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Gotta love the Rockies!

That is truly one of the most handsome guitars I've ever seen, Rod. Just beautiful. I love the fretboard and headplate inlays, and the matching headstock veneer and binding, offset with the thin burgundy purfling line. Very nice! Would love to see a shot of the back and sides.

I love that rosette Rod.

I saved pictures of it the first time you posted it back in the day. Can’t wait to see this one finished.

Well its restrung and tuned . Sounds like a $150.00 Guitar . Needs new tuners , New nut , Neck reset , And bridge insert . But I did all he wanted . Mine is not to wonder why , Mine is to do and " get paid "




Customer came in today , picked up the guitar and played a tune "finger picker btw" and said .... Looks and sounds great to me .... Paid me and left .... Happy fat boy drinkin a beer now

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Rod
I love that rosette!!!! What a beaut!!
That is a fine looking instrument in all respects - there really is something about the wood combinations, the body shape, combined with the rosette and tasteful inlay on that guitar that make it really stand out - I cant wait to see a pic of it finished - its just gonna scream, "hot stuff, comin through"
keep up the good work Rod....
Cheers
charliewood

Been laying on some coats of Epipahanes...

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Pullman, WA

The more I know, the more I know I don't know.

trippguitars.com
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Wow, That's a really nice guitar ya got goin there Rod, very nice!

I used to hang out here quite a bit a while back and even though I am still building guitars, I seem to have taken a turn somewhere. Here is what is growin in my shop, actually it's outside right now but soon as it's upright in the next couple of weeks, It'll come inside the barn.
Sorry about the drift in content, but there is more to life than guitars, maybe....

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

Thanks guys!

John, nice looking boat, please do show us pictures when you're done.

I've gotten this one to the finishing stage now. I've got a couple seal coats of shellac on then it's pore filling (with CA).

Here's the back, someone asked to see.



And one of the front.



Fretboard side markers

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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

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Working on bindings on #8 - another Romanillos-style in Lutz and EIR, built for no-one in mind but now it has a customer. This is Allied opportunity grade EIR that I purchased about 5 years ago, I think. Progress is slow - too much going on.

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

Are you trying to build the world's largest bowl back mandolin?

Good stuff guys! Closed the boxes on three, Bz Dred and a IRW and Mahogany double sided OMs. I keep swearing I'll never build three at a time again. Feels like factory work.



Scored a luthiertools.uk binding jig. I really like it but there are some aspects that take a little getting used to in relation to my Ribbecke "tower of power" that I've used for 8 years. The Ribbecke is difficult on tight cutaways like an archtop but otherwise it's worked great and I like the constant downward pressure on the router. I devised a pulley and weight system that allows just the right amount. The luthiertools jig has a gas strut that pulls it up and I have to manually keep the down pressure. Still getting used to that. I may have to modify that a little. It is an elegant design, beautifully constructed and I think I'll learn to love it.

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

That's a nice looking hull there John. I love the classic look or lapstrake construction. Show us some photos when you're done, please!

+1 - I love wooden boats.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Beautiful, John. Traditional clinker is the hardest method of building, but it's definitely worth it. How long is she?

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"I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it."
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Hey, I didn't know Gary had started a business selling these! I see he has a web site and everything now. Nice! I have one of the earlier prototypes, in fact it is the one pictured on his site. Mine doesn't have the gas strut, just a spring that takes some weight off the parallel arm section, but its not strong enough the keep the router (I us a Bosch Colt) suspended. I have gotten used to it, and I don't think I would like it any other way. One thing you might want to consider is knocking the corners off the router holder with a file, it will ding a guitar very quickly, given half a chance.

Oh, and I know the feeling working on multiple instruments. I'm back to one or two at a time... (of course there are a several semi done projects laying around, but I can't really say I'm "working" on those)

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

Getting close on the LP.

She has her warts a plenty but I've accepted the fact that the first anything that I do will always have plenty of "character".

Kevin Looker

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I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

Thanks Arnt! Good advice. I may try substituting a spring for the gas strut.

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

Kevin, nice work man!!!!! I really like the carve. Keep up the good work!

That LP's a beauty, Kevin!

We're in the final stages of building my new shop. The electrical is all in and next week the spray foam insulation will be done. Two days later the mini-split HVAC system will be in. I should be able to move the tools in in a couple weeks. I store my wood and projects in a humidified room in the house. I won't move it to the shop until I'm sure I have the climate controlled sufficiently. Very exciting!

Thanks for the kind words about the LP.

I'm hoping to finish it up this weekend but we have some nice weather & need to get the kids out of the house.

Kevin Looker

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I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

As usual, what a bunch of great work including a great clinker built. I have a couple on the go but looking forward to seeing this one finished. My first try with Redwood on Liberated Maple.




I'm just now working on my first arm bevel. That makes for a little more work. Hope it works.
Happy Weekend,
Danny

DannyV that maple in that neck is incredible...!

Danny - that neck and back are gorgeous!!! I love the burst on the back.

Probably a dumb question but what is "liberated maple"?

The LP is looking great Kevin, bet you can't wait to string it up.
Danny - that neck is off-the-chain!
Here is my current build - all bound up!

yepp......maple rules...ALWAYS.....but i also would like to know what liberated maple is....????

Simple fellows. The Magestic Big Leaf Maple gets little respect from the logging companies in this area of BC. I have seen a lot get smashed by machines at logging slashes. At best they may fall it and it ends up getting chipped for hog fuel to power up the local paper mill or fire wood for some forestry worker. Makes me shake my head but the companies aren't set up to deal with Maple. They take mostly Fir, Hemlock and Cedar here. They may leave the wood on the ground for a month or 2 before it gets trucked out. You can't do that with Maple or it stains, so they would have to make special loads for the Maple I guess. Too much effort for not enough profit. Where I live, which has some pretty remote wilderness accessable by logging road. I have this friend( not me of course, it's against the law) who's not above "liberating" the odd one from some remote spots. Only the good ones. Not really something you would want to do in Stanley Park in down town Vancouver.