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 Post subject: Jeff's SJ-12 fret
PostPosted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 9:48 pm 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Mon Sep 13, 2010 6:01 pm
Posts: 16
First name: Jeff
Last Name: Bernstein
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Hi everyone. I'm working on my second build, and I'd like to enter it into the New Builder Challenge. Here are the specs so far -

SJ 12-fret
Figured Honduran mahogany
Lutz top
African blackwood fretboad and belly bridge
buckeye burl and purpleheart rosette
curly maple, birdseye maple, or curly ash binding - TBD
purpleheart purflings
buckeye burl buttons
sound port
headstock plates -TBD
Tuners - TBD
hog neck
FWI pins, nut, saddle
K&K Trinity

I played a great Collings OM - hog/engleman - at the Podium a few months back. Collings didn't use a popsicle brace. I A/Bed w/ similar Collings w/ the brace and I found that the OM was more dynamic. I may forego the popsicle brace on this guitar, although I'll probably reenforce the top along the side of the neck block to reduce the chance of shearing.

So far I've noticed the following differences between this build and my first. I've made more whopper mistakes. I pretty much trashed a beautiful masters top I bought from Shane. Lucky for me Shane's packing material Lutz was about as nice as the top he sold me :>) Also, I haven't remembered as much building process as I thought I would. On the plus side, my tool use has improved, and I'm better able to fix some of my mistakes.

I'll post pics soon. Thanks. Jeff


Last edited by Tone Hunter on Wed Jan 30, 2013 12:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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 Post subject: Re: Jeff's SJ-12 fret
PostPosted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 10:18 am 
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Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2009 7:52 am
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First name: Big
Last Name: Jim
State: Deep in the heart of Bluegrass
Country: usa
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
welcome to the fray ... looking forward to your build thread ! Eat Drink

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 Post subject: Re: Jeff's SJ-12 fret
PostPosted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 10:49 pm 
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Cocobolo
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Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2012 1:23 am
Posts: 262
First name: nick
Last Name: dingle
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
I, too, look forward to seeing your work. Sounds like a nice gutiar.

RE: Mistakes. Funny how many times I can do the same thing wrong, and then find new and more creative mistakes to make once I have the old ones sorted.... gaah While I was building the saying was if you have a "F" up, make it a "feature."

Gives a new meaning to the idea of a guitar packed with "features..." laughing6-hehe


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 Post subject: Re: Jeff's SJ-12 fret
PostPosted: Sun Mar 17, 2013 11:50 am 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Mon Sep 13, 2010 6:01 pm
Posts: 16
First name: Jeff
Last Name: Bernstein
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Hi. I'm finally adding some build pics. I got inspired because I really like how the end graft detail is progressing. Let me know what you think. Thanks, Jeff


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Last edited by Tone Hunter on Sun Mar 17, 2013 12:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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 Post subject: Re: Jeff's SJ-12 fret
PostPosted: Sun Mar 17, 2013 12:03 pm 
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Joined: Fri Dec 21, 2012 11:52 am
Posts: 1388
First name: Zeke
Last Name: McKee
City: Goodlettsville
State: TN
Zip/Postal Code: 37070
Country: United States
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Looking really nice! Is this a lefty?


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 Post subject: Re: Jeff's SJ-12 fret
PostPosted: Sun Mar 17, 2013 12:07 pm 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Mon Sep 13, 2010 6:01 pm
Posts: 16
First name: Jeff
Last Name: Bernstein
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Thanks Zeke. No - not a lefty.


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 Post subject: Re: Jeff's SJ-12 fret
PostPosted: Sun Mar 17, 2013 12:23 pm 
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Joined: Fri Dec 21, 2012 11:52 am
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First name: Zeke
Last Name: McKee
City: Goodlettsville
State: TN
Zip/Postal Code: 37070
Country: United States
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Ok cool. The tone bars look like they are going the wrong way. Could just be the picture is flipped around. I really like the buckeye burl. Especially with the purpleheart purfling on the end graft. It's gonna really pop under finish.


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PostPosted: Tue Jul 02, 2013 11:19 pm 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Mon Sep 13, 2010 6:01 pm
Posts: 16
First name: Jeff
Last Name: Bernstein
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
I'm long over due for an update. The guitar is coming along nicely, although I've definitely had more than my share of mishaps. For example, there was the great purpleheart debacle.

My original plan was to use a book matched madrose backstrap. I used CA to glue it and then I tried to hot pipe bend it to fit the volute. WRONG!!! It separated repeatedly during bending, and I eventually burned it.

I gave up on the book match and installed a solid purpleheart backstrap to match the purfs. WRONG!!!!! To say it was purple is an understatement. It was day glow grape! It wasn't oxidizing to brown. It had to be fixed.

An option was to dye to match the madrose heal cap, but dying is risky. Even if the dye was right initially it may change for the worse over time. I was actually loosing sleep over this problem. Then Filippo suggested making a new book matched backstrap but only .025 thick, skipping the hot pipe, and gluing it over the purpleheart backstrap mess. It worked and it looks good!!!

So how many guitars do I have to build exactly before I spend more time building than fixing screw ups? Here are the latest pics -


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PostPosted: Wed Jul 03, 2013 6:32 am 
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Joined: Sat Feb 19, 2011 7:44 pm
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Location: Andersonville
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Country: USA
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Tone Hunter wrote:
So how many guitars do I have to build exactly before I spend more time building than fixing screw ups? Here are the latest pics -


I've spent some time pondering that myself:)

Incredible #2,


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 Post subject: Re: Jeff's SJ-12 fret
PostPosted: Sat Jul 06, 2013 1:18 pm 
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Joined: Fri Dec 21, 2012 11:52 am
Posts: 1388
First name: Zeke
Last Name: McKee
City: Goodlettsville
State: TN
Zip/Postal Code: 37070
Country: United States
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
That's turning out to be a beautiful guitar.


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 Post subject: Re: Jeff's SJ-12 fret
PostPosted: Sun Jul 07, 2013 8:45 am 
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First name: Tony
Last Name: C
City: Brooklyn
State: NY
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Love the burl. Great looking work!

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 Post subject: Re: Jeff's SJ-12 fret
PostPosted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 1:04 pm 
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First name: Casey
Last Name: Cochran
City: Gainesville
State: GA
Zip/Postal Code: 30501
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Exquisite. [:Y:]

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 Post subject: Re: Jeff's SJ-12 fret
PostPosted: Sat Oct 19, 2013 6:49 pm 
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Joined: Sun Feb 17, 2013 4:58 pm
Posts: 1449
First name: Ed
Last Name: Minch
City: Chestertown
State: MD
Zip/Postal Code: 21620
Country: United States
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Back and sides are beauteous. How hard is the wood?? Have you heard a guitar using it? Very nice #2

Ed MInch


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 Post subject: Re: Jeff's SJ-12 fret
PostPosted: Sun Oct 27, 2013 1:16 am 
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Joined: Wed Jan 13, 2010 12:46 am
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First name: Beth
Last Name: Mayer
City: Tucson
State: AZ
Country: United States
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Very nice, Jeff. Clean, beautiful work [:Y:]


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 Post subject: Re: Jeff's SJ-12 fret
PostPosted: Sun Oct 27, 2013 9:28 pm 
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Last Name: Lewis
City: Garland
State: Tx.
Zip/Postal Code: 75044
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very nice...post some more build pictures!!! [:Y:]

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 Post subject: Re: Jeff's SJ-12 fret
PostPosted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 11:40 pm 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Mon Sep 13, 2010 6:01 pm
Posts: 16
First name: Jeff
Last Name: Bernstein
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Hi everyone. Thanks for the kind words. I'm really excited about the guitar. I love the tone and playability. It's quick, woody, powerful and well balanced. It's a keeper.

W/re your question Ed, the hog set isn't particularly hard. In fact it bent like butter . . . twice :>) I'll spare you the ugly details.

Sorry to everyone for the delay in posting. We just moved to a new state. I started a new job. We are putting a new home together. And on top of that I'm helping my son put his college applications together. I'm pretty much doing everything but playing and building, which is what I love most.

I'm happy to try to answer any questions, but I'm positive I can ask way more questions than I can answer. I'll try to add more build pics too. Jeff


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