sMg Guitars

August 17, 2009

Applied the final coats to all three mentioned guitars, and now they will sit for 2 weeks to cure.

Zebrez:

And 902, Carol’s parlor:

Finally, 904, Beth’s OM:

August 16, 2009

Good friend Carl dropped by yesterday for a visit before running off to Larry’s 50th birthday party.  We concluded that his parlor would gain some distinction with a sinker redwood top.   As I already have such in stock, I can move on his guitar while the lacquered babies are curing.

August 16, 2009

I just returned from Guitar Camp.  It is always an enlightening experience.  Got a good chance to show off some of my wares and do a lot of lutherie talk.  Check out the links section to see the PSGW site with info about camp, teachers and schedule.

Before I headed off to camp, I ran out of lacquer.  As lacquers all have their special formulation, I wasn’t able to find anything locally, so had to order McFadden online.  It had arrived before I returned home from camp, so was able to resume the spray cycle today.

I’m on 10 11 12 for guitar 901, the resonator.  Once I get those last coats applied today, it should sit and cure for several weeks before final sanding and buffing.

For 902, the mahogany/koa parlor, and 904, the koa OM, I’m on 7 8 9, with a final application of 10 11 12 tomorrow then followed by the curing.  I’m getting much better with the lacquer application, and I’ve got the wet coat without drip application almost perfected.  This trio of guitars will have my best finish yet, and dangerously close to perfect.

I’m becomming more and more dissatisfied with my spray booth location within my workshop.  Even though I’m using air venting and exhaust fans, and isolating myself in the back inside a shower curtained stall, the spray dust escapes and gets on everything in the shop.  It’s bad enough to have wood dust everywhere without the spray dust.  I’m not sure what the solution will be, but I’m on the hunt for a better location within the house.  In the meantime, I’ll use the current booth to complete the spraying on these 3 guitars.

August 5, 2009

I now have in hand all the components for Guitar 905.  As soon as I return from guitar camp (PSGW), I’ll start building.  I’ll be balancing my work between this guitar, Carl’s parlor, and the final setup for 901, 902 and 904.  As well, guitar 903 will get some attention.  I need to keep next steps for each guitar documented so that as one component sits and cures (after glue up), I can use the wait time to tackle another piece.  I plan to bring 3 guitars up to completion prior to spraying so I can maximize the time in the spray booth.

I now have multiple unassociated backs, sides and tops (not committed to a customer).  I have Engleman parlor tops, sitka spruce tops, and a redwood sinker top.  For back and side sets, I have East Indian rosewood, ziricote, mayan walnut, and claro walnut.  Oooh, so many opportunities.

August 5, 2009

Three guitars in the spray booth for another session today.  The Resonator, 901, got a ninth coat of lacquer.  Before I spray 3 more, I’ll see if there’s a need for any gap filling.  Not sure if I’ll try and fill the gaps with lacquer or epoxy, depends upon presence and severity.

The Koa Parlor for Carol (902) is really handsome.  Carol sez “old country”.  This is after the 6th coat.

Beth’s OM (904) is also on the 6th coat.

Tomorrow:  Coats 7 through 9.

August 2, 2009

John, the new owner of Guitar 905, and I discussed design considerations and component choices and arrived upon using a Claro Walnut back and sides and Sitka Spruce top (with a little amber thrown in to soften the whiteness) for an OM.

We picked some walnut from Notable Woods in Lopez Island, WA.  The walnut arrived yesterday and is just the ticket.  Lots of curl and distinctive grain running through the back and sides.

July 30, 2009

I have been contacted by the “recipient” of my auction guitar; the guitar which was auctioned off at the Phinney Neighborhood Center’s Moulin Rouge Auction event.

John and I have been emailing and phoning to determine the guitar to be built.

Decision:  A Claro Walnut OM.  Components are in transit, and work begins in earnest next week.

July 24, 2009

I’ve been distracted from getting into the spray booth because of Carl’s guitar.  I can see a pattern here.  What I really like doing is the preliminary stuff, and by the time I get to the finish and setup, I’m easily distracted.  I had planned all along to start the spraying of 3 guitars ready for the booth since last Monday.  It’s Friday, and I finally allowed myself to do a lacquer session.  I got 3 guitars prepped for spraying, finally, by end of day yesterday:  901 – the Resonator which has already been sealed and grain pore filled; 902 – Carol’s parlor ready for sanding sealer; and 904 – Beth’s OM.  Here they are waiting to be sprizted.

First the resonator, then the two koa’s.  After each received one coat, I finished with two more coats on the resonator as it’s in the layer the lacquer phase.  The sanding sealer for the two koa’s is the prep before the grain pore filler, which I will do tomorrow morning.

Carol’s parlor with the first coat……….

Now Beth’s OM……..

This is all just a precursor of how that koa is going to shimmer.  I’m very happy.

Carl’s components arrived today, and I’ll balance the waiting for lacquer to dry with actual guitar construction.

July 22, 2009

Quickly received the koa from Notable Woods.  Real dramatic dark stripes and a bit of a whorl.

I’m using Engelman Spruce for the top.  Finished installing the rosette rings and paua.

July 22, 2009

Tom and Susan have been working on my logo for the design and layout of business cards, guitar labels and letterhead.  I have chosen the black (vs. gray or red) for the guitar label.  The photo below shows examples.