May 11, 2009
Made progress, finished kerfing and radiussing the top and back.
Spent time pencilling in the general neck shape and removing excess with the bandsaw. Waiting for graphite rods before attaching headstock veneer and trimming tapered side shape.
May 11, 2009
As a child, when all the cousins were together, Grandma used to line us all up on the couch in order of age and take pictures. Over the years, we collected a progression of pictures of cousins on the couch when finally we were all too big to fit together and we had to start lining up in the yard. We became known as the couch cousins.
I was fortunate enough to have all but one of my finished guitars in the house at the same time (except the 12 string dreadnought). So I lined those cousins up on the couch and took a snap.
In order of age: 801, the OOO mahogany; 802, the rosewood OM; 803, the maple OM; 804, the koa parlor; (805 missing); 902, the unfinished koa mahogany parlor; and out of order, 901; the zebrawood resonator (also unfinished).
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).
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.
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.
I’ve started the neck construction by building the stacked heel block and gluing on the angled headstock.
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.
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.
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.
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.
April 21, 2009
It’s official, Beth and I have agreed upon a design and woods and style. I have ordered (and partially received) the components to build Beth a Koa OM. Today, I received the Koa, from Notable Woods, and Beth is pleased with the choice.
I showed in an earlier post some design considerations, and with only some slight alterations, we will proceed with ebony binding and BWB purfling with the koa and spruce body. Lots of opportunity to adapt along the way and make this a really special guitar. I’m even entertaining a koa headstock with a real groovy shape (for those of you who don’t know, groovy means cool).
I warned Beth that it will take some months before completion, to which she replied, “But I’m playing in a wedding in June!”.
She was joking.
April 21, 2009
Oooh, I’ve been lax in posting. But progress is being made. I have spent quite some time working the neck joint and getting the neck angle right and fine tuning the fit between the neck and body. I also installed the neck bolt inserts and aligned/enlarged the truss rod access hole. I think I’m close to the end result.
Also, I glued the fretboard on and began trimming the joint between the neck and the fretboard. Next step is to get the neck a bit thinner.
Spent a lot of time bringing down the surface to a baby butt smooth state. I still have some discernable gaps between body and binding that I need to devise a fill for before (or after?) I put down the first lacquer coats.
April 18, 2009
Did a few sketches of the binding and purfling for Beth’s OM. She is interested in “upgrading” the back and sides, so we’ll discuss the options Tuesday.
