hummingbird #1 Padauk-Sitka

[hummingbird]

The box is closed!!!!

[hummingbird]

Binding the fretboard. I took too much off the sides of the fretboard so I had to add a BWB purfling.

[Ken Hundley]

Very nicely done! I am anxious to hear how this one sounds.

[hummingbird]

I made some marker dots from gold mother of pearl. Glued a small piece to the bottom of a drill bit and filed it down on the drill press even with the shank then it fit the drill hole exactly.

I also glued a thin layer of purple heart to the bottom of the fretboard because I sawed the fret slots too deep.

[johnnparchem]

Great idea to make the MOB inlays. Your fretboard looks great as well.

[hummingbird]

Im not happy with how this inlay turned out.

I used abalone, gold MOP, White MOP, and purple acrylite (pen blank material).

The purple feathers and wings turned dark after sanding and polishing which makes it too dark to see against the dark rosewood background. Plus the image is not very professional looking. It lacks artistic realism and appears too animated to me. The inlay pieces did not fit together as well as they could have and the recess was not very accurate. I used ground up instant coffee and ebony dust to colour the epoxy similar to the rosewood to cover up the flaws.

I am considering replacing the rosewood and starting over.

[hummingbird]

I routed the binding channels today

[David L]

Nice clean channels Alain!!!

David L

[RnB]

Very nice...! The hummingbird inlay doesn't look that terrible at all. Kudos you for making your our own. The fretboard is killer good looking w/ the purfling/binding.

[hummingbird]

I removed the headstock veneer and made a new bloodwood headplate and a new hummingbird. Still not the best. I did a bad job digging the hole for the inlay, I even went astray with my dremel an 8th inch or so. Its not totally noticable unless you look hardish but it still bugs me when I look at it. However, I have to move on with this project so Ill live with this one.