Third and final part of my first kit and how I got there blog post
First, thanks to all for the comments above. That’s great encouragement. Following are the various instruments made from guitar part seconds, broken or worm-eaten wood, windbreaks and other kinds of humilities. Great practice in fixing and assembly.
The practice projects provided experience in various finishing options and inlaying techniques and best of all, provided playable instruments. It’s all about the quality of the sound and playability for me.
First project - 000-15SM-like
I used an ebony board and bridge, French polish finish and vintage-style slot tuners with black buttons. I would have
never believed that an all-mahogany guitar can sound so good.
Second project - 00 ‘sloped shoulder’
Done in Sapele, Red Spruce and bound with Cocobolo, having a pearl peghead inlay, ivory heel cap (old recycled material), Gotoh 510 tuners and French polished. Sapele has great visual depth – with shellac pore fill. This was my first guitar inlay. I think the neck shape is too full. The sound is really sweet.
Third project - D-18-like
I had no idea that a dreadnaught could sound so wonderful -- I'm hooked. Italian spruce top and average grade mahogany. I used a Macassar board and synthetic Richlite bridge and cheap $9 Martin (ping?) tuners and finished it in French polish. My first real dovetail and it went well --thanks, John, for the video!!!!
Fourth project - 00 deep body
All mahogany with ebony board and bridge and some pearl decoration. I used a down-sized Harwood-style back-of-peghead inlay for the peghead inlay and bound the head in old recycled piano key ivory. Upon stringing, the guitar sounded awful; after three weeks of repose in its case, the guitar's sound exploded with richness and complexity. Tru-oil except for top which was French polished. I built this for my son for his graduation from law school last month.
Fifth project - Another 000-15SM-like
I mostly hate finishing; I mean it’s exciting to see the wood come to life, but it can be awfully dang fiddly. Tru-oil, except for peghead face (FP). Gaboon ebony board with single star inlay and bridge, and rosewood bindings. Standard flowerpot inlay.
Sixth project - 00 cutaway
Another rescue project. I at least had the sense to hold off on doing a maple to mahogany real dovetail joint until I had some experience. I still haven’t finished the dovetail – it’s intimidating, the rock maple to mahogany joint. I’m thinking about an all ebony look for FB, BR, pins, nut and saddle.
Next Project – Autumn 2015
I’m doing a Blues Creek Training Class build. ‘Nuff said there.
Used to do these for a few decades.
Not part of the last year’s experience, but might give some context to my background.
