Archive for May, 2009

Guitar 905 – The Auction Guitar

May 8, 2009

On May 2nd, I donated my labor for the construction of a custom guitar.  The auction generated a lot of action with frenzied bidding that surprised the auctioneer (who was vocally, a dead ringer for Fred Willard).

I have not yet been contacted by the winning bidder, but am very excited to work with her on designing and delivering the guitar of her dreams (hopefully not too exotic, given I’m such a traditionalist).

Guitar 904 – Koa OM Inauguration

May 8, 2009

Hey Beth!  I’ve started your guitar!  I promise not to let all those other guitars I’m working on get in the way of my progress on yours.

I’ve prepped and bent all the binding and purfling.  I used a jig screwed to the workbench to glue BWB to the ebony binding.

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I’ve completed the thickness sanding of the sides, and have bent both in the bending machine.  Next step to transfer them to the mold and install the neck block and end block.

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I’ve started the neck construction by building the stacked heel block and gluing on the angled headstock.

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Once these parts came out of the clamps, I planed down the sufaces to smooth.  Next step to route out the truss rod channels and attach the neck block to the neck.

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Guitar 903 – Neck work

May 8, 2009

I acquired a mahogany board for the neck.  Spent several days building the stack heel and the angled headstock.  Routed out channels for the truss rod and graphite reinforcement and then shaped the headstock and neck taper.

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Guitar 802 – Rosewood OM Revisited

May 8, 2009

I visited my daughter Rachel in NYC last week and helped her pack up all her dorm stuff for returning home this week.  We packed boxes for shipping, extra luggage for my flight home, and her guitar, my second one built, the Rosewood OM.  To my chagrin, the bridge had come loose, and thankfully, my guitars have a lifetime guarantee (my life that is).

I brought it back home, removed the bridge, added 1mm of ebony to the bottom side to bring it higher, and reglued.  The neck angle on this guitar was a wee bit steep and I had to compensate with a tall saddle.  I think a combination of tall saddle (greater sheer force on bridge) and insufficient glue created the pull up on the bridge.  By adding 1mm of ebony to the bottom of the bridge I was able to reduce the saddle height to lessen the sheer force.  It’s settling, but once I restring I’ll see if the thicker bridge has any adverse effect on tone.

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Been away so long, but I’ve been busy

May 7, 2009

Sorry I haven’t been posting, I know you’ve missed me.  Lots of activity yet no documentation.

I’ve auctioned off a guitar, repaired 802, made progress on 901, 902, 903 and 904, taken some pictures, but haven’t taken the time to update the blorg.  Tomorrow, I promise, details will be forthcoming.

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