Pre-war type build

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Pretty interesting Tim. What is the plan for the top. Will you be leaving it scarred for a well used look?

Kevin

[Ben-Had]

Yup. Not doing much to other than maybe trying to match the rosette that's left and the binding/purfling plus a couple coats of nitro to protect, not shine.

[Ben-Had]

Putting a nasty old headstock veneer on.

[Ben-Had]

This neck is getting a non-adjustable T-Bar truss rod, very, very stiff. Used compression fretting to build in back vow for proper relief. john has a good thread on this technique. This is my second one.

[Ben-Had]

Got the binding on today and...

[Ben-Had]

... worked on the bridge.

[Ben-Had]

And roughed it in.

[Legolas]

This is such a cool idea!!!!! Please keep the pics coming. I personally
love the top all messed up like that. Very interesting project. Great work!

[Legolas]

This guitar is going to have some interesting feature to it. The top (supposedly Adirondack) reportedly came out of the Martin Finishing room fire circa 1947. Owner wants it kept in this state which means no sanding the topside. The rosette area is thin and much is missing so it will be a challenge to try to match (somewhat) the top condition and it has to be rejointed. It will have Honduras Rosewood B/S. I won't be blogging all the steps but putting in progress picks.

Here's a few to kick things off.

This is a great idea for a new build. Take a vintage top and put it
with new everything else. I also personally like the messed up top;
looks super cool!!!!!

[Ben-Had]

Binding and purling. Ivoroid & Herringbone on the top, Ivoroid and b/w on the back.