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Thread: Nava Archtop #3; with a nice smattering of Brazilian rosewood

  1. #1
    gary nava; luthier GarY Nava's Avatar
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    Default Nava Archtop #3; with a nice smattering of Brazilian rosewood

    So, I’ve got my next archtop underway. This one is having Brazilian rosewood for the sides (and other parts) and a maple back. I’ve put together a couple of video; the first dealing with bending the side and the second, the back joint.
    https://youtu.be/eIItmJIoQSA
    https://youtu.be/OfraLEVGXAI
    Cheers Gary
    Last edited by GarY Nava; Apr-08-2019 at 10:21am. Reason: link not working

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  3. #2
    gary nava; luthier GarY Nava's Avatar
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    Default Re: Nava Archtop #3; with a nice smattering of Brazilian rosewood

    And here's the completed rim and carved back plate.
    Cheers Gary
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  5. #3
    gary nava; luthier GarY Nava's Avatar
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    Default Re: Nava Archtop #3; with a nice smattering of Brazilian rosewood

    I’ve made up the neck blank and you can see that I’ve used Brazilian rosewood for the head overlay. The inlay is from black pearl; I like its subtlety; in some lights, it disappears into the wood! The neck itself is maple with a rosewood core, you can see that I’ve started to carve the volute.
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    And another video
    https://youtu.be/6KFP_reE4J0
    Cheers Gary

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  7. #4
    gary nava; luthier GarY Nava's Avatar
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    Default Re: Nava Archtop #3; with a nice smattering of Brazilian rosewood

    Here's a little video showing all the work that has been done on the mandolin so far.
    https://youtu.be/te85mqMuN_w

    Cheers Gary

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    harvester of clams Bill McCall's Avatar
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    Default Re: Nava Archtop #3; with a nice smattering of Brazilian rosewood

    Very nice. I also have an old Brazilian board that I was working on using and this idea is quite interesting.
    Not all the clams are at the beach

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  11. #6
    gary nava; luthier GarY Nava's Avatar
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    Default Re: Nava Archtop #3; with a nice smattering of Brazilian rosewood

    A few photos in the white:
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    Cheers Gary

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    harvester of clams Bill McCall's Avatar
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    Default Re: Nava Archtop #3; with a nice smattering of Brazilian rosewood

    Really pretty. Thanks for sharing.
    Not all the clams are at the beach

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    Default Re: Nava Archtop #3; with a nice smattering of Brazilian rosewood

    wow. what kind of finish will you be putting on there?
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  17. #9
    gary nava; luthier GarY Nava's Avatar
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    Default Re: Nava Archtop #3; with a nice smattering of Brazilian rosewood

    Quote Originally Posted by Randi Gormley View Post
    wow. what kind of finish will you be putting on there?
    Thanks Randi.
    For the first time, I’ve just used epoxy to fill the grain of the rosewood and am really pleased with this. I normally use pumice to fill and then French polish. But I feel like seeing how good a finish I can get with Tru-oil. I’ve recently used Tru-oil on a couple of electrics and was really happy with the result.
    As they say, watch this space!
    Cheers Gary

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  19. #10
    gary nava; luthier GarY Nava's Avatar
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    Default Re: Nava Archtop #3; with a nice smattering of Brazilian rosewood

    Here’s the latest video covering the bridge for the archtop and my rationale for its design.
    Cheers Gary
    https://youtu.be/OejL_n5ydp0

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    Kelley Mandolins Skip Kelley's Avatar
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    Default Re: Nava Archtop #3; with a nice smattering of Brazilian rosewood

    Great looking mandolin Gary! I love the wood combination!

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    Default Re: Nava Archtop #3; with a nice smattering of Brazilian rosewood

    Which bit of the Fens Gary? We're not far off Aylsham
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  23. #13
    gary nava; luthier GarY Nava's Avatar
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    Default Re: Nava Archtop #3; with a nice smattering of Brazilian rosewood

    Quote Originally Posted by danb View Post
    Which bit of the Fens Gary? We're not far off Aylsham
    Sorry for the delay in answering, not logged on for a while! Just outside of Wisbech.
    Cheers Gary

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  25. #14
    gary nava; luthier GarY Nava's Avatar
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    Default Re: Nava Archtop #3; with a nice smattering of Brazilian rosewood

    I guess all luthiers search for the Holy-Grail of wood finishes; something that’s a doddle to apply, looks great, doesn’t affect the sound, doesn’t affect your health etc. etc. But having, over the years, used acid-catalysed melamine, two-pack polyurethane, nitro-cellulose, water-based acrylic, the one lesson that I’ve learnt is that there’s no substitute for hard work! Like many of my colleagues, these days I tend towards shellac-based finishes or various oils.
    This mandolin is being French Polished and is looking quite lovely! I put together this video to give you a taste of the polishing process rather than a how-to guide. Hope that you find it interesting.
    Cheers Gary
    https://youtu.be/yr0zDEjj0vI

  26. #15
    gary nava; luthier GarY Nava's Avatar
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    Default Re: Nava Archtop #3; with a nice smattering of Brazilian rosewood

    The archtop is now complete. I’m very pleased with the outcome; if you’ve followed its construction from the beginning, you may remember that I said, “I feel a responsibility to make something beautiful, with my Brazilian rosewood.”
    Hopefully you’ll agree that I’ve achieved that. Below are a number of photos for you- I’ll get a video done soon!
    Cheers Gary
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  28. #16
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: Nava Archtop #3; with a nice smattering of Brazilian rosewood

    Now that is nice, very nice. Would love to hear a sound clip.
    Charley

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    Default Re: Nava Archtop #3; with a nice smattering of Brazilian rosewood

    Quote Originally Posted by Charles E. View Post
    Now that is nice, very nice. Would love to hear a sound clip.
    I think there will be quite a long line of us waiting for that sound clip, Gary.

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    Default Re: Nava Archtop #3; with a nice smattering of Brazilian rosewood

    Lovely work again Gary. No. 1 has just been torturing Pachabel's Canon, practicing for the Christmas show.
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  34. #19
    gary nava; luthier GarY Nava's Avatar
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    Default Re: Nava Archtop #3; with a nice smattering of Brazilian rosewood

    Quote Originally Posted by derbex View Post
    Lovely work again Gary. No. 1 has just been torturing Pachabel's Canon, practicing for the Christmas show.
    Look forward to hearing that.
    Cheers Gary

  35. #20
    gary nava; luthier GarY Nava's Avatar
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    Default Re: Nava Archtop #3; with a nice smattering of Brazilian rosewood

    As promised here is the last video of the current series; presenting the complete mandolin. As always, I try to demonstrate it and as always, I fail to do it justice. You’ll have to imagine what it would be like in the hands of an expert!
    Cheers Gary
    https://youtu.be/UNNTiPddHVY

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  37. #21
    harvester of clams Bill McCall's Avatar
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    Default Re: Nava Archtop #3; with a nice smattering of Brazilian rosewood

    Very nice, sweet sound as well as beautiful.
    Not all the clams are at the beach

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  39. #22
    Registered User Gunnar's Avatar
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    Default Re: Nava Archtop #3; with a nice smattering of Brazilian rosewood

    Looks great! Sounds great! Great price too. It's gonna make someone real happy!
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  41. #23

    Default Re: Nava Archtop #3; with a nice smattering of Brazilian rosewood

    I was happily grateful you opted to play "Ripple".

    Nice sound! Beautiful instrument.

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