Official Luthiers Forum!

So this is what is going on in my workshop these days,
I´m building a couple of flamenco guitars. On the photo a Panama rosewood negra with an inlayed soundport



I´m also finishing my first violin built from scratch. Its really a nice experience and a lot of work

That would be amazing. I've never understood why violins are always made of maple and all exactly the same. You'd think people would experiment with them, like guitars.

or have I missed something?

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"I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it."
Pablo Picasso

https://www.facebook.com/FenskeGuitars

Gorgeous work Anders!!!

I made some new lining clamps and I'm using them on a padauk/adi build.

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Ken Franklin
clumsy yet persistent
https://www.kenfranklinukulele.com

Cool bracing pattern on that back Ken! Please post the padauk build when done.
Anders - nice clean work - that sound port on the flamenco is amazing!
Lex - love the tele - the mac ebony really sets it off....

Love that Mac eb Tele!!! Thats stunning under finish... hows the sound? I imagine its a bit darker than your average tele... however that would prolly work for a lot of players.... for whom your average tele is too bright... but wonderful to play...
Ken thats a great idea for kerf clamps - I might whip a few of that styke up myself ... good innovation..
Cheers
charliewood

the sound port is beautiful

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"All of us contain Music & Truth, but most of us can't get it out."
- Mark Twain

Finishing up a small yet fun ukulele project...

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

Thanks for your kind words about the inlayed soundport. I´ve done those for... I think 3 - 4 years now. I like the way guitars work with ports (that are not to big and not faced directly towards the player) I just dont like the looks of a hole in the bucket, so thats how it all started.

Yes, that port is classy all the way.

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

Agreed!

Also, I am curious... I see little dots on the tentalones... are they from some kind of wire clamp?

I have to admit that my ear for electric guitars is far too unsophisticated to tell much of a difference between Telecasters... it just sounds like a Telecaster to me.

Nice stuff everybody, here is my latest. I should be finishing the neck in the next couple of days. Curly redwood/Flamed maple





Jonathan

Jonathon, your guitars are just incredible. I love how you make all the different woods work together so well. I think you are the next Michihiro Matsuda!
How did you do that inlay around the base? Is it just a wide strip of purfling?

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"I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it."
Pablo Picasso

https://www.facebook.com/FenskeGuitars

Very nice Jonathan. Different in a very elegant way. And thats difficult.

They are from the pointy tool that I use for dipping them in the glue pot and putting them in place. Its very traditional Spanish.

My first post on this forum is to say - Wow!

I have never seen anything like that on back of a guitar before, and now that I have, a simple back strip will never be quite the same. That's a paradigm shift for me!
Thanks Jonathon - can't wait to see that finished

And the Ebony Tele - thats so good looking it should be illegal. To me the Tele is the quintissential electric guitar - everything you need and nothing more. Strats are OK but unnecessarily complicated! Back to the drawing board with my one.

To everyone else, inspirational stuff guys, please keep posting.

PS - By way of introduction, I'm a hobby builder in Auckland New Zealand, couldnt find a decent lefty top end acoustic guitar, so decided to make one myself - I'm up to number 8 and still trying... I'll put together a post later of what I am up to.

Welcome Richard!!!
How about some pics of your current build?
Jonathon - that is off-the-chain cool!
I am carving the neck for my current build:

Besides the Les Paul, I finally finished (or got close) on the Padauk - Sitka - Macassar OM that I've been working on for over a year. Sanded through the lacquer on the sides & put it aside for a few months. Still need to level the frets & adjust the action but it is playable & sounds good to my ears.

Kevin Looker

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

Oh yeah...now THAT's what I'm talkin' about. SWEET.


That maple reminds me of the stuff I've got for sale...
(shameless self promotion)

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

Very nice Kevin!

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wah
Wah-wah-wah-wah
Wah

Aww, sweet!
By far the best looking Tele I've ever seen!

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wah
Wah-wah-wah-wah
Wah

Well,
I finally restocked my lumber supply. I was down to twigs and bark.
I plan to use only locally harvested lumber (Central Texas) on my next electric builds.
A fellow has a sawmill about 30 minutes from my house.
I bought Chinaberry, Sycamore, Mesquite, Pecan, Hackberry, Loblolly Pine, Black Walnut, and Black Cherry.
Most of the lumber is 6/4 thick and cost $4.00 - $8.00 per bd/ft.
He also has Black Willow, Osage Orange, and of course, Oak varieties.
Maple and Conifers don't grow well in this area due to akaline soil.
I got a huge stack for $140.00.
The first build will be an Explorer shape with Sycamore body/neck with a Chinaberry top and Mesquite fretboard.
I'm tempted not to use shell products, but I picked up some Coral at the Texas coast last July I may experiment with.
I have not built since June, so I'm pretty pumped up!

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wah
Wah-wah-wah-wah
Wah

Hey Kevin, how about some finished pix?

Jonathan,

Your rosette and back treatment knocked me out! Brilliant and absolutely perfect with the maple. A true work of art.

Congrats
Max

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Max Bishop
Brighton, Michigan