Here Goes Nuthin' (first build under way)

[ColestineGuitar]

I'm all excited about my first build and finally having something to show you all. Most of the work is taking place in my brother's rather impressive furniture building shop, where we resawed some black walnut for backs and sides. The results were better than expected! I'm trying to post a picture here for the first time (hope this works).
So far we've glued up fronts and backs, and begun practice bending sides.

[Darryl Young]

Wow, that is some nice looking walnut! Looking very nice. Be sure to ask if you have questions........lot of helpful folks here.

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Congrats on getting started! I agree with Tony, very nice looking wood. I'm building with walnut right now, and I REALLY like working with it..it may become my wood of choice if the guitar sounds good too.

Kevin

[David L]

I'm excited for you about getting started, thanks for posting pics, keep 'em coming!

David L

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Congrats on getting started! I agree with Tony, very nice looking wood. I'm building with walnut right now, and I REALLY like working with it..it may become my wood of choice if the guitar sounds good too.

Kevin

Good grief.....no, Tony does not yet think your walnut is nice, but he will when he sees it, he loves walnut too, but DARRYL does. I agree with DARRYL

Kevin

[ColestineGuitar]

Well, heck. I agree with Daryl AND Tony, then. And you.

This first project has taken lots of planning, jig-making, and tool buying, but we can't imagine the whole process no matter how many times we read Cumpiano. I am sure to be around asking for opinions from you who have gone before. My brother and I are both building, using the same materials. I've played guitar for many years, and he is an excellent furniture builder with a fondness for planes and chisels. Together we oughta come up with something worth picking.

[Tony_in_NYC]

Oh yeah! That is some sweeeeet walnut! I agree with everyone else. Got anymore?

[ColestineGuitar]

Of the two trees that My brother had milled surprisingly little is really appropriate for tonewood, and much is reserved for furniture, etc. If it were mine, not my brother's, more would probably get sliced into sets. I figure there's plenty for us to build two each, but after that I'll be looking at other sources.

gtr 015.jpg

[convict27]

I agree with everyone else, just gorgeous walnut! That is so cool that you were able to harvest it and have some for your build. I have some Koa that my Brother in law harvested in Hawaii that he said he can get for me. Now I just need to settle down in one place so I can build my own shop to do all the heavy work.

[ColestineGuitar]

I hope that you are able to build using that Koa. My main guitar is a koa Larrivee, which is lovely to see and hear. Getting your own shop can be a long process. When I get to thinking I need such a thing in order to work I think of a friend (who used to frequent these very forums) who is building remarkable guitars in his one car garage, crowded with automotive tools. It was, in fact, him who convinced me that this whole venture was possible.