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woensdag 2 juli 2008

Mirecourt guitar around 1840 (Nicolas Morlot?)


This typical french Mirecourt guitar isn't labeled 
but thoughts are that it could be a Nicolas Morlot,
a luthier who also built good violins. Well known is 
the Chevron type inlay. The bridge is a later addition 
to my believe as the model is not similar to other 
bridges on instruments of that time. 

This picture shows us the wood that has been used for the 
back: Apparently Cuban mahogany. Mahogany is also widely 
used for fine furniture: However, the rarity of Cuban mahogany 
and over harvesting of Honduras and Brazilian mahogany has 
diminished their use. This typical wood is prone to cracking 
however. This instrument is in good though not original 
conditionIt has a sweet and even voice over the different 
strings. The inside of the soundbox has been veneered with
spruce as was quite common at that time.

A nice picture of the head that also differs a
bit of what was conventional, though the "Eight"
model was well known. Veneered with ebony.

Here you can take a close look at the wood 
used for the sides of this nice instrument.



ANONYMOUS MIRECOURT GUITAR (1825).



This instrument hasn't got a lot of decorations.
The soundboard apparently hasn't even been quarter sawn
being a sign of some cheapiness. After restoration this
guitar appears to be a very well balanced sounding
instrument with a nice and sweet voice.


This picture clearly shows the ivory frets while ebony has been
used for the highest frets. Note that fingerboard and
soundboard are in one line as was done up untill 1835.



These heels are quite common on french made guitars
of that period. This particular instrument has a wooden
binding on the back.

The back of this Mirecourt guitar has been veneered 
with a kind of mahogany on spruce. The neck has been 
veneered with ebony. Violinlike pegs are used for tuners.

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