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Thread: Build thread - Forster 8 string Irish bouzouki

  1. #1

    Default Build thread - Forster 8 string Irish bouzouki

    Happy new year to you all.

    After a week or so off I’m back in the workshop and am starting the year with a build thread. So if you keep coming back, you’ll see this bouzouki going from bits of wood to a finished instrument.

    This instrument is an 8 string Irish bouzouki. And apart from a couple of ideas which I know work well, I’m going to go back to basics with this one. This instrument is going to be pretty similar to what I made when I worked for Stefan Sobell in the 90s.. My top arching and “voicing” is a little different from his, but the basic methods of construction are similar.

    We begin with the sides. Wenge. Nice straight grained, quarter sawn wenge. A really smart, dignified wood, and an excellent alternative to Indian rosewood.

    Wenge is an odd wood to bend. It initially bends very easily but if you don’t get the bends right the first time you’ll be on for a while to correct them. But I’ve bent a lot of bouzouki sides in me time, so these when pretty quickly.



    The sides were bent by hand on a hot bending iron, using an inside mould as a guide – Stefan (like most luthiers) always used an outside mould, as I did for many years, but I’ve found an inside mould works much better for getting the neck angle correct.

    The neck joint I use looks exactly like the Sobell joint but the process and construction differs a little. My neck is fitted in one piece whereas when I worked for Stefan we used to glue the neck block in first and add the main part of the neck after the top was glued on. Using an inside mould works better for this one task – its something I discovered building my Celfic F mandolins.






    More to come...

    Nigel
    https://www.nkforsterguitars.com/ins...rish-bouzouki/

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  3. #2
    Registered User Simon DS's Avatar
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    Default Re: Build thread - Forster 8 string Irish bouzouki

    Nice, thanks, looking forward to seeing how it progresses.
    I was wondering, as the thickness of these pieces increases and with all others things being equal, how does the tone change?

  4. #3

    Default Re: Build thread - Forster 8 string Irish bouzouki

    Quote Originally Posted by Simon DS View Post
    Nice, thanks, looking forward to seeing how it progresses.
    I was wondering, as the thickness of these pieces increases and with all other things being equal, how does the tone change?
    Depends on which parts you're talking about Simon. And how thick. Generally, if you increase side and back mass in relation to the top, the effect on volume will be greater than the effect on tone. It'll be louder.

    Nigel
    www.nkforsterguitars.com

  5. #4

    Default Re: Build thread - Forster 8 string Irish bouzouki



    In the picture above you can see the back for this instrument – its a lamination of wenge, cedar and mahogany. The back is laminated in a vacuum press in a cylindrical arch and is so strong it doesn’t need bracing.

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  7. #5

    Default Re: Build thread - Forster 8 string Irish bouzouki

    More Irish bouzouki action today -

    First, the wenge back is sanded inside -



    That is now put aside. The next job is working on the neck.





    I've gone into a lot more detail over on my blog:

    https://www.nkforsterguitars.com/blo...uild-thread-3/

    Nigel
    https://www.nkforsterguitars.com/blo...uild-thread-3/

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  9. #6
    Registered User Nick Gellie's Avatar
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    Default Re: Build thread - Forster 8 string Irish bouzouki

    Thanks Nigel for reviving Irish Bouzoukis on the CBOM thread. Look forward to the next phase in the bouzouki build diary.
    Nic Gellie

  10. #7

    Default Re: Build thread - Forster 8 string Irish bouzouki


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  12. #8

    Default Re: Build thread - Forster 8 string Irish bouzouki

    Thats the body all ready for the soundboard...



    Nigel
    https://www.nkforsterguitars.com/blo...y-for-the-top/

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  14. #9
    Registered User Ben Vierra's Avatar
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    Default Re: Build thread - Forster 8 string Irish bouzouki

    Looking great!

    I'm very curious about the lack of bracing on the back. If this were not a laminated back, would you be bracing it?

  15. #10

    Default Re: Build thread - Forster 8 string Irish bouzouki

    Quote Originally Posted by Ben Vierra View Post
    Looking great!

    I'm very curious about the lack of bracing on the back. If this were not a laminated back, would you be bracing it?
    yes, of course, you'd have to.

    Its all a question of stiffness and mass. The carved arched back of a Gibson mandoin has no bracing, it doesn't need it. This heavily arched back doesn't need it either. If it wasn't so stiff, you'd need to brace it.

    Nigel
    https://www.nkforsterguitars.com/ins...rish-bouzouki/

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  17. #11

    Default Re: Build thread - Forster 8 string Irish bouzouki

    Latest update on the build thread - the top is on:



    Info in the link below.

    Nigel
    https://www.nkforsterguitars.com/blo...he-soundboard/

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  19. #12
    Registered User
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    Default Re: Build thread - Forster 8 string Irish bouzouki

    Certainly looks good to me.
    David A. Gordon

  20. #13

    Default Re: Build thread - Forster 8 string Irish bouzouki

    Binding is the next job. These days I use the "superglue" method. It takes longer, but the results are great. But if you spill the stuff it makes such a mess hence everything is covered in protective green tape.



    Then the bound fretboard is drilled for side dots in this little dedicated jig.



    Then the truss rod and carbon rod are test fitted:



    Then the whole thing is test fitted prior to the fretboard being glued in place which should happen in the next day or so.


    Nigel
    https://www.nkforsterguitars.com/blo...retboard-neck/

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  22. #14
    gary nava; luthier GarY Nava's Avatar
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    Default Re: Build thread - Forster 8 string Irish bouzouki

    Thanks for this thread Nigel. Always interesting to see a different approach. I like the variation of the Spanish heel.
    Thanks again.
    Keep safe, Gary

  23. #15

    Default Re: Build thread - Forster 8 string Irish bouzouki

    Quote Originally Posted by GarY Nava View Post
    Thanks for this thread Nigel. Always interesting to see a different approach. I like the variation of the Spanish heel.
    Thanks again.
    Keep safe, Gary
    Ta Gary. I never thought of it like that. Its my version of Stefans' bouzouki neck joint which he came up with building dulcimers. Stefan used to make the neck and block separate and add them together after binding. My way makes the binding more difficult - because the neck is in the way. But the joint is more stable.

    Nigel
    http://nkforsterguitars.com/

  24. #16

    Default Re: Build thread - Forster 8 string Irish bouzouki

    This will be the last part of the thread for a few weeks as the bouzouki is now at the spray job, just a few miles from my workshop.



    The 'zouk has been "final" sanded from head to tail, pore filled and fretted.



    I'm really pleased with the rosette. I love this "slant check" purfling. Its beautiful stuff, made by a German firm who are a total PITA to deal with, but can do very good work.



    The tail wedge is ebony and looks really nice inlaid between the wenge sides. Shame it'll be mostly covered up by the tailpiece.

    That's all for now. Next time we see her, she'll be all shiny!

    Nigel
    https://www.nkforsterguitars.com/blo...-build-thread/

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  26. #17
    Tired & Cranky Monte Barnett's Avatar
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    Default Re: Build thread - Forster 8 string Irish bouzouki

    Beautiful instrument, Nigel! The slant check in the rosette is a nice touch.
    Monte

    Northfield F2S
    Weber Yellowstone Octave F

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