowes.commerce.storelocator.beans.LocatorStore Bean%402c8c2c8c%2C+com.lowes.commerce.storelocator .beans.LocatorStoreBean%402d3c2d3c%2C+com.lowes.co mmerce.storelocator.beans.LocatorStoreBean%402dec2 dec%2C+com.lowes.commerce.storelocator.beans.Locat orStoreBean%402e9c2e9c%5D&langId=-1&Ntt=&URL=TopCategoriesDisplayView&firstReferURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lowes.com%2Fpd_1179 4-1278-BTTWEAR_%3FPL%3D1%26productId%3D3369054&zippedWithModal=1&zipCode=76513&y=12&x=45&isQvSearch=&mastheadURL=TopCategoriesDisplayView&findStoreErrorURL=StoreLocatorDisplayView&PL=1&productId=3369054&catalogId=10051&NttParam=&storeId=10151&qvRedirect=)might speed up the process.

billhay4
Sep-10-2011, 11:03am
Jake,
You're on a roll, man. Nice stuff.
Bill

violmando
Sep-12-2011, 7:41am
Beautiful instrument! I have to make my own loops myself on viola da gamba, but it's MUCH easier on gut strings. How is this one tuned? I have heard recordings and LOVE the sound...

Jake Wildwood
Sep-12-2011, 9:31am
I have this one tuned to BEADF#B but it does an open C of CGCEGC nicely, too. I think ideally, if I were to keep this one (still v. tempted) I'd tuned it down to ADGCEA so the transposing would be easy on the brain (since I play uke).