Radiused or flat fingerboard? The radiused fingerboard has been around the acoustic and the electric guitar since day one. The same is true for most instruments of the Stringed family of instruments (violas, violins cellos, bass). Radiusing (image to the left) makes barre and left hand stopping A LOT easier. The only drawback is that you will NEVER want to play a  flat fingerboard after that. If you are having your custom guitar built, I am all pro radiusing the fingerboard.  Unless you specify by e-mail otherwise, the fingerboard is flat.  ADD US$ 100     640mm or 650 mm? Regarding 650mm or 640 mm guitar construction, keep the following rule at hand: If the distance between the tip of your thumb and the tip of your little finger is equal or less than 9 in. when fully stretched, use 640 mm. (image below)

Choose the type of construction for the top: Hauser Bracing, Lattice or Double top with Nomex The lattice is a concept based on the A frame of grand pianos. The back and sides are kept rigid by means of a sturdy A shaped frame and the top is thinned as much as possible to allow the top to vibrate generously. As you see from the picture above, the thinned area is approximately 1.2 mm thick (VS 2-2.5 in the standard thinning techniques). Lattice delivers a lot of volume (approximately 21 dbs more) and wonderfully clear trebles. The double top with Nomex is basically a sandwich where a thin layer of synthetic fire retarding material (Nomex) is inserted between two super-thin tops. The total thickness of the 3-layered top is equivalent to a normal top. The center layer is practically speaking hollow, therefore it is also called "hollow guitar top". This is more expensive because 2 master grade tops+Nomex and special adhesives have to be used in the construction... Double top makes the sound of the guitar stay up longer before it decays. It brings about balance in the voices and approximately 21 dbs more in overall volume.

.Top:

These are the main characteristics or Spruce, cedar and redwood: Spruce will give you a  brighter crispier sound with more punch....open, clear tone. Cedar, will be a little warmer. Spruce takes longer to open up.  You can also see it this way: Baroque Classical and Renaissance music will sound better on spruce, Romantic, Spanish and program music will sound better on cedar. These are of course generalizations and what is definitely true is that both Cedar and Spruce make for excellent sound boards. Redwood is very similar to Cedar but with more presence. Italian Spruce is my favorite. Brilliant sound and tight grain. Port Orford cedar has qualities of both Spruce and cedar. Sinker redwood is simply outstanding but rare and expensive. If you have other wood varieties in mind for the top, let me know.

Select Machine head:.

model #1 Waisted Tuners your choice of buttons ADD US$ 0.00

model #2 Lyra classic gold plated tuners ADD US$ 60

Your choice of buttons for models 1-3

model #4 Schaller Gold with perloid or Ebony buttons ADD US$ 181

model #5 Gotoh Brass with  Ivoroid or Ebony buttons ADD US$ 239

 
 

8: Select Rosette

8: Highly detailed mother of pearl inlay  Inlay work on the fingerboard, rosette, bindings, headplate and tuners. See this inlay beauty we built recently    Add US$ 680 for fingerboard .........Add US$ 120 for rosette

10: Special features

The violin type of bridge or archtop guitar style bridge are a great input in guitar construction. A lot of the strain caused to the guitar top by the pull of the strings is taken away prolonging the life of the woods for many decades. The armrest is also genial because it keeps the tendons in the forearm more relaxed and is a source of comfort during performance. The hole in the upper bout augments the trebles output and works as a sound monitor for the performer.

 

Adjustable or fixed truss rod  The action on Bellucci guitars is set-up for maximum playability. Still, some players like to try different strings and the thickness changes from brand to brand resulting in unwanted buzzes. Acoustic and electric guitar players are especially attached to this gadget. The Truss rod is an excellent remedy which is a lot safer than tinkering with the saddle and nut bones. The action is only moved a few millimeters or fractions of a millimeter by means of a regulator which is placed on the headstock, after the nut. The truss rod is not meant to adjust the height of the strings on the fingerboard but to counter the pull or thickness of the strings especially if you like high tension strings. Still, over 99% of the world classical guitars do not carry a truss rod. I have received the request in the past and I want to offer the option to my customers. One thing is sure, the truss rod will keep your neck straight for several lifetimes.... I built my spruce top with a truss rod and I love the gadget ! add US$ 375 for adjustable model ($95 for fixed) Classical or cutaway cutaway: add US$ 230 Position markers Position markers are used by novice and pros alike. Using them is a very personal decision. They come very handy helping one of memory's strongest allies: sight.   none or: mother of pearl add US$ 20 each add US$ 75 each   -diamond markers: Add US$ 75 each -18kt gold markers:  Add US$ 50 each Number of frets  19 (standard)  20: add US$ 70 Scale length  630 mm, 640 mm, 650 mm (standard)  OPTIONAL 18 kt gold gold plaque with your name  and 4 essential accessories Solid 18kt gold plaque with your name engraved ADD US$ 79 Select Electronics  Onboard equalizers have no effect on the acoustic performance of the instrument. Installing them, is not just a matter of making a couple of holes on the ring but a time consuming highly precise labor. The tuner which comes with the EQ is in my opinion a GREAT plus which you will find useful many times over. Optional Artec 4 band Eq/digital chromatic tuner add US$ 490 Nut and saddle -Bone -Buffalo Horn Back to Top   4 Essential accessories   ADD US$ 77   "Exclusive label design: Ezio Romano, Trieste (Italy)" Copyright ©, all rights reserved 1997-2008