Official Luthiers Forum!

It's been a rather long time since I've had any updates but I think I might have found my motivation again. The weather has really turned fall here in south western BC and that means time in the shop (you pegged it Daniel Minard!!)

So I've got a few pics of what I've been working on for you. Please also post up some pics of what's happening in your shop these days! I really like these type of posts, they help inspire!!!

Got the binding all installed on this one (it's been over a year since I started it), just need to wait till the glue sets up to do a final scrape than the body is done!



Tip of the cut away. I'm getting better at that mitre, it's still pretty difficult for me. Better lighting is needed I think.



And one of the front of the cut away. All the red and black purfling lines are 0.010" FYI



Let's see what you all got!

_________________
My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Looks great Rod. I also wanted to say thanks for the awesome guitar troji plans. I recently built one and your blueprints were a great timesaver!!! Regarding lighting, I can't emphasize good lighting enough. It is absolutely essential in seeing whether your miters are correct. By the way, it looks like you did a fantastic job.

Trying to get a few entry level ($999) guitars ready for the Vancouver Guitar Show. Rod, will I see you there?

great looking guitar Rod; really nice purfling/binding mitres...

Binding .. binding ... and more binding ... a venetian solo, an all koa doubleneck, and a harp ...

_________________
Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Mold making - pretty boring unless you neglect to check the master routing pattern against the drawing.

Now it's Bondo time.

Kevin Looker

_________________
I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

Pretty cool rosette there Rod!
Getting ready to install the back:

I’ve been busy over the past few weeks.

I made a bridge slotting jig to use on my drill press. I pulled this off using all scrap.


Then I made a vacuum bridge clamp and installed the bridge.


I’m working on the setup now. I’ve been working on this guitar for two years this month so being so close to the finish is a really good feeling.


The nut is made and ready. I think I need to order a new saddle blank and redo that, but mostly I’m there (if I can get the intonation set). I also need to stop goofing up the finish. I have some touchup on scratches that will need to happen. Nothing bad, but it needs to be done.

Working on two double side OM's and a BZ/Adi dred.



Just finished an archtop. I might keep this one!

_________________
It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

Wow, Rod, excellent work! As usual!

Terence, I drool every time I see your shop. Your guitars, too!

Here's one I started back in June, sort of a stretched L-00, lower bout is close to an OM, scoop cutaway ala Burton LeGeyt. Cocobolo, Lutz, ebony binding, African blackwood scoop, cedar neck, amboyna burl rosette and purfling.









Pat

_________________
formerly known around here as burbank
_________________

http://www.patfosterguitars.com

I finished up two new dulcimers of a lower cost design, hoping to target the price range most folks are willing to pay. Then set up my booth at the Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention Oct. 4th and 5th. Went with 6 instruments, and brought all 6 back home. I don't think any instruments sold this time, it was i think my worst event so far.

So, depressed at my luck, I decided to tackle some home projects. Replaced a couple of sink faucets, inhaled some fumes from my septic tank and got sick, then found some siding scraps enough to make some house repairs soon as I'm able. That did help clear my head, at least mentally, that cold is still hanging on.

So today I finally got back into the shop, and back on the guitars. Started the binding channel on the back of one, and realized just how much of that channel I'm going to have to cut by hand. Bummer.

Just living the dream...

_________________
Phil

http://www.oleninstruments.com

"Those who tilt at windmills are only considered insane by those who can't see the dragon."

A classical (finished a few weeks ago) and a just completed neo-classical, leaving soon. EIR backs and sides, finished in nitro; both with FP'd tops.

_________________
Trevor Gore, Luthier. Australian hand made acoustic guitars, classical guitars; custom guitar design and build; guitar design instruction.

http://www.goreguitars.com.au

I'm struggling with my first wood binding job......Cocobolo on a Cuban Mahogany 00. Here are a couple of pics of the results after install but before scraping everything flat:

_________________
Formerly known as Adaboy.......

Wow! Nice work, fellas. I can't wait to get started on my next guitar. My summer was spent installing French drains and concrete patio pavers, removing turf and creating new planting beds. It was a huge project, at least for me, but the rainy season has finally arrived and we're ready for new plants to go in the ground.



The seasons are changing and I'm happily turning my attention to guitar building. As posted in another thread, last week I found a nice Performax 10-20 drum sander on Craigslist. That motivated me to clean up my shop and now I'm looking into setting up some kind of dust collection system.



I have a Martin-inspired OO that is finished and waiting for tuners, a nut, and set up.



On deck is some nice sinker redwood and walnut that I've been wanting to use for a couple of years. I have plans and a mold for a 12-fret dread, but the redwood top is just not quite wide enough, so I think these will end up as an OM.



That's where I'm at right now.

_________________
George :-)

I have a Baritone and a 12 fret 000 cutaway in the lacquer curing stage and have started a Ziricote and a Ziricote 12 fret 0 that will have a cutaway. While waiting I have spent some time reworking/improving some of my jigs and doing a few repairs.

Not the greatest photos but they are the best I could get with the available lighting.





Fred

_________________
Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866

Customer brought this in . Its a Carlos Guitar , about 1979 model its solid wood , no ply . Asked me if I could repair it . Semtimental reasons he said ..... So im looking at it . X brace on one side is split and has to be reglued and clamped and bridge re set .

I said I would try and fix it , recommended he use light strings or maybe even nylon , NO GUARANTEES , for $100.00 . he said ok

Guess if nothing else its a learning curve

_________________
The Shallower the depth of the stream , The Louder the Babble !
The Taking Of Offense Is the Life Course Of The Stupid One !
Wanna Leave a Better Planet for our Kids? How about Working on BETTER KIDS for our Planet !
Forgiveness is the ability to accept an apology that you will probably NEVER GET
The truth will set you free , But FIRST, it will probably Piss you Off !
Creativity is allowing yourself to make Mistakes, Art is knowing which ones to Keep !
The Saddest thing anyone can do , is push a Loyal Person to the point that they Dont Care Anymore
Never met a STRONG person who had an EASY past !
http://wiksnwudwerks.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/groups/GatewayA ... rAssembly/

Pulled off the bridge and the top had broken right along the bridge front edge like a knife had cut it . It was splinterd all to pieces , so I decided to cut out the spot just smaller than the bridge area , re-glue the braces and a new oversize bridge plate then patch the top under the bridge . Hoping this will bring it back level .


Make Sense ? Suggestions ?

_________________
The Shallower the depth of the stream , The Louder the Babble !
The Taking Of Offense Is the Life Course Of The Stupid One !
Wanna Leave a Better Planet for our Kids? How about Working on BETTER KIDS for our Planet !
Forgiveness is the ability to accept an apology that you will probably NEVER GET
The truth will set you free , But FIRST, it will probably Piss you Off !
Creativity is allowing yourself to make Mistakes, Art is knowing which ones to Keep !
The Saddest thing anyone can do , is push a Loyal Person to the point that they Dont Care Anymore
Never met a STRONG person who had an EASY past !
http://wiksnwudwerks.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/groups/GatewayA ... rAssembly/

Wow some really cool stuff going on there folks!!!!



Simon, you are most welcome for the troji plans!!!! And thanks for your generous compliments!



Hmmmmm, not sure. When is it?



Thanks Chris. I really do love looking at your progress pictures (and finished products) you have such a great sense of design and your execution is awesom!

Tony, Can't wait to see pictures of these beauties your building!!!!!

Kevin, I don't mind mold making.....sorry about the error.

Robbie, thanks and looking good.

Nice stuff John!

Todd, always love seeing your shop and the amazing amount of work you get done in there. How big is your shop anyway??? Seems like it would be around 600-800 sft.

Terence, like Pat, I love seeing pictures of your shop!!! Very inviting. Awsome sounding guitars you got on the go, I really like that Archie!

Filippo, any updates on your boys projects? Did they finish building the fiddle and the guitar?

Pat, great looking Coco! Nice clean work as usual and glad to see you're back at it too

Trevor your guitars are amazing looking!!!!!!!!

And well done everyone else!!!!!, Oh and George, that walnut is outstanding (the redwood ain't half bad either )

_________________
My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

WudWerkr, I don't understand why you have cut off all that Spruce. You could have glued down the splinters and reinforced the underside if necessary. Seems to me that you've turned it into a much more involved job.

Rod, it's Sunday Nov.25 th..

Hi all.

Been lurking or a while, and thought I ought to join up

I'm in Brunswick Heads, Australia, and recognise many of you from other forums...

I've only been at this or 8 months, but have finished 2, an OM from Bunya pine, Queensland Maple, a dread rom Redwood and Aussie Blackwood. I am working on a few others, as time allows. 1. Restoration of an Ibanez 2469 from 1976...pickguard almost done, and all the bits ready to go... 2. an SG copy to use as an experimental platform for electronics and wiring and finishing... 3. an OM cutaway for a friend from Bearclaw Sitka from Brent Cole Sr(don't know if I am permitted to reference sources?), New Zealand Heart Rimu and various Aussie timbers.....Jarrah and lacewood....

Sadly, guitar building has been put on hold until I finish the wife's louvered doors for the spare room

Two reasons ( doesnt mean im right ) 1. The materal was split and busted all the way along the front edge under the bridge and was seperated , as in , spintered inside and out . The bridge plate was busted . The brace was broke .

2 I decided it would be easier to access all the broken parts and re-glue then patch rather than trying to re-glue all the splinters . I have to make new bridgeplate anyway , old ones toast as well . I was able to get glue under the braces behind the bridge area where it pulled apart and clamp . I wouldnt have been able to otherwise .

Thats my logic maybe it is harder than it should have been , like I said , learning curve .

Thanks for the comment though . Im open to suggestions anytime !

_________________
The Shallower the depth of the stream , The Louder the Babble !
The Taking Of Offense Is the Life Course Of The Stupid One !
Wanna Leave a Better Planet for our Kids? How about Working on BETTER KIDS for our Planet !
Forgiveness is the ability to accept an apology that you will probably NEVER GET
The truth will set you free , But FIRST, it will probably Piss you Off !
Creativity is allowing yourself to make Mistakes, Art is knowing which ones to Keep !
The Saddest thing anyone can do , is push a Loyal Person to the point that they Dont Care Anymore
Never met a STRONG person who had an EASY past !
http://wiksnwudwerks.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/groups/GatewayA ... rAssembly/

Finished my 18th guitar, a high grade Euro spruce/cypress flamenco, and binding 19, an Indian rosewood flamenco. Also have all the parts ready for #20, a cedar/Macassar lattice braced classical.

_________________
Build log

Nice, Alex!

_________________
Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Nice job Alex, you're really on fire these days.

Me, I got some more done on the viola da gamba. I scraped clean the inlay, then sanded it to 220. This all had to be done prior to gluing it the the ribs, which I did yesterday. I discovered that there is a reason that this should all have been done in a shorter time than I have been able to do it. I traced the rib shape directly to the back in order to set its outline and do the purfling accurately to the edge. Well, that worked out for most of it. There was a stubborn section in the upper bout that nearly slew me. Hopefully I go it licked. The photo shows one of the back braces being glued in.

I also got the top staves bent, jointed, and glued together.

I told my wife, for whom I am making this, that this is so much work that the only reason I am still on task is that I am doing it for love.

Next one is for cash. Lots and lots of cash.

_________________
Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/