Number 9: OO-12 Fret

[mjmeehan]

Been awhile since I've posted. This project has been sitting on my bench, in various states of completion, for several years. Recent circumstances have given me more than enough time to finish it up.

It's a OO-12 fret with Maple back and sides, Sitka spruce top and a mahogany neck. I stained the neck black as I was going for a high contrast look. The outside picture of the back shows a strange off color that you don't really see inside, so I took another pic on the pool table.

The neck finish is Tru Oil over shellac with no pore filler(I like the way that feels) and the body is Semi gloss lacquer over shellac. I was going to finish the body with Tru Oil but didn't like the way it darkened the maple, so I shifted gears.

For a maple body the guitar has a very warm, woody tone even with 80/20 bronze strings and I'm very pleased with the sound. Maybe I'll play around with other string styles and see what difference they make.

[mjmeehan]

Here's the inside pic of the back

[tippie53]

nice
how did you ebonize the neck?

[mjmeehan]

I taped off the headplate and fretboard areas and wiped on minwax penetrating stain then sealed it with shellac once it dried. Using an alcohol based stain wasn't going to work with the shellac, it just smeared. Luckily I practiced on scrap.

[mjmeehan]

I was asked for a close up of the neck and the stain I used so here they are.
After the stain dried I applied enough shellac so that I could gently sand it level without sanding through... come to think of it I didn't sand it at all, I used maroon Scotch Brite, much more gentle in my opinion, Then rubbed on the tru oil.

[MaineGeezer]

You could get seasick looking at that wavy back grain! It really pops. Nice job on the finish.

[mjmeehan]

Thank you, MaineG.
I got the B&S set from RC Tonewoods.. they offer great products.