I have posted about rosettes and specifically mosaics but I don’t think I have ever shown the method for making small mosaics. If they are small enough that you don’t have to give each row a wedge shape then you can use this. The setup looks like we are glueing top or back plates together and you actually have to shoot the edges of the two pieces in the same way. If you don’t usually do so you should take some time to make sure that the edges are close to square. When jointing boards it doesn’t matter but here it does. Use a chisel which fits exactly (or close) into the space between the two boards and press the strips down firmly once you have applied the glue and are ready to apply pressure with the wedge. The other  photos show the finished product. This simple checkerboard is part of the Torres rosette that I make for the SE153 copy. I use this method for any rosettes which are small enough and I do it to allow me to make 30 or 40 at a time. I end up with a strip that can be installed as if it were another veneerstrip. The reason the size is limited is that a small size will let the strip bend in a circle without breaking. Here you can see a left-over section but when I start it is at least long enough to make the full rosette.

The most pressing urgencies in the world today are certainly climate change or people fleeing from mortal danger of violence or famine. However, I believe that we have enough resources in the rest of the world to address these and many other problems. I know of a few initiatives to give young people access to a musical education. 

Kithara Project 

Musaid

Teresa Carreño Orchestra

El Sistema

The Recycled Orchestra 

Right now, thanks to a generous owner of one of my guitars and the GSI Foundation a guitar I made in 2004 is instrumental in helping young people get access to musical instruments. Place your bid now. 

GSI Foundation

The Guitar Encuentro is a yearly event organized by teachers and students of the guitar and features concerts, round table discussions and guitar exhibitions. The format seems to be somewhat flexible but I do know that we guitar-makers have attended on two previous occasions. This year we will be showing guitars at 5pm on April 23 at the Centro Albaicín in Granada.

Santos – Korea

I love selling guitars to people I get to meet or communicate with by email or phone. I can customise the guitar, they get to ask all the questions that they have and it is generally a good experience for all. However, I have had very good experiences too with people who have contacted me after buying one of my guitars at a dealer. Not to mention the great relationship I have with some of the shop owners.

Here are a few guitars that are available right now (as far as I know). It is a good way to skip the waiting list and thoroughly try the guitar out before you buy.

Santos Hernández copy in Partita (Korea)

Flamenca blanca in Casa Luthier (Barcelona)

Concert 650 scale at Siccas (Germany)

Concert 650 scale at DKclassical in (Glasgow)

Flamenca negra in Guitarras de Luthier (Madrid)