New Build With Mr Wu

**AKA** · 03-17-2018, 03:41 PM

[QUOTE=Spook410;856662]OK.. I'm envious. You have a much better bridge on yours. And my case isn't anywhere near that nice. And most of all.. I want the big ports. Mine only has a single small port. Oh well..

Beautiful guitar. Speaking of sound ports; does the lower port really function as intended. Seems, from the player's perspective, the sound would be largely blocked by the player's body.

Albert

**CamillusUSA** · 03-17-2018, 04:02 PM

When I was asked to "choose" the size of the side ports I had little idea as to shape and area, but I figured best to err on the side of caution So I requested that they be the same as the top port (I see that Monteleones, Mirabellas et al are larger, but I didn't know if there were limitations) - they DO work. In particular, the port on the side of the scroll is positioned under the player's head - the sound is clear as a bell.

Additionally, the harmonics are hamonics are amazing on this guitar - All the way up to 1/4 inch away from the 1st fret as clear as can be.

**Boston Joe** · 03-17-2018, 04:20 PM

Spook410: Thanks for clueing me in. That question has been nagging at me for a while.

CamillusUSA: That is a no-foolin'-around guitar! I think it would not be comfortable for me with a bout that big, but it looks fantastic.

**2bornot2bop** · 03-17-2018, 04:24 PM

Who wouldn't want to own that guitar? 18" of pure joy, that's what that is!

**CamillusUSA** · 07-30-2018, 01:52 PM

Well... I'm not sure what it is, but I changed my strings and was surprised with the outcome. I asked Ms Lora to check w/Mr Wu as to the gauge of string that came w/the guitar and the word came back 12-54s. I had a set of nickel wound 12-52s and thought "ok, I'll lose perhaps a little volume and depth, but let's give it a try" - well, the difference is stunning to me. There seems to be, to my ear anyway, an increase in volume AND a greater presence. I've been at it every day for maybe two weeks and it's consistent, I haven't changed my opinion.

Any thought ob the subject?

Thanks!

**citizenk74** · 07-30-2018, 03:43 PM

Originally Posted by CamillusUSA

Well... I'm not sure what it is, but I changed my strings and was surprised with the outcome. I asked Ms Lora to check w/Mr Wu as to the gauge of string that came w/the guitar and the word came back 12-54s. I had a set of nickel wound 12-52s and thought "ok, I'll lose perhaps a little volume and depth, but let's give it a try" - well, the difference is stunning to me. There seems to be, to my ear anyway, an increase in volume AND a greater presence. I've been at it every day for maybe two weeks and it's consistent, I haven't changed my opinion.

Any thought ob the subject?

Thanks!

I would say you have found a sweet spot. I would write the string info down!

Congrats!

**sgosnell** · 07-30-2018, 06:54 PM

Two thousandths difference on the bass E isn't a lot. I don't know the total tension of the old strings, so it's hard to say if that was a factor. It may just be that it had cheapo strings, and a good set made the difference. The winding alloy can also make a difference even with the same brand of strings. What did you put on it?

**CamillusUSA** · 07-30-2018, 10:32 PM

Replaced the bronze w/nickel

**sgosnell** · 07-31-2018, 09:23 AM

I did the same with my Wu. The bronze strings just didn't sound very good to me, and I tried some D'Addario bronze strings with no noticeable improvement. D'Addario EPN21 pure nickel strings improved the sound a lot, acoustically and amplified. I don't like bronze strings much on any archtop.

**CamillusUSA** · 07-31-2018, 09:53 AM

I'm in agreement with you. I sometimes used bronze on my h'bird but really only preferred them for same day recording, but not so w/their sound after that.

In any event, I like the nickel and will probably continue using them.

**theremin** · 03-23-2026, 07:19 PM

This thread inspired me to order an 18 inch "Mandolin Body" guitar through Ms Lora from Mr Wu.

I have a 90mm deep 17 inch Mr Wu guitar that I bought used and it is just so great. It's gypsy jazz long scale oval hole with a wide fairly flat fingerboard and a zero fret. The long scale length and the wide flattish board have taken some getting used to, but I've been treating it more like a classical guitar and I really love it. It's strung with monel 12's and it's great for fingerpicking or flat picking. Loud, balanced sound and the extra depth really gives it a nice woody tone.

Anyway, the guitar I have on order is 18 inch body, 90mm deep, 25 inch scale with a narrower neck and 9.5 inch fingerboard radius--closer to what I have on other guitars. It is intended to be a purely acoustic player for me. I've opted to get a more traditional horizontal oval hole like on the Gibson Style O artist than the narrower angled Monteleone style. At any rate, I'll try to post updates as I have them.

This is the Mr Wu 17 Inch I already have.

New Build With Mr Wu-img_6267-jpg