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nkwak wrote:Wow! That's inspiring! You say you've kept them all? Have you given any away or been asked to build one by someone you know?

:-) Probably not so inspired, but more like those crazy hoarders on TV. I made a 00 deep body (pictured somewhere here on KGF) for my son, who is an avid player. The rest can be sold or donated by my wife after I depart this life. With Martin quality as a comparison, my building fit and finish isn't worth selling or at least I couldn't recoup expenses and would eventually not be able to sustain the hobby. For now, I'm focusing on the process and continuous improvement mindset that John Hall taught me during my time at BCG and things are getting better. BTW, I did sell lutes, those were good enough to sell.

Getting around to finishing the sinker mahogany dred. Still have to cut the nut, install the bridge and polish/clean, but it is almost ready for the strings. The top is torrefied spruce and unfortunately has a midline crack, but that has stabilized. I am inclined to avoid torrefied wood now -- it seems too friable for my liking. Most of my tops are over forty yrs; if they aren't dry now when will they ever be? Anyhow, this guitar will be very lively. A few pix...

one more pic, closer view of rosette, paua and burl veneer. I used the same carpathian elm burl for the head and end graft too.

Edit: June 1. Strings on. Very happy with sound -- rich deep bass, balanced midrange and high registers are very clear, bell-like. Still haven't polished the lacquer, but for a rattle can finish, it's ok as is.

Final pix and post for this series of guitars and, now, on to other projects. I have a swivel breech flintlock rifle that has to be finished this summer, a 25-string baroque lute that has to be finished this autumn, and a long list of spousal projects. Maybe I'll return to guitar-making late this year. BTW, thanks to RC Tonewoods for the nice sinker for this dred. Nice stuff to work and primo figure.

Very nice work, IMO.

Danl8 wrote:.... I used wood purfling and celluloid tortoise...

Your guitar work is stunning. I have a question about the tortoise celluloid binding. After finish sanding my project with tortoise celluloid, the bindings show 220 grit scratches. Will those disappear when I apply the Nitro finish? I had some tiny pieces of binding left over and did a sample, spraying with Nitro, but the binding did not turn out glass like smooth. Also tried a acetone "polish" that turned out not so beautiful. How do you get the bindings glossy again?

looks great

Kbore wrote:

Danl8 wrote:.... I used wood purfling and celluloid tortoise...

Your guitar work is stunning. I have a question about the tortoise celluloid binding. After finish sanding my project with tortoise celluloid, the bindings show 220 grit scratches. Will those disappear when I apply the Nitro finish? I had some tiny pieces of binding left over and did a sample, spraying with Nitro, but the binding did not turn out glass like smooth. Also tried a acetone "polish" that turned out not so beautiful. How do you get the bindings glossy again?

Hi Karl,
Thanks for the kind words. I sanded progressively 220-320-400-600-800-1200-1500 very gingerly on the binding. The nitro then made the surface glossy (binding and wood, too) after successive coats and sanding between rattle sessions.
-d.

tippie53 wrote:looks great

Thanks, John. And Mike Baker, too.

You did a beautiful job.