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Build Class with George Leach of the Phoenix guitar Co.
http://luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=42528		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  D. Ramsey [ Thu Jan 23, 2014 5:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Build Class with George Leach of the Phoenix guitar Co.
I just started to build a guitar in a one on one class with George Leach of the Phoenix Guitar co.
Been a member since 2009 and still have not finished my first guitar. I have a few at different stages but never completed one yet.

I did finish a Uke that I am happy with but no guitar

He just moved from Phoenix to Torrance Ca. and I'm his first student in California.

Great guy and easy to learn from.

We are building a Ziricote with Bearclaw Sitka 12 string in a OOOO size.

Here are a couple of Pics of what we have started

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Next week will be the rosette and bracing Top and Back :)
Author:  gxs [ Sat Feb 01, 2014 11:19 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Build Class with Geaorge Leach of the Phoenix guitar Co.
The wood is stunning.
Author:  D. Ramsey [ Sat Feb 01, 2014 11:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Build Class with Geaorge Leach of the Phoenix guitar Co.
That wood is stunning but it wasn't quite stable yet so I switched to Shedua for this build.
I will use the Ziricote on the next build after it has a couple more month's to stabilize.

Here is the bearclaw top with Rosette and pictures of the wood I am now using.



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Author:  dzsmith [ Sat Feb 01, 2014 12:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Build Class with Geaorge Leach of the Phoenix guitar Co.
I'm envious Dennis!
I'd really enjoy attending classes.
I'm still building electrics and learning how to use cutting tools and I hope to attempt a real guitar someday.
The Zircote is wild!
Author:  D. Ramsey [ Sat Feb 01, 2014 1:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Build Class with Geaorge Leach of the Phoenix guitar Co.
Thanks Dan,

I went up to healdsberg Guitar Festival this year and started talking to George and he told me he was moving to Calif.
I told him that when he gets here let me know as I might be interested in taking a class. When he got here he settled just 5 miles from my house.

I decided to take a class after spending some time with him and found how easy he was to be around :) ( Good Guy )

being close to his place and being retired I head to his house about 3 times a week for a couple hours.
It is great. I have read this forum for years spent quite a bit of time with Peter of Cornerstone guitars who taught me alot.
I have to make it like class for me to accomplish something with deadlines or I am easily distract to anything around me. So class is the structure I need.

I have built a few boxes but have never got to the point of finishing the instrument and installing the neck.

I should make it this time :)
Author:  Beth Mayer [ Sat Feb 01, 2014 4:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Build Class with Geaorge Leach of the Phoenix guitar Co.
Congrats on finding a great teacher. Did he leave Phoenix GC or did the company move?
Author:  itswednesday14 [ Sat Feb 01, 2014 4:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Build Class with Geaorge Leach of the Phoenix guitar Co.
Id sure like to take a class but hes 2 hrs west of me down hiway 91. For those of you that live in LA you know how infamous that road is.
Author:  D. Ramsey [ Sat Feb 01, 2014 7:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Build Class with Geaorge Leach of the Phoenix guitar Co.
Beth Mayer wrote:
Congrats on finding a great teacher. Did he leave Phoenix GC or did the company move?



Hi Beth, His kids live here in So Cal and He decided to be close to the grandkids so Him and Diane split up the partnership.

George is retaining the Name and Diane has opened a place in Phoenix under the name Diane Huber Guitars LLC. I believe she will still be teaching in the Phoenix/ Scottsdale area.
Author:  D. Ramsey [ Sat Feb 01, 2014 7:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Build Class with Geaorge Leach of the Phoenix guitar Co.
itswednesday14 wrote:
Id sure like to take a class but hes 2 hrs west of me down hiway 91. For those of you that live in LA you know how infamous that road is.


The 91 is no longer a freeway it is just an afternoon parking lot :)
Author:  D. Ramsey [ Wed Feb 05, 2014 1:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Build Class with Geaorge Leach of the Phoenix guitar Co.
Progressing right along... added Back Braces and Top braces today :D

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Author:  Mike Dotson [ Wed Feb 05, 2014 11:44 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Build Class with Geaorge Leach of the Phoenix guitar Co.
Glad to hear that George is up and running since the move. I've known him for many years now and frequently visited his Scottsdale shop to buy odds and ends and general BSing. He's a great guy and will ensure you get a great instrument built.
Author:  D. Ramsey [ Thu Feb 06, 2014 9:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Build Class with Geaorge Leach of the Phoenix guitar Co.
Mike Dotson wrote:
Glad to hear that George is up and running since the move. I've known him for many years now and frequently visited his Scottsdale shop to buy odds and ends and general BSing. He's a great guy and will ensure you get a great instrument built.



Thanks Mike! I mentioned you and it got me a T-shirt that you made for him. :)
Author:  D. Ramsey [ Wed Feb 12, 2014 1:49 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Build Class with Geaorge Leach of the Phoenix guitar Co.
Here in So Cal last Sat Kevin Ryan gave a great presentation on his philosophy and some details of his work. Thanks to Kevin and Simscal (Stringed Instrument Makers of Southern California ) Kevin shared for about 90 minutes and really is a gifted innovator.

Well I'm using Kevin's A4 kerfing which is real easy to use and also used Zipflex for my Rosette wonderful and easy to use.

I installed kerfing and should get the top and back on in the next few days.

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Author:  D. Ramsey [ Thu Feb 13, 2014 7:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Build Class with George Leach of the Phoenix guitar Co.
Got the top and back glued on today :)
The wet spot is just water from a bit of cleanup....

Working on bindings tomorrow!

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Author:  D. Ramsey [ Sat Feb 15, 2014 2:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Build Class with George Leach of the Phoenix guitar Co.
Closed the box, cut binding purfling channel, installed a tail wedge and will do purfling and bindings next week :D

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Author:  D. Ramsey [ Tue Mar 11, 2014 12:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Build Class with George Leach of the Phoenix guitar Co.
Well I finally got back to working on my guitar. Had things to take care of with Dad in the hospital

Here is what I did yesterday.
Started cutting out and getting a rough fit of the neck to the body.

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Author:  meddlingfool [ Tue Mar 11, 2014 12:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Build Class with George Leach of the Phoenix guitar Co.
Love the matching center strip in the neck.
Author:  Robert Lak [ Tue Mar 11, 2014 2:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Build Class with George Leach of the Phoenix guitar Co.
Now that i am finally working on my own first build, I am able to appreciate the differences in the process.

viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=41876
and the top tuning here...
viewtopic.php?f=10130&t=42854

What I really noticed first is that you only started in January and are ahead of me, when i started back in October. Right there is the difference that a two hour trip makes! If i have any regrets it's not getting enough shop time.

I do have one question for you and that is in regards to your stability comment in regards to your ziricote. What was it in particular that made you decide it was too unstable for use?

Do you have any pictures of your top bracing? Those would be nice to see.

Looking awsome. and boy ain't it nice to finally see it coming together??
Author:  D. Ramsey [ Tue Mar 11, 2014 3:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Build Class with George Leach of the Phoenix guitar Co.
Hey Robert.

Your guitar is looking great!

The Ziricote that I have I got from a friend who lives in Belize.
Since the Humidity there stays up about 90+% I didn't allow enough time for it to acclimate and finishing drying properly.

As I joined the 2 halves and was ready to start bracing, it was moving around too much. Especially after thinning it down.
So I stickered it back up and am allowing a few months more of time to settle before regluing and bracing . I still plan to proceed with the wood.

I was looking through my pictures and didn't find one of my top bracing but I know George took one so I'll try to get that from him.

As far as the amount of shop time thankfully I am about 5 minutes from George and I am retired. We generally find time about 3 days a week to work and because it is so close he might text me in the morning saying he will be in the shop for a couple of hours and I can just run over to get a step done.
Author:  George L [ Tue Mar 11, 2014 9:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Build Class with George Leach of the Phoenix guitar Co.
Looking good, Dennis! It's great that you've found a situation that's helping you progress as a guitar maker. I can see how having someone to hang out with would be a real bonus--especially if they happen to be a pro builder!
Author:  Robert Lak [ Wed Mar 12, 2014 6:00 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Build Class with George Leach of the Phoenix guitar Co.
By moving around you mean twisting/warping? Mine sat in my cellar for about six years so it had plenty of time to dry.

George... I agree on your comment about finding a pro for your first, or more. Even simple steps take on greater meaning when you have that critical eye looking things over. It's also nice to see multiple projects going on. I've seen a flamenco guitar built, a few repairs on instruments from the 17oo's and 18oo's done - one guy is building his own version of a 17oo (?) mandolin... it's been really interesting even when so many things are going on that I get distracted from my work to watch someone else carve their neck or work on their binding etc. It tends to take away some of the apprehension watching someone else work on what your going to work on.

It woukd be really nice to find a community workshop to continue working in. I don't have a shop at home so besides the equipment it would be great just to have a group of people working on projects. I hope to try to talk the school into opening up the wood shop to "continuing ed" students to work in. Not sure they'll go for it but who knows!
Author:  D. Ramsey [ Fri Mar 21, 2014 11:39 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Build Class with George Leach of the Phoenix guitar Co.
this week we slotted, tapered and radiused the fingerboard and mounted it on the neck blank after fitting the neck angle to the body

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