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I previously made a Black Locust and Sitka Spruce OM and I was very pleased with it. So was another fellow, who bought it. So when I found another back set for sale I was eager to try to replicate that success. I put together the top as a demonstration piece for an art-on-the-street show in August. Then other projects took over for another show in the fall. I am now able to concentrate on this one. I was so keen to move forward with it that I neglected to photograph the bracing, which is a pretty standard X-brace with tapered parabolic bracing, like the first one. The soundhole on this one is bound with ebony, to complement the fretboard and bridge. In the photo, the C-clamp is compressing the scarf joint of the soundhole binding. Today I routed the channels for rosewood bindings. I have built up the neck blank of Sweet Cherry, like the first one, which looks pretty with the Black Locust. A new start is good for the soul! Bruce W.

Looking good. I hope to someday build with black locust that's been air drying in my shed for about 4 years now.

I like the rosette Bruce.

Thanks Kevin; I can't take credit for the rosette. it's from Australian Luthier Supplies. I sometimes make my own rosettes but it's nice to have some on hand to just drop in, that are not the usual ones you see. Check their prices; I think you get 25% off if you order 3 or 4. I just got some more yesterday in a joint order with a friend, which helps with shipping. Bruce W.

Slow progress on this guitar, with other things happening. The Sweet Cherry neck is close to done, just final shaping. Rosewood headplate to match the bindings is ready for tuner holes, probably some Grover open backs I got from John Hall, and my MOP logo. I just slotted the ebony fretboard today in a trial of a new slotting sled, which went okay. I will bind it with ebony. More finish sanding and scraping next before gluing the fretboard and neck. Bruce W.