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Here's the body complete, sanded and ready for finishing..(except for the little "man made pores" I need to fill...mind you, a little "history" on a first guitar may be a good thing!!!)

The rosette is laminated rosewood veneer with spruce marquetry (took me 15 hours to do!!! I have progress pics of that too, but I don't wanna bore ya!!)



I cannot decide what to do next...whether I go ahead and finish the body per RussellR's recommendations with Danish Oil, or I go ahead and work on the neck...what would you lot do at this stage?

Thanks for allowing me to ask such stupid questions, this is an awesome forum!!!Sam Price38937.5095023148

Do the neck while you finish the body. The finish will help protect against more man made pores.

AlA Peebels38937.5188078704

Lookin' great so far Sam, can't help you much with your question but i'd say go with Russell's advice, he's been doing this for quite a while now!

Sam,

That is a great looking rosette. Post the pics as soon as you have the time. I promise nobody here will be bored.

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I'd work on the neck.   
I like to finish the neck and body at the same time.
I prefer to deal with the neck angle etc. before finishing. Then you can do all that without wrecking the finish accidently. You can also tape off the bridge area and the fretboard extension area prior to finishing too.
Don Williams38937.5359490741

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Only badly."

Okay, get ready to yawn...

A rosette I designed from a celtic band...



Hand drawn onto paper , then traced using dressmaker's carbon onto rosewood veneer...



Same onto spruce veneer..



Let's go!! Scalpel!! CA glue!!



Quarter of the way there...



hand cut, sanded down and ready to install...

Sam on the sequence

I would be with Don, I like to get the neck set to the body, before I start the finishing.

Beautiful work on your rosette

Nice work, Sam! Very creative job on your rosette. I guess patience isn't a problem for you? Did you say this is your first guitar?

Sam,

I'm a big fan of Celtic knots and appreciate your showing the process you used. I've done one marquetry rosette so far, and it took me even longer.    Good job!

Best,

Michael

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Live to Play, Play to Live

nice work on that rosette!

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Yes, definitely make the neck before you start finishing for the reasons Don states.

<edit> Nice rosette!Arnt38937.5798726852

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Sam,

Looks great! Only 15 hours for the rosette?! burbank38937.5948726852

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Thank you again...

Ok, the neck it is....

I suppose it was roughly 15 hours, in one week, due to the fact of my reduced hours at work during the Summer Holidays...my kids were away with their grandparents, so that explains it!!!!

Wow, sam that is a killer rosette. Great job.

Man, these first builds are just getting better and better aren't they. Wish my first was this nice.

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[QUOTE]Man, these first builds are just getting better and better aren't they.[/QUOTE]

Hey, I am DESPERATE to stay humble... I have a long way to go yet...for example, if the neck is set wrong...firewood...I'll wait until I am finished before I bask in everyone's praise!!!!

Access to the internet contributes to better design, I'm sure. I mean...there are many great sites out there with original luthiers. It's an unprecedented time of creativity and knowledge that has proliferated with startling speed on the web!!!

I spent loads of time browsing forums like these (as a lurker ) looking at how other people "do it"...

Encouragement, valuable advice and inspirational people like yourselves...

I am a lifelong arts and craftsperson too, so I think that helps. Just a little....

Looking good!!!!!

Ron

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Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

Samantha -- great rosette and thanks for the photos.

I am a huge fan of Celtic art (and long standing fan of their whiskey).

I'll bet you weren't drinking coffee when you worked on that rosette!

Wow! That's a killer rosette! Great work!

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Sam
15 worth-while hours of your time.
Very nice rosette! I like to seal
the top of a instrument after it is
sanded. I feel it helps to protect it.
But thats just me.

Tom

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[QUOTE=Anthony Z]

I'll bet you weren't drinking coffee when you worked on that rosette![/QUOTE]

Hehe, I WAS!!!!

I'm a bit nervous about setting the neck etc..

I'm also staring to think about guitar #2 (I was going to stop at one!!!! HELP!!!!!)

....I am going to somehow convince my longsuffering spouse that it's necessary.... Sam Price38938.3198611111

Sam, just tell your spouse it's either guitar building or psychotherapy! The therapy of course will be cheaper, but not as much fun!


-Mark

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