Dave Cronce's latest acoustic [pictures]

[dave cronce]

This guitar has been in the works for almost a year now. I built my cousin one just like it and decided I wanted one for myself so I started building. I was ready to apply the finish and I had a few important changes in my life (new job, first house, no more fiance) and had to shelf it for 6 months. I finally got all settled in and finished it. I'm very happy with the results. The finish is OK, but it sounds very rich and resonant and plays extremely well. It made the last several years of not having a guitar to call my own worth it.

I used the same shotgun rosette from my last build, as well as the Nomex sandwich top. The back, sides, fretboard, bridge and headstock veneer are all different rosewood, with the back being Bolivian and the rest Indian. Stainless steel frets and a split saddle round it all out.

[Ron Belanger]

Looks good Dave.

[Steve Senseney]

I like it.

Could I see a closer look at the rosette?

[dave cronce]

Steve,

A close up of the rosette.

[Steve Senseney]

Thanks. I don't remember seeing your previous rosette like this before.

I see you have an x-braced back. Is there a reason you didn't reinforce the lap joint area with a small strip of wood?

[Steve Rolig]

Nice work, interesting rosette. I use a similar shaped peg head.
Steve

[Waddy Thomson]

Very nice looking guitar. Intriguing rosette.

[dave cronce]

Thanks. I don't remember seeing your previous rosette like this before.

I see you have an x-braced back. Is there a reason you didn't reinforce the lap joint area with a small strip of wood?

The back on this guitar is actually rosewood veneer over mahogany and the glue joint for the mahogany is offset from that of the veneer. A small strip over the joint seemed unnecessary. I used sequence matched pieces for the inside and outside veneers so nobody would ever know unless they cut it open or asked me.

[Mark Swanson]

Nice guitar, Dave.
Well, if it's laminated or it isn't, it's still a thin piece of wood. The center is its weakest point, and it's also where your X brace is its weakest too. A slip of wood over the joint is a really good idea.

[Ron Belanger]

I totally agree with Mark. That little cap over the X restores the integrity to the brace and allows it to act as one piece.

[dave cronce]

With the inner core of mahogany having a glue joint that is offset from that of the veneers, the veneers act as the strip of wood over the joint, albeit not as thick as is usually used on the inside of the back. To me, this makes that strip of wood unnecessary.

And I've also configured the x braces so they don't even touch each other. One is 'scooped out', the other is 'arched'. A patch would be unnecessary, and also counterproductive to having two braces that don't touch each other.