This one is as done as its going to get!
Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 11:31 pm
Hi Gang,
I finally got the #4 for my son-in-laws brother finished today. He is coming this Thursday and will receive it then. I thought it was done last Saturday, but discovered that my headstock was a wee bit too thick for the tuning machines, so I had to take an 1/8" off the backside, and then respray this past week. I finished it off today and strung it up. It is quite loud and extremely resonate...it rings forever; I hope that is a good thing.
Out of the chute, it is not as chimey when finger picked with fingertips, but I expect it will open up. I learned alot more on this one about what mistakes I don't want to make as I build #5. You all know I struggled with the bindings on this one. I would say the finish overall is the best I've managed thus far.
Okay, so here are the specs. The pictures really show the glitches and the dust! This is my first cutaway.
Macauaba B & S
Bloodwood bindings on body and fretboard
AA Sitka spruce top
Standard spruce bracing on the top, minor scalloping
Mahogany back bracing
Macauaba/bwb purflings rosette
Bloodwood bridge
Bloodwood headstock veneer
Headstock inlay made by De'Paule
One piece sapele neck
EIR fretboard
Gold frets, tuning machines, and strap buttons
Ernie Ball Earthwood light strings
JJB Electronics Artist passive pickup installed (3 under bridge piezos)
The finish is Behlens Stringed Instrument Lacquer sprayed over their vinyl sealer; 13 coats in all. The finish before sanding and polishing was .009" thick. I figure I ended up with around .005 or .006".
Wet sanded 600, 800, 1000, 1500 grits, then buffed out using Surbuf pads on my RO sander; 3M rubbing compound, and Novus #2 fine polish.
Enjoy the pics. All positive comments are welcome, and all critiques are also welcome!!
I finally got the #4 for my son-in-laws brother finished today. He is coming this Thursday and will receive it then. I thought it was done last Saturday, but discovered that my headstock was a wee bit too thick for the tuning machines, so I had to take an 1/8" off the backside, and then respray this past week. I finished it off today and strung it up. It is quite loud and extremely resonate...it rings forever; I hope that is a good thing.
Out of the chute, it is not as chimey when finger picked with fingertips, but I expect it will open up. I learned alot more on this one about what mistakes I don't want to make as I build #5. You all know I struggled with the bindings on this one. I would say the finish overall is the best I've managed thus far.
Okay, so here are the specs. The pictures really show the glitches and the dust! This is my first cutaway.
Macauaba B & S
Bloodwood bindings on body and fretboard
AA Sitka spruce top
Standard spruce bracing on the top, minor scalloping
Mahogany back bracing
Macauaba/bwb purflings rosette
Bloodwood bridge
Bloodwood headstock veneer
Headstock inlay made by De'Paule
One piece sapele neck
EIR fretboard
Gold frets, tuning machines, and strap buttons
Ernie Ball Earthwood light strings
JJB Electronics Artist passive pickup installed (3 under bridge piezos)
The finish is Behlens Stringed Instrument Lacquer sprayed over their vinyl sealer; 13 coats in all. The finish before sanding and polishing was .009" thick. I figure I ended up with around .005 or .006".
Wet sanded 600, 800, 1000, 1500 grits, then buffed out using Surbuf pads on my RO sander; 3M rubbing compound, and Novus #2 fine polish.
Enjoy the pics. All positive comments are welcome, and all critiques are also welcome!!