sMg Guitars

May 13, 2010

This little monster is going to take some effort.  A previous neck reset was done and a block was augmented or inserted between the body and the fretboard.

It’s too thick, it’s not uniform, and I suspect I will need to remove it and determine what kind of replacement block is needed.

The heel is coming away from the body, so to correct the neck angle and devise the right dimensioned block under the fretboard, I’ll need to steam this sucker off.  I quoted a “not to exceed” price to the customer, and I may have bit off a bit more than what I can get for this job.

May 13, 2010

I should have gotten this one out of the way a long time ago.  It’s a small job, fix ebony nut by repairing missing piece on the low E side.  I cleaned up the surface and glued on an oversized piece of ebony.  Once this has dried, it’s a simple matter of trimming and smoothing.

To wrap up, I need to straighten a bent tuning peg, then Larry can have his Classical guitar back into inventory.

May 12, 2010

There appears to be a neglected backlog of repair jobs to tackle.  For example:

A Rickenbacker Bass fret dress.

A Paul Reed Smith in need of a crack repair.

A New Yorker for a neck reset.

A couple of Parlors needing the same major rework/restoration.

And a classical needing a nut replacement.

Time to squeeze these in and make some progress.

May 7, 2010

Well, today was my last hurrah at my day job.  I’ve had a day job for as long as I can remember.  You know, a day job is one that pays the bills and allows you to pursue working at what you love.  Because generally, working at what you love doesn’t feed the babies.  Not that I have babies anymore, just savings sucking college tuitions that need to be fed.  Even with health care reform, the cost of medical insurance is way beyond our means, so I’ve got to find ways of bringing in bucks to cover costs.

I have a big wad of backlogged repairs, some of which are paid through barter, some of which are paying.  Now I’ve got the opportunity (time) to tackle those in earnest.

Two new repair jobs have come in:  1) a Rickenbacker bass that needs a fret dressing, and 2) a Paul Reed Smith electric which has a body crack at the neck joint.  Stand by for photo documentation of those repairs.

The backlog consists of 1) a Gretsch New Yorker that needs a neck reset, 2) a Parlor that MAY need a neck reset, 3) another Parlor which needs the top to be rebraced, 4) a classical that looks like the surface of the ocean (wavy), and 5) a classical that needs some tuner/headstock work.

I just finished another minor cosmetic repair on a Paul Reed Smith electric for a colleague, which was good practice for repairing and hiding lacquer blemishes.  He liked it so much, he brought me his other Paul Reed Smith (see above) for work.

I left my day job in good standing, AND got a ton of leads on repair work.

Oh yes, all this and finishing 905 and 906 and starting 1001 and 1002.  Better go mow the lawn and get that out of the way before I get started.

April 10, 2010

Once again, sMg Guitars will be donating the construction of a custom guitar for the Phinney Neighborhood Center Auction.  See http://www.phinneycenter.org/events/auctionitems.shtml# for details on attending the auction and bidding.

Last year’s auction guitar is 905.  Click on the category in the list to the left to see a running commentary on the design and construction of last year’s auction guitar.

February 28, 2010

Wintergrass concludes today.  Four days in the Spruce Room (Instrument Makers) where the Seattle Luthier’s Group set up a display flanked by mandolin makers, banjo makers, violin and bow makers.

We seemed to have crashed the bluegrass party as most of our guitars were decidedly not within the paradigm of bluegrass appropriate (i.e., dreadnoughts).  Regardless, we did get a lot of interested pickers.  Our little bet amongst ourselves has not yet been resolved:  “First sale buys the beers”.

January 15, 2010

I certainly will have 905 and 906 ready for exhibition at Wintergrass in February, but I’m thinking through what might be the appropriate guitars for exhibit.  I can borrow back Larry’s Green OM, Beth’s Koa OM, and Carol’s Parlor.  I also have the Zebrawood resonator.  That’s 6 guitars.  I think I have a 2′ x 8′ panel to display, and maybe I can even use a floor stand, so 5 guitars on the wall, one on the floor.

Zebrez:

Larry’s Green OM:

Beth’s Koa OM:

Carol’s Parlor:

November 24, 2009

Here’s my public accolade to Cat Fox for the fret class she gave tonight.  Great stuff, I learned a lot.  I used to hate the final setup, the fret dressing and polishing etc., but tonight’s class gave me the right focus and technique to complete the job.  Oh boy I’m so excited.  I took Carol’s guitar with me to the workshop and now I have a very level, very shiny fret job on her guitar.  I’m going to call Beth and get her to bring her guitar in for the dressing of it’s life.

Thank’s Cat.

October 20, 2009

Yes, it’s been three weeks since I laid hands on any guitar work.  The primary distraction  has been the building of a new spray booth.  I constructed an enclosed booth in the garage with an exhaust fan, lighting, electricity, and units to hang guitar components for spraying and drying.  The majority of the work is done, it just needs a few wrap-ups from the punch list.  I will complete those wrap-ups just prior to my next need for spraying guitars 905 and 906.

I have a considerable backlog of work.  The following list is to help me prioritize.

1.  Guitar 905:  Back is attached to sides, next step is to finish brace shaping and sanding for the top, then installing the top.

2.  Guitar 906:  Box is assembled, next step is to bend binding, route, then install binding.

3.  Guitar 903:  This guitar still has no identity, yet I’m leaning toward a dreadnought, just because.  After I adjust the drum sander, I can thickness sand the sides then bend.  I need to identify and prepare a top.  The Ovankol back is joined and ready for thickness sanding.

4.  Oliver Classical Guitar Repair:  Thank God my brother in law is understanding.  Starting this repair is hard to think about.

5.  Oliver A  Mandolin Repair:  I’ll begin tackling this repair ASAP.  I know what needs to be done, it just needs to be done.

6.  Tepp A  Mandolin Repair:  Much progress made, much to go.  It will be a good companion to the Oliver A Mandolin repair.

7.  Tepp Ukulele:  Modest repair can be done now that I have my RARE Earth magnets.

8.  New Repair Job:  Expecting a guitar to come into the shop Wednesday to improve intonation, probably through a bridge saddle replacement.

Stand by, the Dude Abides.

September 16, 2009

After removing the spool clamps, this little puppy is starting to look like a mandolin.  I have quite a bit of sanding and scraping to do before restoring the finish.  I may also install some back binding.