Jorge de Zofia A1F Cedar Blanca cracks again

I have two guitars that have been made by Jorge.  I prefer my Blanca (Cedar Top- Spanish Cyprus Back & Sides) for tone and feel over the Negra (Redwood Top-Madagascar Back & Sides) . But before I even was able to play it it was cracked on the back.  The first time the crack may have happened in shipping, maybe due to the battery not being taken out or shipping/handling.  The guitar was in a BAM Guitar Case.  The guitar is only two and a hafe years old.  Recently this summer the fretboard started to crack near the sound hole between the A and D string.  Below is the crack.

The guitar has lived in great humidity 55-65% and generally 72 degrees in a  BAM case.  I do have a LR Baggs Dual Source Pickup system in the guitar.  I was able to do the repair myself after talking to a few luthiers.  I did ask Jorge for input but never heard from him.  I used glue from Stewart Mac Donald and ebony shavings to fix the crack.

Finished

Phil Jones AC 150 Cub w LR Baggs Dual Source

To hear the LR Baggs Pickup on a Jorge de Zofia Flamenco Blanca click JDZ & LR Baggs Dual Source.  What was used was a Jorge de Zofia Ceader Blanca guitar with a LR Baggs Dual Source Pickup system (Element & Mic) to a Grace Design AliX Preamp then a Strymon blueSky Reverb and Digitech JamMan Solo XT loop pedal in the effects loop.  XLR out from AliX to a Phil Jones AC 150 Air Pulse acoustic amp.

L.R. Baggs Dual Source Pickup System

I just installed a LR Baggs Dual Source (Element & Mic) on JDZ Negra its fantastic string balance e-E and warm tone, mic can be blended in at 100% with no feedback. This is the best dual source I’ve come across so far. No cutting sides, adjustable low cut on mic from 100-2K, Phase Switch, Pickup Gain Selector, and so easy to switch between mono and stereo out. I have thus system installed in two of my guitars. With the Bose L1 systems and Bose ToneMatch Mixer (L.R Baggs Element Preset) I have a great gig rig.

Gig Rig Update Bose L1 Compact & ToneMatch

     So for the last two years I’ve had some serious asthma problems.  Now under control. However I’ve started to play a lot of solo gigs private party’s , weddings, cocktail hour… and I’m loving it.  I wanted to have somthing smaller than my former band rigs, speakers, monitors, power amps, snakes, racks of gear, mixer etc.  So a few months ago my wife took a risk and purchased the Bose L1 Compact, I thought it was a joke.  I could not have been more wrong.  It sounds great I’ve done 10+ gigs with it and have only had complements on how good it sounds.   I really like when I’m driving home and I’m no sore or exhausted from setting up or tearing town. 

   So this setup sounds amazing, sets up in less than 2 min and is so easy on the back. I use the preset for the LR Baggs Element pickup.  I’m using the LR Baggs Dule Source preamp which is the Element and Mic.  I rool off to about 1K or around there for the mic and below that the pickup dose the work.  In the Tone Match I have it set pretty much flat and if I do get low end feedback I have the Para EQ set at Level -2-6db, Freq A# 117Hz, With 1.00oct.  And then a bit of the Large reverb. Time 2.20 Bal 50% Mix 30% Bright 50% and then a TR cable from Tone Match to Compact on Flat TR input (not mic chanel). Turn in on and I’m good to go.  With the ToneMatch mixer you have 4 mic inputs 3 on Tone Match w phantom power and 1 on Bose Compact no phantom power just high and bass Eq.  And on compact you have a 1/8 TRS for iPod and play back so in essence you have 6 channels.  

  

  

  

  

Gig Rig JDZ & Pedal Board

  
Updated “Gig Rig” all starts with a custom hand made Flamenco Cedar Blanca made by Jorge de Zofia of Palm Beach FL. I use D’Addarío EJ45 or EJ45C and EJ25C.  It’s outfitted with a L.R. Baggs Dual Souce Pickup System (Element & Mic) to a Line 6 Relay 30.  Then it’s all Eq’ed in the Grace Designs FELIX preamp.  (At times I also use the DPA 4099 G mic) on all my guitars. In the effects loop I have a Strymon Big Sky, to a DigiTech Jam Man Solo XT with a FS3X foot switch, to a BBE Sonic Stomp back to Felix. The pedals are mounted to the Pedaltrain Fly board.  I use the Bose L1 Compact or QSC TouchMix 8 and QSC K10’s. 

Line 6 Relay G30

  
  
I have been using my Line 6 Relay 30 for over a year.  I purchased it at Sweetwater to use with my Flamenco Guitars.  At this time I’m using it with my JDZ guitar outfitted with the LR Baggs Dual Source and Córdoba F7 Paco with a Fishnan Presus Blend.  Both are a two source a UST and Mic that are blended.  With the Line 6 I can be free of the wires and walk around.  I get a great sound and pick up the percussive techniques in the Flamenco style especially the glopes.   I use the G30 with a Grace Felix Preamp or direct to a QSC Touch Mix 8.  It’s a great inexpensive system. 😎

   
 

LR Baggs Dual Source w Element Pickup and Mic

  
**UPDATE** 8/17/15 

I removed the Carlos Coax and installed the L.R. Baggs Element with Dual Source Preamp & Mic and I could not be happier.  I really like how the mic gives me the tone/ air and feel of my guitar with the support of the Element to drive the tone and helps get just a bit louder.  I would not use the Element alone, when blended with the mic a very realistic and usable tone is achieved and with Grace Felix as my preamp it’s easy to shape the Element and Mic and then blend them together.  Another feature I really like is I can easily switch between mono (to use with Wirless) or stereo (TRS) to run one channel Element and two mic.  I will always like using. Mic like DPA 4099G, Shure KSM 141 or Neumann KM 184 bit when I can’t it’s nice to have the L.R. Baggs Dual Source as a usable option. 

   
 **UPDATE** 8/12/14  
I have been using the L.R. Baggs Dual Source now for over a week and all I can is FANTASTIC, it really is the best system I’ve used too date.  What makes this work for my purposes is the preamp flexibility and mic.   I can split the pickup and mic signal and use a TRS or my custom dual source cable.  Then the mic signal can be eq’ed on Grace Felix and blend in the pickup.  I also can switch to a mono out to use with wirless system.  I don’t have as much control over mic but it’s usable.  I am able to get a very realistic sound of my Jeorge de Zofia A1F.  I did remove the Juan Carlos system and for my needs prefer the L.R. Baggs.

  

  

I have been using the Carlos Amplification VIP that has the coaxial transducer (under saddle pickup) and sensor (mounted underneith the top).  Some really like it and others not so much.  To me it’s been hit and miss it was very sensitive and had its issues.  I’m not trying to say what is best or what one should use I’m just sharing my opinion.  I recently tried another guitar that that had the mic and coax as its pickup system and I found the sound usable.  I played three gigs and received lots of complements on my tone.  I was using the Grace Felix Preamp , and will continue to do so its the best preamp I’ve used.  So after some pondering and thought with out being able to get a Carlos system with a mic I decided let’s try the LR Baggs Dual Source.  My reasons for going with LR Baggs and not some of the other options were that I did not want to cut the side of my guitar, that’s out for Fishman,  even the Elpise would not mount right, DTAR is difficult to switch from Mono to Stero.  A feature for me that is important as I want to be able to switch to mono to use with a Wirless system at times.  Phase reverse, adjustable bass roll of on mic, and no cutting necessary to the side of the guitar.  

 

So the above picture is the system in how I set it up, but the mic is still lose I. The pic as I had not yet found where I want to place it.   
 Above is the box and picture of the actual pickup and mic preamp.  Below is a better picture. 
  
  

Sennheiser ewD1 (Love It) with DPA 4099G See Update Below

I wanted to try going digital with the DPA 4099G mic,  I was using the Shure ULXS4 and ULX1, wich sounded good but if you taped the antenna it made werid nose as well as a few other sounds.  The Sennheiser is quiet and easy to use.  The best part was I took the reciver and body pack out of the case and hooked it up to my Bose ToneMatch (Nylon String w/Condensor preset), hooked up the DPA 4099G with the mico dot DAD6034 adapter, and turned it on and ***Presto*** it was all on set up and worked perfect.  I did not need to adjust a thing and had beautiful rich thick warm tone with no sound degradation or tone loss.  Beautifully done Sennhieser.  Best system I’ve used to date. For my main purpose it to play Flamenco/Spanish style nylon string guitar with out a pickup and have an easy set up (less than 5 min).  I will use the DPA 4099G mic primarily on my Lester Devoe Negra or Zofia Blanca.  Two great Flameco guitars.  I wanted to have the freedom to move around on stage or in venues and sit in different spots and not be tied to one location to perform.  This makes that possible and the sound is really excellent as well as ease of use.   If you need a  Wirless system solution for guitar the DPA 4099 and Sennheiser EW D1 is worth checking out.  I do about 100 shows a year.  I will be giging with it later today for the first time so I will post more later. 

5/29/15 – Update Upon a few times playing live the system would drop out and make strange noisiest so I sent the system back and decided to use the DPA with a hard wire connection. 

   
 

Saddle Up – What to use Bone, Carbon, GraphTech?

I have been working on achieving string balance from the Low e to the high E on my Zofia blanco Cedartop flamenco guitar.  It has the Carlos Amplification Doble pickup in it with the Coaxail Trandsducer (UST) i’ve had a few string balance issues and tried three separate saddles.  I have switched to the L.R. Baggs Dual Source and prefer it very much over the Carlos System.  With the LR Baggs system I get better string balance, tone and control of my tone. 

1. Bone, 2. Carbon (1mm strip) w/ Bone, 3. Carbon, 4. GraphTech BlackTusqXL

To my ears with the L.R. Baggs and a good set up with a bone saddle you will get a great tone and sound from your instrument. 


The below picture is what I have come to prefer for the Carlos Amplification VIP Doble System. It’s bone with a 1mm cabin strip attached to the bottom of the bone with StewartMac 20 Super Glue. 



Pursuit of perfection in nylon guitar sound and tone is a passion.

  
A few folks who read my blog and follow me hear or on FB have asked what I use and like.  When you demand the best out of your instrument and gear you try so many things and it can be a long never ending journey.  For me it’s taken some years.  I would like to say I’ve found what works for me and let’s me play what I hear and feel.  My Luithier & guitar of choice is the Jorge De Zofia Cedar Top Blanca.  I like her more than other guitars I own.  This is for live use.  I hope to be getting a Negra soon (hint hint Jorge) from there if you play loud or need to be amplified there is only one choice.  I really like my DPA 4099g and Grace Felix Preamp. I have to thank a few folks before I can even mention the system.  Thank you  Al Marconi, Jason McGuire for telling me about the LR Baggs Dual Source Elemnt and mic.  Gerald Rohm who has been so kind. He’s a mechanical genius who has invented a fantastic tool for getting saddles perfectly flat to work wonderfully with pickups.  He also designed a fantastic cable for use with the system that takes a TRS Jack and then splits the cable to two TS jacks.   It’s the best sounding cable I’ve ever used.  I use the D’Addario EJ25B and EJ45C strings.  Thank you Yannaki Arrizza for getting me to try new stings😎.  Finally everything usually goes to my QSC TouchMix8 and QSC K10’s or Bose L1S and ToneMatch mixer.  Thanks to Arturo Romay, Taz Sellers, John Gilliat  for sharing techniques on amplification and how to use this gear and sound great.  There’s no way I would have the sound I do with out the help and people above who have a passion and desire for perfection, who have shared what they know.  Thank you Victor