My First Guitar-OM Carpathian Spruce/Peruvian Walnut

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Diane Kauffmds
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Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:13 pm

My First Guitar-OM Carpathian Spruce/Peruvian Walnut

Post by Diane Kauffmds »

It took me 3 1/2 months, with many days that started at 5am and ended after midnight. I feel as though I've run a marathon. It was worth every minute. Yes, there most definitely are little mistakes, but I'm happy with the result. Most importantly, it sounds incredible! I got to play it for the first time tonight. The sustain goes on forever and the sound is warm, but well balanced. It has clear mids, bright trebles, and a balanced bass. I know it will open up as it settles down. I'll play it more when my fingers heal from building it. LOL

It's certainly not perfect, but it's not a bad first guitar.

The top is Carpathian spruce; the back and sides are Peruvian Walnut. The binding, and bottom wedge are curly maple. I finished the guitar with shellac, with the exception of the neck and headplate. Since I have trouble with my hands, french polishing was out, so I leveled between coats, polishing in the end. However, since the neck finish can wear quickly and the headplate takes a beating with the strings, I put polyurethane on them. I finished the neck in a satin finish. The top is also finished in shellac, but I only polished it to 0000 steel wool, so it too would have a satin finish.

I'm already gathering the materials for my second build, a 00.
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Last edited by Diane Kauffmds on Sat Mar 19, 2016 3:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Diane Kauffmann
Country Roads Guitars
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Danl8
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Re: My First Guitar-OM Carpathian Spruce/Peruvian Walnut

Post by Danl8 »

Very nice! I like the wood and your choice of binding. It's really striking. Best part is reading that the sound is commensurate with the looks! What's next now that this one is done?
Diane Kauffmds
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Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:13 pm

Re: My First Guitar-OM Carpathian Spruce/Peruvian Walnut

Post by Diane Kauffmds »

Danl8 wrote:Very nice! I like the wood and your choice of binding. It's really striking. Best part is reading that the sound is commensurate with the looks! What's next now that this one is done?
LOL. Funny you should ask...

I'm going to build a 00. I already have the figured cherry back and sides and I'm pairing them with engelmann spruce. I've decided to do the entire guitar in wood, including the peghead inlay. I've drawn a preliminary drawing of cherry blossoms (since the guitar will have cherry) with a butterfly. I plan on doing the inlay entirely with wood marquetry. The fretboard will be katalax. Unless I can find a katalox bridge, the bridge will be rosewood. The binding will be either the pommel mahogany, or curly sapele, which I already have.

At least, that's the plan.

Image
Diane Kauffmann
Country Roads Guitars
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mnmusic
Posts: 141
Joined: Tue Nov 26, 2013 7:15 pm
Location: Minnesota

Re: My First Guitar-OM Carpathian Spruce/Peruvian Walnut

Post by mnmusic »

Nicely done! I hope my first build turns out that good.

Ed
Diane Kauffmds
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Re: My First Guitar-OM Carpathian Spruce/Peruvian Walnut

Post by Diane Kauffmds »

mnmusic wrote:Nicely done! I hope my first build turns out that good.

Ed
Thank you Ed. I'm sure yours will be beautiful.
Diane Kauffmann
Country Roads Guitars
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justrfb
Posts: 217
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Location: North Jersey

Re: My First Guitar-OM Carpathian Spruce/Peruvian Walnut

Post by justrfb »

Nice work, beautiful instrument.

Sincerely,
Rich
tippie53
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Re: My First Guitar-OM Carpathian Spruce/Peruvian Walnut

Post by tippie53 »

happy for your. the rosette has very nice design touch.
John Hall
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Phil
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Re: My First Guitar-OM Carpathian Spruce/Peruvian Walnut

Post by Phil »

Very nice guitar
Kevin Sjostrand
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Re: My First Guitar-OM Carpathian Spruce/Peruvian Walnut

Post by Kevin Sjostrand »

Congratulations Diane. It turned out just beautiful. Looks like you have the bug! We will look forward to pics of your next one too.
Diane Kauffmds
Posts: 3246
Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:13 pm

Re: My First Guitar-OM Carpathian Spruce/Peruvian Walnut

Post by Diane Kauffmds »

Thank you everyone for your comments.
Diane Kauffmann
Country Roads Guitars
countryroadsguitars@gmail.com
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