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Beautiful work! Love the look of the top. I noted you used a clear UV cured pore fill. Would you mind disclosing the product. Simtec 59x1? By the looks, it works very well.

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Craig Bumgarner

Bumgarner Guitar Blog

Craig,
I'm using the Cure UV gel poor fill with one of there old UV lamp systems. I got an entire UV cure system on eBay, for $400 and it came with the poor fill, sealer, and topcoat. After trying the entire system on several test pieces, I hated the way it looked and sprayed. I've been spraying lacquer for about 15 years and it just felt and looked like plastic to me. I pot the entire system on the shelf for about two years and forgot about it. Then , about four guitars ago, it occurred to me that the poor fill portion of the system may be useful because it's easy to apply, hard as a rock, crystal clear, and cures in 15 seconds. I've been spraying a wash coat of lacquer on the bare wood as to seal it, then applying and leveling three light layers of poor fill. The entire process of poor fill takes about an hour and I'm on to spraying my final lacquer coats. If you can find a good deal on a UV system, it's the way to go!

http://www.cureuv.com/uv-cure-wipe-on-g ... quart.html

As for the tone of the guitar, I'd say it's on par with my best sounding guitar. (And that includes several BRW and ABW guitars). It has a very broken in sound right out of the gate, and a ton of volume. Very punchy yet responds great to a delicate touch. I'd say that the Brazilian and Cedar guitar I build several years ago has a better low E string warmth, but the Torrified top has a lot more volume and projection, while still remaining warm and not too harsh.

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Chris Alvarado
www.ChrisAlvaradoLive.com
www.Driftwood-Guitars.com

Thanks for the details Chris, I'll definitely look into it. I use epoxy, which works well, but takes a day per fill and typically three fills. This represents a pretty significant amount of time in my build calendar. One hour sounds way better.

One question is how does the Cure UV Pore Filler blend in if broken through in sanding? With epoxy, I sand the first two coats aggressively and usually break through, but the next coat blends right in. I trowel two coats, sand well and then wipe the third coat with alcohol for a smooth surface that requires little sanding. Works well, BUT, it takes 3 days!

Would be interested in what lamp you are using. I looked at the CureUV site and the lamps look outta sight expensive. Cheapest one so far is $3,500. Could not find anything on eBay like the kit you found.

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Craig Bumgarner

Bumgarner Guitar Blog

Wow...that's gorgeous. I like that sunburst on the neck...nice detail
Nice photos too...really brings out the deep gloss finish

I find that the Uv poor fill works and blends almost exactly like Z Poxy. The last coat takes care of any burn through so and blends perfectly. Yeah the lights are expensive, but a good deal can be had from time to time on eBay. That's why pounced on the $400 deal I found on eBay years ago.

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Chris Alvarado
www.ChrisAlvaradoLive.com
www.Driftwood-Guitars.com

Here's a UV light setup like mine for $950!

http://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/321995829149

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Chris Alvarado
www.ChrisAlvaradoLive.com
www.Driftwood-Guitars.com

Lovely Chris! Very Classy.

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

I was gonna ask about your pics too. They look professional. Nice! I wish I could take pics like that.

Sent from my HTC Desire 626s using Tapatalk

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Another day, another dollar.

Wow! That is stunning in all regards. I love the end graft overlapping on the back. Very nice touch. The finish is spectacular and I love the burst on the neck too.

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

Gorgeous guitar. I love that end graft detail.

Why am I just looking at this now??!! That's a beauty Chris!

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Fantastic looking guitar... love the snake wood under that finish.. hope mine look like that one day!!

Very nice job indeed.

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Kudos! It's a really nice guitar!
I love the finish!

Very nice.

Did you use Stewmac's torrefied Sitka spruce brace stock as well?

I'm on my second torrefied top guitar and I'm really looking forward to hearing how it sounds. The first one was very impressive. (Stewmac torrefied Sitka top and brace wood)