Official Luthiers Forum!
http://luthiersforum.com/forum/

Koa Carpathian SJ
http://luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=22722		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  dmills [ Sat Jun 13, 2009 7:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Koa Carpathian SJ
One of the nice things about being an amateur builder is that if you feel yourself jones’n for a new guitar, you can just grab a wood set and build one. This one is my no. 3.

Koa back and sides
Carpathian top (a really nice stiff top from Uncle Bob at RC Tonewoods)
Mad Rosewood bindings
Mac Ebony fretboard and bridge
Top is French Polished
Back and sides have a Behlen’s varnish finish
Author:  Stephen Boone [ Sat Jun 13, 2009 8:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Koa Carpathian SJ
Quote:
One of the nice things about being an amateur builder is that if you feel yourself jones’n for a new guitar, you can just grab a wood set and build one. This one is my no. 3.


I know just how you feel!!!!

This is one sweet build.
Author:  Darryl Young [ Sat Jun 13, 2009 9:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Koa Carpathian SJ
Awesome guitar Doug!

Was this your first time using Behlen's Rock Hard Table Varnish? How did it go? Sure looks awsome on that nice Koa!
Author:  StevenWheeler [ Sat Jun 13, 2009 9:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Koa Carpathian SJ
Wow Doug, that sure turned out nice. The Behlen's really brought out the figure in that Koa.

Steve
Author:  Ken Franklin [ Sat Jun 13, 2009 10:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Koa Carpathian SJ
Nice work, Doug. Very clean throughout. How does the sound compare with your other builds?
Author:  Robbie_McD [ Sat Jun 13, 2009 11:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Koa Carpathian SJ
Absolutely georgeous! [clap]
I love the body shape you have chosen - an inspiration for when I get to building a steel string - have a few nylon strings to get out of my system first.... :lol:
Author:  SniderMike [ Sat Jun 13, 2009 11:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Koa Carpathian SJ
dmills wrote:
One of the nice things about being an amateur builder is that if you feel yourself jones’n for a new guitar, you can just grab a wood set and build one.


That can get pricey!

The guitar looks great. Very cool rosette, and I really like how the binding looks with the koa.
Author:  dmills [ Sun Jun 14, 2009 11:44 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Koa Carpathian SJ
Thanks for the comments guys.

Darryl – This is the second guitar I’ve finished with Behlen’s varnish. I thinned the varnish using Alan Carruth’s recommendation at first (70% varnish, 25% mineral spirits, 5% acetone and a drop of kerosene) but had leveling issues as noted in another post. I ended up increasing the mineral spirit percentage to 30 or 40% and applied to finish to the guitar body clamped to my bench vise in a vertical position using a temp neck stick. That way I could start at the top and pull a really thin coat while watching for drips and sags. I also gave up on using the recommended badger hair brushes. No matter how carefully I cleaned the brush, even using a brush spinner and suspending the brush in thinner between coats, I couldn’t avoid the “sand” from the dried varnish in the brush. With a really thin mixture that levels easily, I found I could use the cheap foam brushes and throw them away after each use. Don’t think you could use the foam brushes with a more viscous mixture.

Ken – I’ve built one other SJ and it has a cedar top. This one seems to have more volume with a quicker attack compared to the cedar top which sounds more woody to me which I think is consistent with how cedar tops are commonly described. Both have pretty good sustain though. The carp tops seems to produce more note separation to my ear. Could be the influence of the sound port though and it’s only been strung up for a couple days now. Haven’t had a chance yet to play around with the sound port plugged and open to accurately hear the difference.
Author:  SteveCourtright [ Sun Jun 14, 2009 12:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Koa Carpathian SJ
Doug: Really gorgeous, even Karen was making noises akin to approval. Koa is definitely on my short list. Hope to hear it soon.
Page 1 of 1 All times are UTC - 5 hours
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/