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Weissenborn Build Progress

Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2017 1:30 pm
by Kerry Werry
Since I got some of the advice on this build from this form I thought it would be good to post some progress reports here.

My main challenges with this build are making and installing rope bindings and the changes to my build order of things i had to make because the neck and body are the same part.. Still a fun build and i think i will do more.

Below are some photos of building up the bindings.. I have Byrnes Model Machines table saw and drum sander which were great for this process (and lots of other stuff)
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Re: Weissenborn Build Progress

Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2017 10:03 pm
by Freeman Keller
Nice work. When I built my Weissies I just bound them in maple and used a commercial rope material for the rosette - I think that is more or less style 2. Good job on making your own

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The other funky part of the build was coming up with a jig that would hold the head and sides in alignment

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Re: Weissenborn Build Progress

Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2017 11:30 am
by Kerry Werry
Nice looking build.. I've just glued up some thinner rope binding to try and bend my own rosette so we will see how that goes..

For my form i used a Variant of the adjustable one you see some folks use.. I will post a photo when i update this next.

Kerry

Re: Weissenborn Build Progress

Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2017 10:16 pm
by Kerry Werry
Here is what I am using for a mold..

I prefer this style for flexibility

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Re: Weissenborn Build Progress

Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2017 9:16 pm
by Kerry Werry
Making progress.. bending the bindings went well.. fretboard next

Kerry
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Re: Weissenborn Build Progress

Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2017 1:21 pm
by Freeman Keller
Nice

Re: Weissenborn Build Progress

Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2017 7:26 pm
by Bob Francis
Yes indeed!

Re: Weissenborn Build Progress

Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2017 7:00 pm
by Kerry Werry
Now getting on with French Polish.. Fingerboard & Bridge just sitting there....

Inlay on the fingerboard is actually Timbermate..

Kerry
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Re: Weissenborn Build Progress

Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2017 11:54 am
by Kerry Werry
And ready for strings... Whew.. was intended as a Christmas present so a bit of pressure to get it done on time..

Kerry
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Re: Weissenborn Build Progress

Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2017 12:41 pm
by Freeman Keller
Nice looking Weissie, Kelly.

One thought on strings - there was a discussion some time back at OLF about strings for a Weissenborn and of course it depends on tuning but one of the things I remember (and I do on mine) is to run pretty heavy first and second strings. I tune to D, standard open G or (rarely) high bass G and usually mediums will work pretty good if you bump the first couple up. I think I have a 16 on it now. The idea is that that since its tuned down a couple of semitones you need to get the tension back up and with a light gauge string there you risk hitting the top when you angle your steel to play first string leads. If you look at old Weissies a lot of them have the binding beat to heck where the top curves into the fretboard.

Re: Weissenborn Build Progress

Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2017 5:20 pm
by Kerry Werry
Used John Pearse 3120L's

http://www.jpstrings.com/brstring.htm

Kerry

Re: Weissenborn Build Progress

Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2017 7:22 pm
by Michael Hampel
Greetings All,
Long time reader, first time posting. I’m starting a couple of Weissenborns, and have gleaned a bit of info from these and other posts, thanks. I’d like to put pickups in them and wondering what you all might recommend or thoughts on the subject.

Beautiful work folks.

Thanks,

Michael

Re: Weissenborn Build Progress

Posted: Mon Dec 25, 2017 3:58 pm
by Freeman Keller
Hi Michael. I haven't installed a pickup in mine but the one I see most often is the Sunrise sound hole pup - that seems to be what Ben Harper and David Lindley and folks like that use. I did play one with a standard UST and thought it sounded fne but that would mean that you would be using a standard saddle (again, thats what I did but traditionally the saddle is simply a piece of fretwire). My standard acoustic pickup is a K&K bridgeplate transducers - I don't think you could go wrong with that.

I did buy a Seymour Duncan woodie sound hole pup that I was going to put in it but the hole was too small (it doesn't have the mounding screws and little ears like a normal sound hole pup) - it might make sense to get your pickup and make sure it will fit the hole when you cut it.

Re: Weissenborn Build Progress

Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 3:59 pm
by Michael Hampel
Thanks Freeman,

I’ll check out the Sunrise. I’ve had good luck with the R&R myself, and either way I’m going to use a bone saddle. I still have a bit of time, just finished up processing all th wood, and getting ready to finally dive in to building.

Thanks again,
Michael