New Build With Mr Wu

[AKA]

[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]

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]

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]

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

[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!

[citizenk74]

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]

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]

Replaced the bronze w/nickel

[sgosnell]

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]

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.