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I just finished build my 4th (built for my wife) and realized I had never posted pictures of any of them. I'll try to add some pics of this one, and see if they post.
It is EIR with German Spruce top, ebony headstock and end wedge, shell inlay, and a walnut/carbon composite bridge
Mike

Mike, nice job!
Although I've tended to go with EIR on most of my fingerboards (primarily due to cost), I really like the way that ebony works against a spruce top. Looks great. Please don't tell my that the finish is a French polish, I just can't get that gloss. I'm interested in how you made the composite bridge; did you do all the shaping after gluing up all the composite pieces? Great looking guitar and nice finish. One final question, prompted by Windy's post - did you use a traditional Spanish neck or did you make a bolt on? If bolt on, did you install a truss rod? Guess that was two final questions.

Thanks Mkelly! I take it you have a Vrod? Nice bike! If I had a bigger garage, I'd have one of those too! I have a Big Dog Prosport that is based on the FXR frame with a 107 in motor.

Anyway, yes it is a french polish. I think the key is to level sand it with 800 or 1000 grit sandpaper. It seems counterintuitive after all that work to build up the finish, but it actually speeds things up considerably, and the level finish is what makes it reflect well. After sanding back, the next few coats of FP really go on flat, smooth and shiny. Sometimes you'll sand through, and need to put on more finish, but in that case the finish probably wasn't right yet. Most people wet sand, but I use 800 3m gold frecut sandpaper, and it doesn't load up dry (although you do want to check frequently to make sure you don't get a little "ball" of shellac on the sandpaper as it will leave grooves in the finish. Sanding dry lets you see what you are doing, and when all the gloss is gone, you know you have it sanded flat.

I use a regular Spanish heel construction for the neck. It just seems easier to me and truss rods and resets just aren't needed for classicals (Ok, rarely needed!)
Mike


The bridge is a Trevor Gore design. You laminate the carbon layers into the blank (I used Walnut for its low density (the carbon gives it the necessary stiffness). If you look closely you can see two black lines in the bridge which are the carbon fabric layer showing. A carbide Router bit will cut the resulting blank with no problem, but I use cheap carbide bits, because one bridge will dull the bit and I just toss it. You can get the chinese carbide bits on ebay for two or three bucks each.
Regards, Mike

Beautiful guitar. Nice work!

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Beautiful guitar, Mike! I agree with the ebony fb, as well - really stands out, in the best way!

Alex

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"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker

Really nice. I love the inlay in the end graft. Very classy - the whole instrument.

Did you use any composites in the bracing? What bracing did you use, for that matter?


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-Clint Beacock

Thanks Clint!
The bracing is pretty much to 37 hauser plans except for the carbon reinforced bridge, and I thinned the bridge patch to well under 1 mm.

The Gore falcate braced plans do use carbon reinforced braces, but I didn't want to change too many things at once. I was really curious as to what change the light bridge with short wings would do,
Mike

Very well done. Beautiful guitar -Mike

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guitarsbygiltzow.com

Beautiful !
How's she sound?

Mike

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Mike Collins

About your FP process, after you level sand, and put a few more coats on, do you do any extra polishing or buffing?




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-Clint Beacock

Thanks Mike! It is the 4th Hauser style I've built and they share a distinctive sound, but I do believe the lighter bridge with shorter wings makes it a little better guitar. I like it, in particular, to my ears, the treble is sweet sounding and strong up the higher frets,
Mike

Yes, I do a final buff (by hand) using micro mesh 12000 as it seems to even the shine. It is subtle, but I think it does. 6 months down the road, it probably doesn't matter at all, but after all the work of finishing a guitar, it is nice to get it as perfect as you can!
Mike

very nice job!

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

Nice! Looks begged to be played.

Looks amazing. Really like the inlays on the wedge.

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Another day, another dollar.