Official Luthiers Forum!

Well, like the little drummer boy that had no portraits of dead statesmen to offer, or gold teeth to pull, I find myself wanting to do something for John and the Mayes family, and I'm trying to get creative...

One thing that I have, that is rare and probably irreplaceable to me, is some binding that I made. I never intended to sell any, as the wood cost so much, and it was the best example of consistent figure, uniform color, and straight grain (low runout - ideal for binding) that I had ever seen in this species. And I have been looking for years. This was to be eeeeked out over a few instruments, but I want to offer a set to help John out.

I want to offer a set of this special binding material, 5 pieces, to the highest bidder, including free shipping anywhere on planet Earth.

Since I was never intending to sell any, the only photos I have are of me working with a set. That's the photos you'll see here.

The material is fiddleback Katalox (Swartzia cubensis) from southern Mexico. It has consistent fiddleback curl from end to end, and has consistent color from end to end. (You'll see pieces of raw wood with this fiddleback, but you'll have a very hard time EVER finding a stick without runout and this consistent. This is really rare and special stuff - much more rare than fine Snakewood.

It has an attached double (veneer) purfling of Holly and dyed black Maple. The purfling veneers were glued on with Titebond III, to withstand the heat and moisture of bending, and you'll see in the photos it bends nicely (behaves) and the veneer/purfs stay intact. Approximate dimensions: .080" thick x .25" tall x 33" long.

Here are photos of me working a set. (Note that I cracked the Cocobolo sides, but the fiddleback Katalox bent perfectly.)


Here, I'm preparing to bend by taping 4 pieces of binding, veneer-to-veneer, to the Cocobolo sides.



Fiddleback Katalox bent like a dream. Quartersawn Cocobolo bent like a nightmare.)



Adding an end graft of Amboyna burl, flanked with the fiddleback Katalox.

And that guitar was back-burnered, so I don't have finished pics to show yet. Note that, like all deep dark fiddleback woods, the overall effect will be somewhat muted under a finish, but will be alive and move when light plays on the guitar or when the guitar moves. So, if you think it is too much "bling", well, it won't be.

So dig deep friends, pay a lot more than you would ever dream of paying for rare exotic binding. This really isn't about buying binding - it's about helping out John Mayes and his family, and you get a bonus of a set of binding. Be generous. I'll try to get John's PayPal address so you can directly send the cash to him. Since it's currently Christmas Eve, let's let this ride until New Year's Day, Jan 1st at 12:00 noon CST (GMT -6.)

Peace to you all. Pa rum pa pum pum.

Dennis

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Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

Dennis--

I'll start it off at $25.

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Jim Howell
Charlotte, NC

Allright, Jim! Way to get it started!

OK, I'll play auctioneer: twenty-five twenty-five we've got twenty-five who'll give {John} fifty?

Dennis

by the way, John's PayPal address is johnm@mayesguitars.com and I will have the winner just pop it directly in there.

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Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

$ 30.00 der ya-heh !!

_________________
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/

I will go 35

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Greg Hatcher
North Carolina

WTG, James and Greg!

Keep it going folks! Let's see what we can do for John!

Dennis

p.s. If I could ever have been persuaded to sell this, it would have been $12 to $15 per stick, but I wouldn't have sold it because I cannot replace it for $15/stick. Add free shipping. Now, who'll give John $75? Or, kick it and jump it right to $100!

_________________
Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

$40.00

_________________
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/

" Intercom "


WILL ALL OTHER BIDDERS PLEASE REPORT TO THE OLF LOBBY FOR FREE PIZZA

_________________
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, we have a bid of $4000 from James! Or, did I misplace a decimal?

Dennis

_________________
Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

ackkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk fourty dollars SHEESH Does own CPR to get heart rate down

Hands Dennis NEW glasses

_________________
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/

Very cool binding! $60.00

have fun gentlemen wifes already chewing my but for spending to much

_________________
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/

Thanks, James! You blew on the coals and got 'er blazin'.

BTW, (not you James, I'm letting you bow out gracefully - without me hounding you ), each of these auctions for John Mayes and his family should be considered simply as gifts, not spending money, but giving money. Loving intent.

Thanks, Edward for kicking it up a notch!

Dennis

_________________
Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

I Know it is and I already won one and sent money . I really like the bindings , however , this is a "nonprofit " hobby and me coffers are beginning to look like me head empty

If you ever get a wild hair and wanna make more , I might be interested in buying in future , but right now all i have is monopoly money and iou's .

have great day guys and to the guy who out bid me

_________________
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/

I'll go $70.00.

Happy Kringle to all!

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George :-)

$85.00

100$ merry christmas

Thanks, George, Brad and Jeff!

I'm sure your generosity warms the entire Mayes family!

Dennis

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Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

Wow, you might have to put up another auction. I'll go 125.00 but I'll wait for new years eve.

Super, Brad!

a-Mayes-ing!

Dennis

_________________
Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

bumpity bump bump

(I need this on page 1 so I can find it)

Still time to give John Mayes and family a big fat donation, and get some cool binding as a double-bonus...

Dennis

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Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

OK, the deadline for this is approaching quickly. If you want to bid, get out of sniper mode. Less than 3 hours to go!

Auction* ends New Year's Day, Jan 1st at 12:00 noon CST (GMT -6.)

*(in this case "auction" means the highest bidder for the binding, but is really the highest willing donor to John Mayes and family.)

Dennis

p.s. A a fun bonus to newbie luthiers, go back and look at my photos, realize that I want to miter my purflings, and discover my newbie mistake. First newbie to answer gets the honor of donating $10 to the Mayes family.

_________________
Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

Oops. I'm so glad I'm not the only one to do that.

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Aoibeann

150 Happy new years

Yikes, that's a generous bid, Jeff! However, your bid came in after the ending of the auction. Brad Simmons had the high bid of $125 (also a very generous bid!) by noon today CST, and the auction is his unless he tells me to accept your (late) bid. I wouldn't even consider that possibility on a normal auction, but because this is a 100% donation to John Mayes and family, I'll let Brad call it. I wish I had enough of the material to fulfill both bids, but I only have 7 sticks of the material. (5 sticks to the winner and 2 sticks to bind the fingerboard of the guitar I have started.)

Since I don't have enough of that material to offer it to both of you guys (and generate $275 for the Mayes family), the only awesome exotic binding I could offer as an option to a second winner would be some binding made from fiddleback Nargusta sapwood. It is a smoky khaki color, and will be a knockout against a darker wood, such as EI Rosewood, where you don't want such a screaming contrast of color tone like curly Maple. This fiddleback Nargusta material was from a one-of-a-kind board that I purchased in my initial shipment of wood for my Wise Wood Ecological Lumber Company, and is Rainforest Alliance certified Smartwood. It also has a Holly/dyed black veneer double purfling pre-glued to it. So, I'll throw that possibility out there as a possible option.

To bring this to a conclusion, this auction is over, thank all of you very much! If Brad and Jeff could please contact me, either in this thread or via PM, we'll figure out the final outcome.

Thanks!

Dennis
p.s. hahahaha Lillian! No, you're not alone! That is going to require some sharp chisel work to complete my binding with mitered purflings on my guitar!

_________________
Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia