May 19, 2010
Carl, just an update to comfort you. I filled the hole with koa dust, capped with clear epoxy and let dry overnight. Filed down, sanded, buffed, and…you can’t tell it’s a hole! It looks like it belongs there.
Guitar making is just like professional golf. The good ones are the guys who can recover from a bad shot.
May 18, 2010
Frets are installed and trimmed, tuning machines installed, and neck and body are buffed and polished. Next step, fine adjust mortise and tenon, remove lacquer on body where fretboard meets, then glue/bolt on the neck.
May 18, 2010
Set the frets and trimmed overhang.
I positioned the tuning machines on the headstock then drilled the tiny screw anchor holes and drilled clean through the headstock on one of the screw holes. Aaaaargh. Well, it will appear that the headstock veneer has a small “knothole”. Damn. Well Carl, your guitar will have character now. It was perfect up until today.
May 17, 2010
I finished sanding and buffing the finish and moved on to fret install.
I’m installing up to the 13th fret, dabbing a little water and white glue into the slots and pounding the frets in on the vise. 
I was a bit worried about the lacquered binding and the inlay, but both held up very well under mad hammering.
I installed the tuning machines as well. I need to devise a secure surface to pound in frets 14 through 20 so as not to flex or break the fretboard overhang.
May 12, 2010
The koa back and sides arrived today. Ordered through Notable Woods out of Lopez Island. All the koa I have been using comes from Notable. Good prices and quick shipping. This is a AAA set with no flaws and nice color.
May 11, 2010
Steve, the proud new owner of the yet to be Auction 2 guitar dropped by the workshop yesterday to discuss design and wood selection for his new guitar. He determined it will be a simply appointed Koa Dreadnought.
I’ve already contacted Bruce at Notable Woods and identified a fine AAA koa set which is on its way.
I have provided Steve with a recommended bill of materials for the guitar and we’ll pull the trigger on ordering once he confirms the suggestions.
May 6, 2010
For the second year, sMg Guitars donated the building of a custom guitar to the Phinney Neighborhood Association’s annual auction.
Just as last year, the bidding was frenzied and a very nice sum was garnered for the PNC. The winning bidder lives a couple of blocks away, and this Monday we sit down to talk about design, tonewoods, and the frilly stuff.
Coincidentally, I am departing my day job on Monday, and I’m anticipating getting back into the workshop and having the luxury of focusing on building and repair.
Guitars 905 and 906 are nearing completion, and I have an obscene backlog of repairs and restorations waiting to be addressed. The weather looks promising for the next week, so I’ll have to balance the need to get work done with the need to bask in the sun.
May 6, 2010
Today the recipient of the auction guitar dropped by to check the progress. John along with his wife and daughter are visiting from Colorado and had a chance to see the guitar for the first time.
April 17, 2010
Phinney auction folks have requested photos of 905 for their brochure and website to show last year’s guitar as an example for this year’s auction. John will be in town for the first week in may, so I’ll have his guitar ready. I’ll ask the auction folks if they would like it onsite during the auction for an example.
April 3, 2010
As I wind up guitars 904 and 905, it’s time to start thinking about the next one. I don’t have any specific commissions on the horizon, so now might be the right time to build one on spec. I have lots of wood on hand to use for the next guitar.
In back and side sets, I have Peruvian walnut, ziricote, East Indian rosewood, and ovangkol. I have a Sitka spruce top set, and several Engelmann spruce tops. There may be a limitation in size for some of these sets, so if I go dreadnought, it may force my choice.
These Engelmann tops are small and only appropriate for parlors.
The ovangkol was originally for Guitar 903, but I may change direction with 903, or not do it at all.
The Peruvian walnut is simple, plain, and may be used for 903.
This ziricote is kind of exciting, and I’m leaning toward this as I haven’t worked with ziricote before.
I’ve been sitting on this East Indian rosewood for some time, very traditional but very nice.
I guess I need to get down to storage and measure these out before making a plan.
