Making a 'Floating Top' Guitar (Full Build)

Plans: sellfy.com/cranmer-guitars
For years now I've been obsessed with the relationship between the soundboard and the rest of the guitar. Most makers agree that the perimeter of the guitar top should be slightly thinner than the centre, allowing the top to vibrate more freely. This guitar build takes that idea to the next level by completely removing the perimeter, allowing the top to "float!" The resulting parlour sized instrument took me by surprise in terms of its loud volume, incredible sustain and natural reverb.
Socials:
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CranmerGuitars/
www.patreon.com/cranmerguitars

[@eugeneross6624]

9:31 I think 'rapid unscheduled disassembly' is my new favorite euphemism. Beautiful guitar, incredible woodworking, metalworking, and luthiering; bravo to you.

[@harrisonandrew]

Fascinating. I love the process and the end result is stunning. Fabulous job.

[@andrewvitale7128]

I can look at this over and over the tallent you show is extraordinary! And look forward to seeing your future projects..

[@ExcaliburPaladin]

I am speechless... Not only top notch luthiery but precise metal graving to make custom parts... You are pioneer man.

[@marunih.guitars775]

I think it sounds great! Thanks for sharing all those working and design details!

[@ziggylayneable]

This is extremely unique,& a very satisfying feet of engineering,technical skill,& the mind of a musician all mashed into one.You are extremely talented person. I've been a tech/luthier for 30 years and you're beyond me.

[@aleebrokenback5909]

how would you recommend getting into the field as a highschooler? are there like summer internships or sum?

[@chrisk3754]

That is a wonderful work of art-thank you for the demo. Just when I think I have seen it all!

[@DarkValorWolf]

that's sure is one unique sound, amazing

[@geoffkeeler5106]

Love this! Brilliant idea, and a bit like my electric upright bass I'm making. It's so good to see experimental stuff, more power to you sir!

[@YoureNowOnTV]

Thank you 😀👍🙏 You're an inspiring fellow and I really enjoy your sense of humour and passion to explore !

[@noordermaatstudios1551]

Wonderfull video,great job,thanks.The force must be with you.

[@MattWinkler1]

Neat idea, so satisfying to watch craftsmanship of this caliber

[@larrycortner6321]

It was a very interesting and captivating to watch , trying to figure out where this build was going .Good job ! You proved there is many ways to build a guitar .

[@fongy200]

What a fantastic concept, and masterfully built. Thanks for sharing.

[@dfn808]

I spend way too much time on here watching really talented people do their thing. Awesome!

[@realitystudioscustomshop]

wow, this is something else! gorgeous build, great vid!!

[@brendanadamson9408]

that guitar solo at 20 mins in is so so so f@#$ing good, a slice of heaven. keep up the amazing inovations my dude

[@aniquinstark4347]

That is absolutely incredible. Super unique tone as well. The sound reminds me of a steel string Spanish classical mixed with a biscuit cone resonator.

[@denishooper2618]

no words !!! thx for sharing this hypnotic build

[@misinformationwithrandy]

Tensioning the top with cabling, or whatever, really creates some interesting tuning opportunities. This is stellar design and execution. Thanks for sharing!

[@aniquinstark4347]

That or somehow making a stretched leather top like a banjo

[@alisaleh9102]

Your work really stands out. Great vid man.

[@LucaRossoDeVita]

I never saw a build like this. Very impressive and the sound is really good, very jazzy.

[@SmokeandLights]

Beautiful work. Also, at 19:27, I can't believe I never thought of that trick for tracing a contour! brilliant!

[@katzuzip]

Wow! That's a really ingenious and extraordinarily guitar concept!! 100 of 100. God bless you!

[@katzuzip]

PD: Your luthier skills are outstanding!

[@nmnmnm9509]

Beautiful tone, I really want to see bass version, You must continue to make this kind of guitar as your brand because this new design works well and sounds beautifully.

[@sergiodamian2147]

Tremendo proyecto de ingenieria! felicidades

[@gtrboy77]

Dude, that is insane. And you sir, are insane as well. Nice job!

[@stevemacbr]

Multi-skilled engineer, craftsman, designer & talented player. - A lot of prep-work went into coming up with this intricate HYBRID - Guanjo - half guitar / banjo - Muito bem feito. Parabéns. .

[@MrJoeydano]

Wow! That’s an incredible amount of Work and a very unbelievable sound , Nice creation very Kool !!!’👍

[@edwilliams9914]

It was wonderful watching you do the build. Beautiful workmanship and a pleasure to see. The floating top has one precedent that I know of, done successfully for the same reasons you mention in terms of fuller sound. Classical guitar composer, teacher, and player Abel Carlevaro from Uruguay developed a classical guitar along (at least supericially) similar lines. Carlevaro was internationally famous, always playing with the guitar he designed (as did many of his students). He patented the design and had luthiers in Madrid, Manuel Contreras, build it. I've heard interviews with people who play it and they love it. Maestro Carlevaro unfortunately left us in 2012 but he had many followers around the world and I'd bet a luthier as skilled as you are would find them very willing to talk to you about his theories on why he went rimless. Maybe they were for completely different reasons you did, but maybe similar, and no doubt the discussion would be interesting to all of you. Good luck, and again BEAUTIFUL guitar you built! Here's Carlevaro himself playing 'Evocacion' one of his absolutely wonderful five "Preludios Americanos" -- beautiful modern pieces that are as much of an absolute pleasure to play as they are to hear. You can see his rimless guitar and man, can you hear it ROAR when he wants it to! kzbin.info/www/bejne/hIa6coVsnNqGjq8 Here's his beautiful 'Scherzino'. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYLRaWCdlJmboNk A bit more on him and his guitar from Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abel_Carlevaro

[@jhedges8301]

Your videos and work are so precise with the intense sound tracks so when you hit the Thor cut I died. That's some good editing. lol

[@CranmerGuitars]

Hah! I'm glad someone finally noticed! The editing took forever

[@steviejohn22]

Well what can anyone say but AWSESOME . Have a Merry Christmas and a happy New year...

[@symonf1966]

Thank you Isaac for the inspiration to do what I should actually be doing. My workshop still isn't finished but it is getting there slowly.

[@danytoob]

Absolute technical artistry. Stunning

[@immanuelkuhrt8508]

This is really great camera and editing work too 🙂

[@paolob8288]

Your video just blew my mind. What an interesting build and how It sounds! Your crafting skills make me envious but, most of all... The hammer of Thor. Man, nothing makes me more envious than that.😂

[@S-T-E-V-E]

Great experiment! Fascinating!

[@SoIstDassAlso]

amazing looking build!

[@sexypigeonlover4631]

holy crap the sound is unbelievable you sir must produce and sell these right now

[@chingletree5397]

Mr Cranmer you are a nutcase or a genius or maybe both at once. This is an incredible innovation. As always your workmanship is stunning, but the inventiveness in this case is brilliant. Nice one.

[@edadpops1709]

Bravo man ,so outside the the norm , gives us small builders the freedom to do what we want.

[@HashtaGuitars]

what a beautiful creation :) LOVE IT!

[@gerrie7407]

absolutely stunning

[@MountainHomeJerrel]

This looks and sounds AMAZING.

[@cheapskate8656]

Fantastic. Well done

[@markorajcevic1170]

I am dreaming about guitar building,I am looking for the guitar inovations,I have watched so,so many videos about that. My friend,with no doubt this is the most inovative guitar build I ever watched.You are the best.Serious.You ideas are amazing.

[@ODGuitars]

This was very interesting to watch! Love it. And I also enjoyed the little side jokes ;)

[@stellingbanjodude]

I see qualities of a banjo, flat top and arch top guitar. I appreciate the design and skill required to make something like this, I really like the interior lattice work.

[@rauschguitars]

Love the concept! Also excellent job on the bracing to avoid "Rapid unscheduled disassembly" 😂

[@oh_finks]

found the KSP player.

[@zdcyclops1lickley190]

A nice experiment in guitar construction. The result is a nice sounding guitar and knowledge about how construction affects the sound of the instrument. Seems like a lot of work for little change.

[@InvaliDidea123]

Ingenious! Would love to test play it! Well done Sir!

[@chillipasley2603]

i feel like the unique sound the guitar makes is touching me internally

[@onemintjulep]

Cool concept . i see this as a dobro resonator type guitar . higher nut and played with slide . great work !

[@andrewrollinson7739]

Here's another thing I thought I knew but learned I know little. Thank you!!

[@marciopatriciobranco7611]

Incredible, this is an art, congratulations ...

[@jupacoher]

Un trabajo hermoso, espero algún día tener una guitarra de esa calidad.

[@greggoso600]

this video is a masterpiece, really well paced, perfect camera angles and cuts and good background instrumental music which id really like to know where its taken from :O great job, you definetly earned a sub and a potential customer

[@markgordon4368]

Insanely clever and skilled, genius

[@ZeSa-4930]

Perfect job 👍

[@DanDjurdjevicplus]

Stunning!

[@stevepethel6843]

You have amazing ideas skills patience creativity...

[@TheFoulCorsair]

A beautiful tone

[@skookum-rjb]

Remarkable gutsy build. I like the design elements of this, and you are correct, this is a little over built. Your craftsmanship is outstanding. (You might focus on using a little less glue though.... ;-) This is a terrific platform to experiment with top stiffness, top bracing, and top fixation to the sides. Like I say, I admire your courage. Obviously a labour of love.

[@michaelanthony1537]

Lots of guys video guitar builds and lots are great...but this...this is a GAZILLION thumbs up. WOW!

[@murielledarte8017]

Magnifique son, trop belle

[@sayeral1109]

WOW; Amazing Design

[@tchiksguitars]

I thoroughly enjoyed your scientific explanations using ms paint !

[@johnmorgan9617]

Stunning - Can't say any more.

[@OzziePete1]

To me, and I don't mean this disrespectfully, the guitar's construction is like a cross between a banjo and a dobro. Very intelligent build!

[@WolfgangSambs]

Looks very interesting!

[@g2D1]

damn, the beauty of the mind! Brilliance does not require explanation, it just is!

[@abhishekmestry5114]

So so creative..❤️

[@DC-rs6bi]

Just watched vid again it is a sweet looking🧐 guitar and that sound is epic👍

[@dennisneo1608]

It's nice to see people pushing the boundaries.

[@fabiobarbati6029]

Funny and captivating video, brillantly edited. Good soundtrack. But most of all: unique building project and top level craftmanship. I generally don't like technical experiment on acoustic guitars. But here tradition and innovation seem to match most elegantly and making full sense.

[@mvgiacomello]

Absolutely insane.

[@eriksharar986]

Very cool!

[@timhitt9541]

very innovative!

[@FLOODtoFIRE]

Beautiful

[@user-fe8ms9ht7j]

Now this is epic

[@elluisito000]

Very interesting video. Thanks for sharing! :D

[@Gorbyrev]

What a brave build. I hope Ken Parker gets to see this. You have his flair for innovation.

[@kenparkerarchtoppery9440]

Just saw it!! Cool!!

[@Gorbyrev]

@@kenparkerarchtoppery9440 My '95 Antique Gold Deluxe and my '98 Nitefly are two of my most prized possessions. They have given me countless hours of creative pleasure. Thank you so much for your vision, courage and craftsmanship.

[@0luc83]

Welcome back :D

[@erickaeuffling]

Magnifique ! Rien à dire parfait esthétiquement parlant je veux dire car coté fabrication je ne suis pas capable d'émettre un avis. Bravo et merci !

[@Metalinl0ve]

i cannot tell if you're a genius, a mad scientist or just crazy... Maybe a little of everything. That guitar is insane!!

[@davefoster6156]

Wow. That was a huge undertaking. I don't know what the purpose of all that internal bracing was for...I'm guessing as a way for the top gussets to not implode the guitar? Quite a bit of steel in the neck joint as well. But in the end the thing sounded stunning! Btw, that has to be the biggest bridge on any guitar ever! With all that engineering work, my question to you is...was it worth it? Seeing as how you are the sole person to undertake this contraption, you are the only one who can answer that. All in all, it did sound very nice, so congratulations on your guitar.

[@slaww666]

Holy shit, this is gold!

[@robmarmaduke]

That is definitely unique

[@wostosgarage9866]

Awesome Awesome Great video I'm in 👍🏼👍🏼😁

[@Seadogstudio]

I just realized that this sound like it could be a good gypsy jazz guitar.

[@maxdivine]

Amazing job and an absolute pleasure to watch! Next step: An armrest attached to the body to truly let the top vibrate freely :-)

[@owencasey11111]

Amazing

[@redbed1604]

Dang, that thing is gonna be heavy!

[@Dovey14]

It's a great design. a Pioneer!

[@nutsocket]

brilliant

[@johnp6269]

That's incredible, I have never seen anything like this. Bad to the bone!!!!

[@multi.instrumentalist]

Awesome! I recommend you check out the Justin Johnson video on the Smoothtalker guitar - it’s got a similar thing happening, but with the bridge.

[@joebryant8500]

So many great British luthiers out there, I find another one every day.

[@pradhumchettri1503]

Great work.. ❤❤ Love from INDIA... ✌

[@jeffcrist2977]

Very nice.