Official Luthiers Forum!

I started a guitar a few months ago but I have not yet posted any pics on this forum. Members of the classifieds section know that Sniggly is usually an active seller over there. Although, lately he has been slacking in a big way, so maybe this will get him motivated to sell some of his wood again! I wasnt going to post a build thread for this guitar, only the finished shots, but since I showed a pic in another thread, I figured I would post the build a little
I am calling this the "All Sniggly Guitar" because the back an sides, fretboard, headplate and the first bridge blank came from Sniggly. All were purchased here at the OLF in the classifieds. But if you are not already a member, don't join. All the good stuff is gone. Seriously. I am not saying that just to keep the competition for the good stuff to a minimum.
On the the meat and potatoes of the All Sniggly guitar.
The specs:
back and sides --- black limba with awesome orange stripes
fretboard ---- ziricote with sapwood
head plate----ziricote with sapwood
bridge ---- ziricote with sapwood

All of the above came from Sniggs in the classifieds.
The rest of the wood (neck, rosette, soundboard) came from various sources.

On with the show:
Back joined

sides bent and side supports going in:

making braces

Made a top with a really nice camphor burl rosette (also purchased in the classifieds here). Braced said top to a 40' radius.

Aforementioned top decided it wanted to be radiused the other way:

Experienced extreme disappointment:
(This picture was staged to demonstrate my disappointment. I was actually having a good day when I took it.)

Made a new 4 piece top:

Made a new rosette:

In this pic, the wood ring has been inlayed and glued and I have routed the channel for the outer b/w/b purfling
strip:

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

I'm looking forward to seeing this one come together, Tony.

Snigglywood rocks!

Scraped rosette flush:

Braced new top:

Glued on the back:

Glued top, but it was more boring than the back glue up pic, so I will spare you all. A box is born:

Picked out the appointments for the guitar. Black limba binding from Le Zoot Man, and the other stuff I got from sniggly, fretboard, headplate, and bridge blank:

Made another box while nobody was looking. It is claro and cedar with a box elder rosette

Staged a pic of cutting binding channels:

Actually cut them:

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

Was that top curling AFTER you braced it? Sorry, the picture seems to show attached braces. The wood is very nice! Are you a detective? Seems like there are some "wanted" posters on the bulletin board behind you... doh!

Mike

Messed around fitting the end wedge. Took some time to get it how I liked it. In this pic, it is not how I like it.

Cut fret slots in the ziricote fretboard:

Profiled the fretboard:

I put binding on the fretboard. Used cutoffs from the sides. I then made abalone side position markers. The first time I saw position markers like this was on a guitar by Chris Wood. Not sure if he still comes around here, but thanks for the idea Chris.
This guitar neck is named Chris actually. Quite a coincidence.

Took an out of focus pic of the headstock with the ziricote veneer on and shaped:

Made a bridge with the wrong string spacing:


I realized I made the string spacing wrong on this bridge after I had drilled the locating holes in the soundboard for it through the 1st and 6th string holes in the bridge. I decided to plug the holes in the soundboard and make a pinless bridge instead of trying to redrill the old holes since the plug would almost be completely removed when I drill new holes. Still working on the new bridge.
That's where I am now. Thanks for looking and comments are always welcome.
Again, don't join the classifieds. We bought the good stuff already.

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

Yes the top was braced to a 40' radius. RH must have been high when I braced it. The top is still alive. I need to remove the braces and do it again. Not sure why it cupped. I usually only glue when RH is low and I am certain I would have checked it and I no longer remember the details because the reversed soundboard made me sick. It had a really nice camphor burl rosette that matched the orange in the limba. Oh well.
No I am not a detective!
I work in a bank and I took my "extreme disappointment pic" moments before posting it. Those are the "wanted" posters in my office. We send them out to everyone so the employees know who to look for if those people come into a branch. Most bank "robberies" are not actual robberies. They are usually done by cashing forged checks or attempting to switch money, i.e. claiming the teller gave a $10 when they were withdrawing a $100. Happens every day.
Thanks for the compliments on my wood!

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

I, too, have a fair amount of product from Snigs. Actually, I think I have the sister set to that Black Limba.

Looks great, Tony. Can't wait to see it finished.

PS, i love how you are cavalier with all the setbacks.

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-Marcus
http://www.bailieguitars.com
Instagram | YouTube

That was nice wood. I wish I had more of it. Thanks! I am sure you will make something nice with yours and when you do, post pics here!
I could get upset about the goofs, but that wouldn't fix the problem. I was more disappointed in the set back of having to make a new top than I was that it cupped. I swear I did everything right, but I must have missed something. On the bright side, the messed up soundboard gave me an opportunity to post the "extreme disappointment pic" which I find pretty funny!

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

Egads!!! Look at the size of his head!!!!

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If trees could scream, would we be so cavalier about cutting them down? We might, if they screamed all the time, for no good reason. - Jack Handey

I told you!

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

Thanks Charlie! Sniggly gets all the best stuff.
Well...he used to but not anymore. So don't anyone join the classifieds looking for this type of wood because it is not there anymore.

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

That is some nice ziricote! Typical top radius is 25' or 28'. Why did you decide to go with 40'? As far as mistakes go... I remember a quote, "anyone who has not made a mistake has not made anything." The trick is fixing the mistake or make it look like you meant to do it...

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Steve Sollod (pronounced sorta like "Solid")
www.swiftcreekguitars.com

Thanks Steve. I got lucky when I bought that ziricote. I am almost certain it was from Sniggly, but it was definitely from the classifieds!
I use a 40' radius because my first two guitars were kits from KMG and his kits use a 40' radius. I simply continued that radius when i moved to scratch builds because I was comfortable using it and understood the geometry involved with it. Not that it would be hard to change, I have just chosen not to so far and have no reason yet why I should. As they say, if it ain't broke, don't fix it!
As for the mistakes I have made...what mistakes?
I go from this

to this

in no time!
Mistakes only bother me because they slow me down and I usually have a tight delivery deadline to make.
Thanks for the kind words.

AlbDarned, we know my head is huge. Leave it alone or I will unleash its gravitational pull on you and it will rip you to shreds!

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

Lookin' good!



NO not you... the guitar...

Thanks! I wish I had a witty comeback, but I am fresh out at the moment!

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

I dunno Tony - I don't think your head looks big at all. Now, the ears......

They are rather cartoonish, aren't they?

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

Sorry dude, you just took me by surprise is all ... I thought you were talking figuratively!

(Please for all of our sakes be sure to keep your gravitational inhibitor device in top working order!)

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If trees could scream, would we be so cavalier about cutting them down? We might, if they screamed all the time, for no good reason. - Jack Handey

WOW!~~~~~!!!!!

Tony...I wish I hadn't sold that back and side set to you my friend. That body is going to look spectacular when you put finish on it. Just wow. And thanks so much for all the credits. It makes me feel good knowing that someone somewhere is benefiting from all the time and effort I've put into finding the good stuff and selling it here. Seriously.

I haven't listed anything in the classifieds in a while but that will change shortly.

Sniggs

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There is no difference between the man that thinks he can....and the man that thinks he cannot.

I'm ready!

YAY THE SNIGGS WILL BE BACK YAY.... I mean nobody go over there to buy anything.

Sniggly,
Glad you will be selling again soon!
I bought two sets like this. Sold one to a new builder looking to build his stash from none to some. I have yet to see more sets like it. This guitar is a commission and I have carte blanche to do what I want. It's gonna be nice!!

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

Tony, you might have a big head,
but you gots nice teeth!!!!!!

Thank you Alan. Much like a fat chick on Facebook, I photograph myself from above and on an angle to decrease my bobble-head-like appearance, thus freeing you up to notice my teeth and not stare at my GoodYear blimp sized cranium. Though posting my face seems to have stolen the spotlight from my guitar.

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

Dude, you don't have big ears. You have a smallish head.

Seriously? When I hear a local bank was "robbed" it was most like one of those things u described?

I always pictured some guy in a mask with his finger making a gun in his jacket...

Mike