TRIXORDO REBUILD April 2024

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This instrument was purchased with the intent to completely break it down and redo it using traditional methods of repair. Major initial problems included a cracked top, curved neck, worn frets and finish, bowl cracks, broken headstock, bridge and saddle inconsistencies, and rusty metal components. This project will serve as a blank slate and testing ground for future projects with the goal of creating all-wood core structures, with high contrast wood colors and stylistic details, and minimalist hand cut designs. Glue, paint, plastic, truss and carbon fiber rods, tail pieces and inlays, impact the transfer of sound across the instrument. The goal is to allow the wood to speak as pure and as authentically as possible.  

The old top was cracked and instead of repairing it, a hot knife was used to carefully separate it from the bowl to replace it with kiln dried 6 year aged 5AA Sitka spruce from Canada. The original braces from the manufacturer were applied to the new top and was glued to the bowl all using hide glue.

Cracks were glued back together using traditional hyde glue and a small piece of similar wood was added to seal the missing core of a piece of knotted wood in one of the strips. The bowl will be prepped for finishing at a later stage.

The neck core, fretboard, and bridge, were all made from the same type of wood with an appealing aesthetic and kept original. The neck has been levelled to an appropriate angle and the fretboard has been levelled flat to join with the neck. Inlays on the fretboard were removed and filled with a homemade wood dust putty. The fretboard will be routed after inlays are finalized for the mother of pearl vine and pink mother of pearl flowers. The fretboard will be rounded and cut to mirror the inlay lines of the sound hole.

Headstock was cracked, needed work to strip the paint and true the sides, so the decision was to build a new headstock and replace it. After it was cut off, the neck was prepped for the new headstock.

This project will feature new matt black keys replacing the rusty set it came with. This high contrast will feature the wood tones and incorporate a modern touch.

The original bridge was kept to keep a consistency among the instrument and will eventually require seating to the top and a bone saddle to replace the fret wire installed originally. A bone nut for the headstock will also be made to replace the original design which was to extend the fretboard and seat the strings over fret wire.

Mother of pearl and pink mother of pearl will be inlayed around the sound hole, along the fretboard and into the headstock. The top, bowl, and headstock will all feature a roasted flamed maple edge to tie it together.

French polish technique was the prevailing aesthetic desired for this piece which will give it a classic and timeless look and bring out the warm tones of the wood. 

In wanting to create contrast and something unique, the metal tail piece will be discarded and replaced with ebony wood while also creating a resting place for the arm and a wooden design for securing the strings.