Knutsen Marquetry

Its was a great honor to be asked to specially reproduce some classic marquetry for our friends at Guitar Repair in Italy. Andy and Alessio are two of the finest repair people in Europe, and more recently they have also been making some spectacular reproduction roundneck guitars under their name 'BAGNASCO & CASATI'. Check them out!

 The guitar is a vintage Knusten Harp guitar from the early 20th century, currently under restoration at the Guitar Repair shop.

 Here you can see the original marquetry, with the original colors now mostly faded. From Italy Andy supplied the measurements and preferences for the reproduction at 6 whites, black, red, black, red, black with the white veneer either side. The outer herringbone was not required.

The process is similar to how I produce the rope marquetry for my Weissenborn reproductions. By making it myself, I have control over the quality of the woods and species used, and am able to accommodate the subtle differences in specifications between instruments of various eras. Or as in this case - make an impossible to find strip that the commercial makers would not even consider.

 The marquetry laminations must be heat proof to allow it to bend, and traditionally this was either fish glue or later urea formaldehyde. 

The smallest batch was much more than they needed for this repair, but now we have a small supply should someone ever need it! Good luck with the repair gentlemen!

Thomas Oliver - 'Jurassic Park Theme'

Check out Thomas Oliver's lap slide arrangement of the classic John Williams score 'Jurassic Park'. Taken from Thomas Oliver's forthcoming record 'Beneath the Weissenborn', coming soon.

"I was 7 years old when Jurassic Park was released. I went to see it at the movies about 5 times. Even at the age of 7, I was absolutely enamoured by the music. The main reason I kept going back to see it was so that I could hear the music again. It would be another 3 years before I would even touch a guitar, but the Jurassic Park score touched me deeply as soon as I heard it. It was the soundtrack to a very special time in the lives of many kids such as myself; for the first time, dinosaurs were alive, and our fascinations were entertained! But more than that, it was an incredibly beautiful piece of music. The melody stuck in my head for 20 years before I finally owned it myself. And when I bought it recently, it was like being reunited with a long lost friend, and I played it over and over and over again, as loud as I could, thrusting my arms into the air in the middle of my lounge room. Every time I listen to it, still I just can't believe how good it is. It remains my favourite film score ever. So I decided to arrange it for my favourite instrument ever, the Weissenborn. Thank you, John Williams, for such an incredible piece of music." - Thomas Oliver

Solid-neck Weissenborn - Part 4

Part 4 - Francis / Noe Solid-neck Hawaiian

It is a great privilege and honor to say my collaboration with noted Weissenborn author George T. Noe is now complete.

George (Tom) Noe and Dan Most were the first to talk about Weissenborn instruments in a chronological order, which for me at least, was a reflection of how the design, construction and manufacture of Weissenborn guitars were inextricably linked. For Weissenborn as a maker, that was a relentless pursuit of  detail. But for musicians and collectors, we are left with a vast catalog of instruments with different voices.

Since most my my new work is based on the later models, it was a rare opportunity to go back into Weissenborn's early work. And so, this guitar was both one of the most challenging commissions and greatest gifts I have ever been given. Although its construction details are straight ahead, through this guitar I was fortunate enough to study Weissenborn as a violin maker, and how pivotal that was not only in his early work, but how it continued to effect everything he did.

I would like to thank Nicolo Alessi for his spectacular work on the reproduction tuners of the original reverse geared waffle end machines. Not only do they look great and fit the vibe of the instrument, they are simply  highest quality machines made - period.

Musically, this guitar bowls over both player and listener alike. For such a small body (both in dimension and just 2.5 inches of depth), it is easily one of the larger sounding instruments I have heard with very strong projection and articulation throughout the range, putting the solid-neck in a class all by its own.

For those who are new to the Solid-neck, you can check out our blog posts on its development, here:

Solid-neck Weissenborns - An Introduction

Solid-neck Weissenborn - Part 2 (The master template)

Solid-neck Weissenborn - Part 3 (Construction)

I would like to extend my greatest thanks to George T. Noe for bringing this project to life. George is one of the kindest and most genuine people one could hope to meet, as well as being the foremost expert on H.Weissenborn. Its been a true honor to work with him on this project and share a magnificent correspondence over the years.

90 years after its was originally designed and constructed, I am happy to say the solid-neck will continue to be available by special order.

Makers Mark - A Compendium of Kerfing.

In the same way a 300 year old violin shows the masters cut from a chisel, the Weissenborn shows the marks of the machines that helped produce them. It is not bad nor is it lazy. But a sign of a maker who's tools were tuned to perfection and who knew how to use them.

While many aficionados refer to the different finishes or bridge design eras, under that is a story of industrialization, which shows how the Weissenborn was not only outwardly different, but being made differently.

The kerfed linings that hold the instrument together are ubiquitous, yet one of the most difficult parts of an instrument to make, and a classic example of Weissenborn's changing approach.

Weissenborn was a violin maker for the majority of his life. While many violin makers work out of tiny studio's, we know Weissenborn did not fit the mold and was becoming more industrial by the time he opened his piano repair shop in downtown LA.

Its important to note in the late 19^th and early 20^th centurys, the available machinery was massive and industrial. For the most part, the smaller 'home shop' machines we know today would not be developed until after Weissenborns death in the late 1930s.

1920s Machinery Ad.

So what was he using? While Weissenborn's ad refers to a large shop space of 1135 square feet, the instruments reflect work of a violin maker in the traditional style.

 Evidenced by the kerfing closest to the tail and neck blocks in the earliest instruments, Weissenborn glued the kerfing in full size, and beveled it afterward in the classic violin style using a gouge and knife. Saw marks on the kerfing and inside the instrument indicate a rudimentary table saw was used to rough the parts.

For the restoration of the above instrument, I had to reproduce a small amount of this style of lining, and here you can see it in the pre carved form. Interestingly this instrument was made using the distinctive white spruce, once common to the piano trade.  

When the Weissenborn Company Ltd opened its doors in 1923, production had grown and changed exponentially, and the kerfing was now pre-cut to final shape before being glued in. Here you can see the faint band saw marks produced during the bevel cut.

Mid 1920s spec reproduction lining.

By the late 1920s, Weissenborn's tooling (and finishing) had become state of the art for the time. Now you can see the kerfing cut from a tilting table saw.

 These marks are ubiquitous throughout instruments of this era, particularly the 1930s models were only the critical joints were dressed. The late 1920s models tend to have the linings dressed:

Ca.1927 reproduction lining.

Tony Francis Instruments in Spain!

Its a great honor to welcome Cesar at Weissenborn.es as the new dealer for Tony Francis in Spain! Cesar is a long time Weissenborn aficionado, and no doubt many of you reading this will know his website. He is also a fantastic person and great source for anything Weissenborn, both vintage and new, in Europe.

Currently in stock is one of the killer new 1930's spec Teardrops, with more due very soon. Check it out!

Video Tutorial with Rob Anderlik

Check out Chicago based Musician and Teacher Rob A
nderlik's new Youtube tutorial of the classic Lindley tune 'Look so Good'.

Rob said about the tune "Look So Good was the very first song I ever heard on the Weissenborn and also the first song I learned to play on the instrument. My rendition is not a note for note version, but more of an attempt to capture the spirit of the tune."

You can download the tab for this tutorial at Robs website: http://www.robanderlik.com/

Rob is a long time slide maestro and shares his thoughts on his new Style 1 at 10.47.

Rob's Style 1 at the shop, shortly before heading out to its new home in Chicago.

Iggy and the Stooges, Ron Asheton tribute

Last month in Ann Arbor Michigan, Iggy and the Stooges played a benefit concert celebrating the life of Ron Asheton.

Just before the show ended, Iggy Pop and James Williamson sat down to perform a special acoustic tribute, called 'Ron's tune'.

The original music was by James Williamson, with the lyrics by Iggy Pop. The arrangement was performed live on a Tony Francis Style 4 made for James in 2010.

David Dominic Jr. Photo