|
Wenge - 2 an 'ILIFF' ........A Mid Size Guitar with Jumbo Proportions
|
see details below
|
Wenge 2........‘The ILIFF’
A Mid-size Guitar with Jumbo proportions, scale length of 645mm, 14 frets to the body. This Guitar, serial No. Wenge-002 was made by hand using the materials list below.
Back and Sides - African Wenge (Millettia laurentii)
A Heavy, strong, stiff, and dense wood with consistent, very tight straight grain, Wenge has excellent projection and volume. Loud, ringing tap tone with nice sustain, very much like Brazilian Rosewood.
Back Bracing System - Live Bracing Design
The Live Bracing system has 1 less Traverse Brace than a standard, it has four radial braces that only support the centre of the lowerbout area are not connect to the instrument sides. This allows the back to move more than it would with standard bracing while keeping it stiff. The traverse braces are tuned by reducing their cross section in the centre of the brace. This system increases the backs interaction with the soundboard during playing, resulting in a fuller more complex sound. The Bracing has been made to fit a 20ft Radius, which increases the stiffness and structural integrity.
Soundboard Adirondack Spruce (Picea rubens)
Adirondack or Red spruce is considered by many to be The Holy Grail of Soundboards. With too many desirable qualities to list all here. To mention a few, It’s louder with a higher ceiling volume, and more dynamic than Sitka Spruce and has less distortion when played aggressively.
Soundboard Bracing System – Falcate Bracing
The soundboard bracing system has been made to fit into and was assembled in a 20ft radius dish, which increases its stiffness and structural integrity. The Bracing is made of strips of King Billy Pine, laminated into sickle shapes, the gluing edges are radiused to 20ft. The Bracing tops have been profiled/tuned. Carbon Fibre is used to reinforce the bracing, a layer between the soundboard and the braces and a layer over the braces after they have been profiled. This radiused and curved symmetrical bracing system is of low mass and is incredibly stiff.
Neck - American Curly Maple (Acer spp.)
Quilted and Curly Maple are different figure types of the same species, it is an imported wood, and one of the most popular woods for stringed instruments. It is very stable and can be visually stunning.
The Neck is fitted with a Double Acting Steel Trussrod, accessible from the Soundhole with a 4mm Allen key.
Rosette, Body, and Fretboard Purflings – New Zealand Paua Shell
(Haliotis iris or austalis)
Paua is the Mauri name for Abalone. While the name Paua is used extensively in NZ to describe any Abalone collected from NZ waters, in the Luthier world Paua usually means it’s the predominately blue abalone that comes from the south end of New Zealand’s South Island.
Headstock, Bindings, Bridge & Fretboard – Red Bauhina (Lysiphyllum carronii)
Occurring in Central Western Queensland, sometimes called Queensland Ebony
It’s not considered endemic to the area, possibly brought to Australia by the Aboriginals. Multi-trunked, growing to 10 m, briefly deciduous in very dry conditions. A good shade and fodder tree for stock. The sapwood is pale with dark heart wood, used in wood turning and cabinetry.
Fretwire – Jescar Evo-Gold
EVO Gold wire is a harder alloy material than traditional 18% nickel silver though not as hard as stainless steel. It has excellent working properties and provides the player with increased fret life and a more Stainless Steel like feel.
Tuners - Gotoh mini-510, Gold with Ebony buttons
Exceptional High-quality tuners, consistently ranked at the top of the industry by musical instrument makers. These high tech, precision cut, Sealed Gear type tuners are lubricated for life and with an 18:1 ratio give the player a positive confident feel.
Nut and Saddle – Hand made from Northern Territory Buffalo Horn
The Nut and Saddle are handmade and fitted into their respective locations. The saddle is a firm fit into the Bridge but can be removed if needed. It has a line scribed along the soundhole face; this indicates the orientation of the saddle in the bridge. The instruments intonation has been set using the saddle, so it’s important that the saddle goes back with the correct orientation. The Nut has been slotted to suit the as fitted Strings. The Nut is also a firm fit; a small amount of CA glue has been put under it to hold it in place while changing strings.
Strings – ‘Elixir’ Light 12-53
Action has been set as low as possible to great intonation and ease of playing. While this Guitar can be fitted with heavier strings it is not recommended.
Finish - Hand Polished High Gloss Nitro Cellulous Lacquer
A hardwearing lacquer that is chemical resistant and easily repaired. Approximately 20 coats of Lacquer are applied over a 10-day period, after a week curing time, the lacquer is hand levelled using wet/dry sandpaper, micromesh pads and finally buffed to a mirror finish.
A Mid-size Guitar with Jumbo proportions, scale length of 645mm, 14 frets to the body. This Guitar, serial No. Wenge-002 was made by hand using the materials list below.
Back and Sides - African Wenge (Millettia laurentii)
A Heavy, strong, stiff, and dense wood with consistent, very tight straight grain, Wenge has excellent projection and volume. Loud, ringing tap tone with nice sustain, very much like Brazilian Rosewood.
Back Bracing System - Live Bracing Design
The Live Bracing system has 1 less Traverse Brace than a standard, it has four radial braces that only support the centre of the lowerbout area are not connect to the instrument sides. This allows the back to move more than it would with standard bracing while keeping it stiff. The traverse braces are tuned by reducing their cross section in the centre of the brace. This system increases the backs interaction with the soundboard during playing, resulting in a fuller more complex sound. The Bracing has been made to fit a 20ft Radius, which increases the stiffness and structural integrity.
Soundboard Adirondack Spruce (Picea rubens)
Adirondack or Red spruce is considered by many to be The Holy Grail of Soundboards. With too many desirable qualities to list all here. To mention a few, It’s louder with a higher ceiling volume, and more dynamic than Sitka Spruce and has less distortion when played aggressively.
Soundboard Bracing System – Falcate Bracing
The soundboard bracing system has been made to fit into and was assembled in a 20ft radius dish, which increases its stiffness and structural integrity. The Bracing is made of strips of King Billy Pine, laminated into sickle shapes, the gluing edges are radiused to 20ft. The Bracing tops have been profiled/tuned. Carbon Fibre is used to reinforce the bracing, a layer between the soundboard and the braces and a layer over the braces after they have been profiled. This radiused and curved symmetrical bracing system is of low mass and is incredibly stiff.
Neck - American Curly Maple (Acer spp.)
Quilted and Curly Maple are different figure types of the same species, it is an imported wood, and one of the most popular woods for stringed instruments. It is very stable and can be visually stunning.
The Neck is fitted with a Double Acting Steel Trussrod, accessible from the Soundhole with a 4mm Allen key.
Rosette, Body, and Fretboard Purflings – New Zealand Paua Shell
(Haliotis iris or austalis)
Paua is the Mauri name for Abalone. While the name Paua is used extensively in NZ to describe any Abalone collected from NZ waters, in the Luthier world Paua usually means it’s the predominately blue abalone that comes from the south end of New Zealand’s South Island.
Headstock, Bindings, Bridge & Fretboard – Red Bauhina (Lysiphyllum carronii)
Occurring in Central Western Queensland, sometimes called Queensland Ebony
It’s not considered endemic to the area, possibly brought to Australia by the Aboriginals. Multi-trunked, growing to 10 m, briefly deciduous in very dry conditions. A good shade and fodder tree for stock. The sapwood is pale with dark heart wood, used in wood turning and cabinetry.
Fretwire – Jescar Evo-Gold
EVO Gold wire is a harder alloy material than traditional 18% nickel silver though not as hard as stainless steel. It has excellent working properties and provides the player with increased fret life and a more Stainless Steel like feel.
Tuners - Gotoh mini-510, Gold with Ebony buttons
Exceptional High-quality tuners, consistently ranked at the top of the industry by musical instrument makers. These high tech, precision cut, Sealed Gear type tuners are lubricated for life and with an 18:1 ratio give the player a positive confident feel.
Nut and Saddle – Hand made from Northern Territory Buffalo Horn
The Nut and Saddle are handmade and fitted into their respective locations. The saddle is a firm fit into the Bridge but can be removed if needed. It has a line scribed along the soundhole face; this indicates the orientation of the saddle in the bridge. The instruments intonation has been set using the saddle, so it’s important that the saddle goes back with the correct orientation. The Nut has been slotted to suit the as fitted Strings. The Nut is also a firm fit; a small amount of CA glue has been put under it to hold it in place while changing strings.
Strings – ‘Elixir’ Light 12-53
Action has been set as low as possible to great intonation and ease of playing. While this Guitar can be fitted with heavier strings it is not recommended.
Finish - Hand Polished High Gloss Nitro Cellulous Lacquer
A hardwearing lacquer that is chemical resistant and easily repaired. Approximately 20 coats of Lacquer are applied over a 10-day period, after a week curing time, the lacquer is hand levelled using wet/dry sandpaper, micromesh pads and finally buffed to a mirror finish.