November 2012 \ Features \ Builder Profile \ Builder Profile: Dagmar Custom Guitars

Builder Profile: Dagmar Custom Guitars

Lindsay Tucker

Self-taught luthier Pete Swanson blends art and science in a groundbreaking approach to guitar design that combines computer technology, wax molds, and fiber-optic photonic pickups.


Premier Guitar November 2012

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Houndstooth Construction


1. The ABS 3D-printed mold is filled with three-part liquid foam. Once the foam is cured it is released. 2. A simple spinning jig was made to hold the foam buck while the CNC flame-maple houndsteeth are plugged into position. 3. An epoxy and ebonized wood dust mixture is frosted in between the flame-maple houndsteeth. 4. The cured ebonized material is then shaped and faired to flow with the maple teeth. 5. It worked! The foam is knocked out and the houndstooth rim becomes freestanding. 6. Next the interior surface is faired to a perfect surface for the carbon fiber laminations. 7. The carbon fiber is laid in, painstakingly faired, and polished to perfection. 8. Voila! A one-of-a-kind, parabolic Dagmar body binding.


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Comments

(4 comments) display by
UsernameComment
Pete Swanson
on 10/24/2012
Needless to say I too am excited and extremely thankful for this feature. Lindsay did a great job with the interview and her research! A special shout out to industrial designer Scott Duyn and fellow luthier Mark Kett for all of their awesome work and being a collaborative dream team. Cheers to Joe Yanuziello for making "Working Girl" look like blown glass. A heart felt thank you to Mark and Denise Trokanski for entering my life. Your patronage and friendship have had a profound and everlasting effect - a.k.a "The Trokanski effect".
Lindsay
on 10/16/2012
Thanks, Mark. So glad you enjoyed the article. It was great chatting with you about Pete's work.
Mark
on 10/11/2012
PS: Sorry, in my haste to thank everyone last night regarding the wonderful article, I forgot to also thank Joe Yanuziello who gave our guitar, "Working Girl", her stunning finish. Joe couldn't be with us in Montreal for the group photo but "Working Girl" would not be the beauty that she is without Joe's hard work! Thanks again everyone!
Mark Trokanski
Mark
on 10/11/2012
As the proud owner of two of Pete's guitars ("Working Girl" and "Denise"),both pictured in this article, I would like to thank Lindsay Tucker and Premier Guitar Magazine for your coverage of Pete Swanson and Dagmar guitars. Both guitars are phenomenal creations and both play like a dream. My wife Denise and I are honored to have had you include them in your magazine and web site! Pete is a extremely talented luthier with a bright future. It's good to see him recogized here. We've also become good friends during this journey which is an additional bonus of the player/luthier relationship. I urge anyone considering purchasing a custom guitar to look at his website and talk to him in person. Thanks also to Mark Kett, Annette, Scott Duyn and the rest of our team for making our dream guitars a reality! Mark Trokanski



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