IN STOCK GALLERY
See What's Available Now Click Here









 

The Black And Tan
  Return to Photo Library
 

I prefer to buy my wood from lutherie suppliers since I will use only the best, clearest, most toneful woods, and I don't want any surprises. But despite a very cautions and conservative nature when it comes to wood choices, sometimes even I succumb to eye candy.

I found this billet at a local exotic hardwood supplier, and this is the most beautiful example of the wood I have seen. The stark white and black are a common feature, but the extraordinary spidering in crisp black lines is harder to come by. I'm a sucker for spiderweb figures and after slicing the wood, this beautiful chevron was revealed. I spent a lot of time working out layouts that would yield the best figure throughout this instrument and the two other guitars I was able to get out of it.

I built the Black and Tan in time for Harp Guitar Gathering 10. The guitar made it to the gathering with an "under construction" label, and I made it despite sleep deprivation, but it was worth it. It wouldn't have come together if not for a lucky weather break that allowed me to lay down lacquer fast. It was warm and dry way into the small hours.

The workshop pictures courtesy of Kathy's iPhone, the beautiful images of the completed instrument are courtesy of my good friend, Jim McCrain. Jim graciously did this shoot after picking up from from DFW and before dropping me at Harp Guitar Gathing 10.

 
Custom Harp Guitar
Plexiglass Template



 
Custom Harp Guitar
Workboard/form

 
Custom Harp Guitar
Black and White Ebony (Diospyros embryopteris)



 
  Custom Harp Guitar
Bending Forms



 
Custom Harp Guitar
Bending Form in Bender



  Custom Harp Guitar
I feared the worst, but the ebony bent beautifully.



 
Custom Harp Guitar
Installation of the rosette made from tiny tiles of the ebony and black fiber purfling lines.



  Custom Harp Guitar




 
Custom Harp Guitar




  Custom Harp Guitar




 
Custom Harp Guitar




  Custom Harp Guitar
White Limna linings, veneers, end blocks and harp head



 
Custom Harp Guitar
Fine Adirondack spruce braceing



 
Custom Harp Guitar
Workboard with Italian top nicely fit.



 
Custom Harp Guitar
Old tech. There's nothing more versatile than a go-bar deck.



 
Custom Harp Guitar
Low tech. A few screws and some shock cord are a riff on Spanish binding ropes.


 
  Custom Harp Guitar




 
Custom Harp Guitar




  Custom Harp Guitar




 
Custom Harp Guitar




  Custom Harp Guitar




 
Custom Harp Guitar




  Custom Harp Guitar




 
Custom Harp Guitar




  Custom Harp Guitar




 
Custom Harp Guitar




 
  Custom Harp Guitar




 
Custom Harp Guitar




 
Custom Harp Guitar




  Custom Harp Guitar




 
Custom Harp Guitar




 
Custom Harp Guitar




  Custom Harp Guitar



 
Custom Harp Guitar




 
Custom Harp Guitar




Return to Photo Library
back
next



Homepage |  In Stock Guitars |  Contact Kathy

All contents ©Copyright 2001-2024Wingert Guitars