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My first dread.. http://luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=18263	Page 1 of 1

Author:	Pat Foster [ Mon Aug 04, 2008 10:16 pm ]
Post subject:	My first dread..
Strung up this big one a few weeks ago. Pretty standard HD-28 persuasion - Sitka, EIR from Allied. Main deviation from Martin standard was a lighter, smaller BRW bridge, got a bit more punch. 14:1 Sta-Tites, quite different from the 18:1 variety. Bone nut and saddle. Scalloped bracing, slightly forward shifted. Haven't decided on a pickguard yet. Brushed Behlen's Rockhard varnish lent a slightly over-brown color IMO. Really enjoying playing it though, will be tough to give it up. Pat Attachment: DSCN0530.jpg Attachment: DSCN0532.jpg Attachment: DSCN0545.jpg Attachment: DSCN0533.jpg Attachment: DSCN0548.jpg

Author:	WaddyThomson [ Mon Aug 04, 2008 10:28 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: My first dread..
Great looking guitar, Pat.

Author:	LiquidGabe [ Mon Aug 04, 2008 11:12 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: My first dread..
I didn't think un-curvy guitars were allowed around here . Looks sweet, I never really like pick-guards, but they can be utilitarian, and a dread can handle them better than most. I'm making my dread molds and forms as I get a chance, and looking forward to posting my own square guitars in the future.

Author:	Blain [ Mon Aug 04, 2008 11:52 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: My first dread..
Great looking guitar Pat. Who says you have to give her up? Just keep it. You can always make another.

Author:	Jim Watts [ Tue Aug 05, 2008 12:10 am ]
Post subject:	Re: My first dread..
Pat, that looks really good. I've been wondering about the varnish thing for a while now. It might be a nice change from spraying nitro. It looks great in the photos. Fine Woodworking had an article on a varnish concoction a few issues back I've thought about playing with a little. How hard was it sand and get a nice gloss on? Also was it easy to control the thickness of the build up? Thanks

Author:	Pat Foster [ Tue Aug 05, 2008 8:35 am ]
Post subject:	Re: My first dread..
Thanks, guys. Blain, I'd hang onto it, but it's been promised. Jim, First of all, thanks to Alan Carruth and Bruce Sexauer for sharing their experiences with varnishes. I think Laurent sprays varnish, as does Sexauer. They might have some pointers about spraying. This was my first varnish job, so I took it real slow, sanding by hand, probably making more work for myself, especially since it was brushed on, which required a lot more sanding than if it had been sprayed. Its inability to bite into previous coatings, both into sealer and finish coats, created two issues. First was adhesion, where the final sanding grit before finish coats needs to be around 220, as has been mentioned here before. Second was witness lines, which were minimized by adding 5% acetone by weight. Also, applying two coats a day, 4 hours apart, light sanding with 320, helped give me a little more finish thickness to sand level without breaking through to the previous day's coats. I put on six coats, no more than one day between pairs, and managed to avoid sanding through on the final sanding. Finish thickness came out at .005". For the final sanding, I ran through all my Micro-Mesh grits from 3200 to 12000, plus LMI's fast cut polish and finished off with Megiuar's Plastic cleaner. So far, with a month of curing, it seems to be a lot more durable than FP shellac, probably not as hard as lacquer or cat poly. Forgot to mention, this has your CF bars in the neck. I don't think I'll ever build without them again. Pat

Author:	Dave Anderson [ Tue Aug 05, 2008 9:05 am ]
Post subject:	Re: My first dread..
Very nice and clean dread. Pat. Your finish looks very good. A Tor-Tis pickguard would look nice . How does it sound so far ?

Author:	Pat Foster [ Tue Aug 05, 2008 11:58 am ]
Post subject:	Re: My first dread..
Thanks, Dave. I agree, Tort-is it will be. Just trying to decide which one, bold, mild, or in between. I like the sound. Big, like a dread should sound. The mids and trebles are good and strong, responsive for such a big box. Pat

Author:	Bruce Dickey [ Wed Aug 06, 2008 8:57 am ]
Post subject:	Re: My first dread..
Great looking Dred there Pat. Much like my first a kit from Naz PA hd 28. What a great rhythm guitar. Love your F inlay, super nice.

Author:	Pat Foster [ Wed Aug 06, 2008 9:16 am ]
Post subject:	Re: My first dread..
Thanks, Bruce! It does look like a kit now that you mention it. The neck did come from Martin but I had most all the other pieces onhand. Made for an inexpensive project. Pat

Author:	Flori F. [ Wed Aug 06, 2008 9:16 am ]
Post subject:	Re: My first dread..
I'm thinking firestripe tortis might look pretty sharp. Or 30's vintage? But don't shoot me if I'm wrong!

Author:	Hesh [ Wed Aug 06, 2008 9:54 am ]
Post subject:	Re: My first dread..
Excellent guitar Pat my friend and the finish looks superb too. I take it this one was a commission and if that's the case I am sure that you will have one very happy client!

Author:	Arnt Rian [ Wed Aug 06, 2008 11:25 am ]
Post subject:	Re: My first dread..
I certainly like a good dread, and this one looks good to me! Very nice finish too (I have a can of Rockhard + reducer on the shelf, this inspires me to get around to using it on a guitar!). You want pickguard suggestions? I vote for a nice, dark vintage style tor-tis... Good job!

Author:	Hesh [ Wed Aug 06, 2008 2:16 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: My first dread..
Is Tor-tis a brand or a color?

Author:	LanceK [ Wed Aug 06, 2008 2:21 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: My first dread..
SUPER JOB PAT! Wow is that clean! A CLEAN build speaks volumes to me! I know if its clean out side the builder had paid attention! Nice stuff man!

Author:	Pat Foster [ Wed Aug 06, 2008 2:27 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: My first dread..
Thanks again, fellow DBLs (dirty bearded luthiers)! Maybe the 30s one, that's on the short list, Flori. Hesh, it's not exactly a client, but promised to my daughter's school fundraiser! If I'd known how well it was going to end up, I'd have built something else. Well Arnt, just break out that can. The Rockhard lives up to its name, so far. Like everything else, though, it has its strengths and weaknesses. I do believe I'll be using more of it, though. Hey, Lance, Thanks! Pat

Author:	Steve Kinnaird [ Wed Aug 06, 2008 10:55 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: My first dread..
Pat, you really do clean work, and this dread does not disappoint! Great looking guitar amigo. Steve

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