My first build a Weissenborn I have Weissborn

**woodturner777** · 1st September 2009, 09:14 PM

After many years supplying luthiers, musical instrument builders around the world I have had an interest to one day build one myself, now is the time I have often wondered what I would start with for my first build.
Well last week I was contacted by a luthier in Belgium who wanted a large billet of top quality fiddleback blackwood to build a Weissenborn and acoustic guitars and electric. So I decided to do some searching on history of Weissenborn.
And this is part of what I found. Playing a Weissenborn is like playing an entire band,there is all the bass you'll ever need a rhythm guitar and a slide lead,the depth of a cello and the edge of a strat, a compact self contained home entertainment unit.
So a Weissenborn will be my first build.
So first step tomorrow while I am picking out billets for export is pick out some thing special for myself and it will be high figured fiddleback blackwood, I will start with that and work out what special touch I can give it.
Second step will be resawing and sanding dressing Etc, progress photos will be posted.
Regards Bob

**Andrew_B** · 1st September 2009, 09:28 PM

i have been waiting for this day

glad to hear your gonna get in on the action bobby....

now get to work and post some pics

**woodturner777** · 1st September 2009, 11:11 PM

You can count on it Andrew, there will be plenty of pictures of the build and it will be well documented, I might even do a youtube video when I play live on stage at Webley stadium with the Who.

.
After I posted this thread, I phoned a friend who said to me that I should have started my first build with a Ukulele or mandolin or a acoustic guitar, he said that I had picked one of the hardest instruments to build as a first build, my words were bugger too late, I have already opened my mouth on the forum. And I was brought up in the old days where if you said you were going to do something you had to do it even if it was going to be hard or kill you, so here we go. Watch this space.
Regards Bob.

Originally Posted by Andrew_B

i have been waiting for this day

glad to hear your gonna get in on the action bobby....

now get to work and post some pics

**Andrew_B** · 2nd September 2009, 01:35 AM

hahahahaha

i will be looking foward to that youtube video

you should have done an steel string acoustic!!!
thats a build thread that i would very much enjoy and use when it comes time for me to "go to the dark side" as martin says

lol
but as you said, you have to do it.... whether its going to be hard, or whether it kills you.... you have no choice now

**Sebastiaan56** · 2nd September 2009, 06:21 PM

Dont listen to them Bob, go for what floats your boat mate. Personally i think you should make a double bass with that last piece of the 5000 YO King Billy, you know the one, perfectly quarter sawn, wide and long enough for the whole bass......

I look forward to the posts,

**woodturner777** · 2nd September 2009, 09:54 PM

Hi Sebastiaan, Sorry to tell you King Billy only lives for about 500 years.
Huon Pine have been know to reach 3,000 years of age.
I have said I will build a Weissenborn and thats what it has to be.
I started the first stage today and that was picking the billets for my build absolutely magic fiddleback blackwood with beautiful colour variation, if the weather every clears down here I will sand the billet and post photos before resawing. Cheers Bob

Originally Posted by Sebastiaan56

Dont listen to them Bob, go for what floats your boat mate. Personally i think you should make a double bass with that last piece of the 5000 YO King Billy, you know the one, perfectly quarter sawn, wide and long enough for the whole bass......

I look forward to the posts,

**Andrew_B** · 2nd September 2009, 11:29 PM

jeez bob.... still no pics

**woodturner777** · 2nd September 2009, 11:44 PM

Andrew, 450 klm drive today and really crap weather, I still have to earn a living, everyday is work, but I love what I do when I see what happens with the timber I supply. but I have made a start on my Weissenborn that is the wood is picked, and the the past couple of hours I have been studying a lot of info on the weissenborn and listening to music on youtube it sounds a magic instrument. don't rush me photos will come.
Cheers Bob

Originally Posted by Andrew_B

jeez bob.... still no pics

**Andrew_B** · 2nd September 2009, 11:58 PM

jeez... still no pics!

haha naaa im just pulling ya leg...
im gonna go search for these weissenborn things on youtube now....

**woodturner777** · 3rd September 2009, 06:34 PM

No worrys Andrew, I pull your legs a fair bit, so its only fair you pull mine.
Now as for this Weissenborn build its going to be a slow build but I am determined to build it, even if it takes me a couple of years, I was speaking with a friend today a well known luthier, Rick Turner he was telling me the first thing is to build a mould, get templates together Etc, I will be meeting Rick again on tuesday so there will be a lot more questions I will ask, I will also see if I can find a luthier here in Hobart that has built one. spent part of today listening to some more Weissenborn music on youtube it really is an amazing instrument, the sound that comes from it is magic, boils the blood . like the bagpipes boil my blood that is if the guy playing the bagpipes is good.
Cheers Bob
P.S. Did you listen to any youtube Weissenborn music.?

Originally Posted by Andrew_B

jeez... still no pics!

haha naaa im just pulling ya leg...
im gonna go search for these weissenborn things on youtube now....

**Lappy** · 3rd September 2009, 07:59 PM

Hi Bob,

If you're looking for a Tasmanian luthier who builds weissenborns you have to check out Daniel Brauchli.com.....beautiful instruments and he really is taking them to the next level..very inspiring!!

Cheers

**woodturner777** · 3rd September 2009, 08:30 PM

G'Day Lappy, I know of Daniel I spoke with him a few years ago.
I will give him another call.
Cheers Bob

Originally Posted by Lappy

Hi Bob,

If you're looking for a Tasmanian luthier who builds weissenborns you have to check out Daniel Brauchli.com.....beautiful instruments and he really is taking them to the next level..very inspiring!!

Cheers

**Andrew_B** · 3rd September 2009, 10:12 PM

i had a listen bob

interesting stuff....

didnt listen to many though... got sidetracked and started listening to tommy emmanuel lol

goodluck

**woodturner777** · 3rd September 2009, 10:51 PM

Tommy Emmanuel, who is he.?
Cheers Bob

didnt listen to many though... got sidetracked and started listening to tommy emmanuel lol

goodluck[/QUOTE]

**Mr K** · 3rd September 2009, 11:24 PM

This sounds like a great project Bob , I'll be watching with interest .

Cheers Mark

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