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Hello all, I have been thinking about building a flamenco style classical guitar. Since all of my knowledge base is around Steel string. I was interested in finding out where might be a good place to start. I am looking for suggestions for which plan everyone prefers. I don't want a modern style I would prefer very traditional as I started with traditional steel string i.e.: Martin X bracing and I would like to start at the benchmark for classical design. Also I would appreciate some suggestions as to what Back,sides and tops are used for Classical.

Pura Vida

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http://www.luth.org/plans/instrument_plans.html

Go to the Flamenco plans and look for Plan #42 1951 Barbero Flamenco. That is the most used for first time flamenco builds. I like the book Making Master Guitars by Roy Courtnall for instructions on building the Spanish guitar. It's a bit expensive - the Cumpiano book is great for this also (and cheaper).

http://www.lmii.com/products/media-gifts-more/books/books-acoustic/887-making-master-guitars/flypage-noimage

For Flamenco (blancas) the traditional woods are Euro spruce tops and Spanish (Mediterranean) cypress back and sides. Any spruce (or cedar) will do for a top. Alaskan yellow cedar or Port Orford cedar will also work for the back and sides. That will get you a traditional style Flamenco guitar. I've never made one of these so take my advise for what it is. Hopefully some of the experts will chime in to help you out.

Good luck and have fun.

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John Lewis
Wannabe builder owned by 2 crazy dachshunds

I have the barbero plan GAL is also selling a FL plan by reyes.

I built one based on the Barbero plans as well and it's one of my favorite guitars.

For the first time flamenco builder, I would recommend the plans of Santos Hernandez by either GAL or Roy Courtnall. You may also find info on flamenco guitars at foroflamenco.com in the luthier section.

I have built guitars using the GAL Barbero and Reyes plans - both work well. The Reyes has some geometry tricks that aren't exactly described on the plan, but if you build on a solera like the Courtnall one, with flat surface around the sides and a scooped out center for doming, you can set up the action and string height at the bridge accordingly by adjustments to neck angle. Courtnal-style Reyes works just fine. I prefer the Reyes that has stayed at home to the Barbero that is also here. (They are the only guitars of mine that haven't run off with someone else.)

Talk about tradition, my next one is going to be based on the Santos Hernandez GAL plan. This is nominally a classical guitar, but at that point in time it didn't matter much. Just get the bridge height and string action correct.

Make sure you study the details of the body/neck geometry. Classical/flamenco necks end up being pitched forward, rather than back as on a steel string. This factor pretty much controls everything, and you can avoid a lot of corrective work (like planing a taper into the fretboard) if you get the combination of neck pitch and lower bout doming correct to start with.

Tops: standard is Euro spruce. You can use any standard wood - any spruce, and there are even cedar blancas being built but I would leave that until later. One of my Reyes is Sitka - that can raise eyebrows.

Backs and sides: Standard is Mediterranean (Spanish) Cypress, most economical sources these days are out of Turkey (Akustikwood, Octopus). Alaska Yellow Cedar or Port Orford Cedar work well as domestic alternatives that preserve the look. Again, you can build with anything - there are lots of Rosewood "negras" used in performance (more so than recording). I always thought that Mahogany would make a good flamenco guitar for the same reason it is favored by some for bluegrass - faster attack, faster decay. Haven't tried it though ... hmmm ....

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

David-

I forgot one other B/S wood - Monterey cypress from the California coast. It used to be about half the price of Spanish cypress when you can find it and it looks/sounds similar.

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John Lewis
Wannabe builder owned by 2 crazy dachshunds

Along with Sycamore, Poplar, Kauri (Damar Minyak), maple and many others.

You have gotten some great advise.
I prefer the 51 Barbero.
I have a pic of the bracing on my site.

You can not go wrong with a Santos plan also.
BUT NONE of us is Santos.
He had a great ability to experiment & still make a great guitar.

Go with a very lite top.
No thinner then 2.5 center & 2.0 on the edges.
Back & sides low in weight also
BUT leave the back around 2.7-3 mm.

That helps with a clear snappy response.

F.P. the top-no need to put a thick finish there.


Put side braces at the end of the # 1 & # 2 brace.
these supports help to keep the brace ends glued to
the top when a Golpe' of earthquake power hits the top

Mike

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Mike Collins

A tip that was given to me was to make the top dome less pronounced (i went for 1.5 mm) and extending further north into the soundhole (on my previous two classicals thedome ended about the lower harmonic brace). i went with the ubiquitous GAL Barbero plan as a starting guide, but if next time i´ll use Courtnall´s Santos, or maybe even Gerundino.

And, last but not least, keep your bridge low in height and weight. Mine was 6 mm hight and weighted 13.8 g with tie block inlay but no saddle. All this advice is proudly brought to you by a guy that has just built 3 guitars, though.

good luck, venga!

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I bet Sitka would make a good Flamenco top. I used Pau Amarello (Yellowheart) for the backs and sides of the one I built. I also used Peghed tuners which work great and keep the traditional look.

Thanks for all the info guys. This will make the starting point a bit easier.

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