sMg Guitars

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.

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 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.

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.

April 1, 2010

2 guitars have just come out of the cure phase for the lacquer.  This week I begin the process of cutting and buffing.   They look great, no gaps left to fill, and they should buff up nicely.

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”.

February 14, 2010

Just finished application of the sixth coat of lacquer for both guitars.  Minimum of 6 more coats before setting aside to cure for 7 to 14 days.