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I know this is not an acoustic, but I thought I would show it anyway.













Drop top and tuning head overlay are red cocobolo, and fretboard is darker cocobolo. Neck is glued in Gibson style.

Al


A Peebels38851.5444791667

Very cool!

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

And when You turn it over......

Here's the tuning head.

Cocobolo drop top, headstock overlay, and fretboard. Fretboard is from a diferent plank.

Al

Dammit.

Now I want to build a Coco-topped guitar!

I like it Al, that Coco is awesome. Do you build more electrics or acoustics?

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Right now I'm building about 3 acoustics to 1 electric.

Al

This one is extremely heeless !!! - people ask me all the time how I did the cool curved neck joint. Easy - mortice the neck into the middle PU cavity beofre putting the cap on, then carve away til it feels good !!! The top cap is violin carved quilted maple, tinted deep trans blue, with faux natural quilt binding ala PRS.

TonyKarol38851.6255324074

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Nice Tony!!! What did you use between the maple lams on the neck?

Al

I do quite a lot of heelless electrics. I tend to carve the back on my carved-top electrics as well, subtly. Seems a bit wrong to have a flat surface on the other side of a sexy carve...

http://www.xs4all.nl/~mvalente/guitarpics4/pat_finished09.jp g

Thats mahogany veneer, to match the back/body wood.

Wow Mattia - that finish looks DEEP !!!!

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Not that we are supposed to tell things like this - but that was an 8 dollar hard maple 1x4 from a local lumber place a few years back - killer flame. I ahve a similar one forma different place, but again about 7-8 bucks on my first all-me electric - Explorer body (OK - I admit it , huge Billy Gibbons fan)

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Tony I find killer maple both hard and soft from local lumbermills, tree removal, and firewood piles.

Al

Al, that is one killer Coco drop top and awesome electric, love the headstock too! would you recommend Cocobolo being used as a top on an acoustic? I it maple that is used for the back?

Very nice!

Serge

Mattia and Tony, excellent work from you guys also!

Serge

Serge Cocobolo is one of the densest of woods. As a top for an acoustic, it would probably be deader than a rock, but it sure makes a nice back and side set. Also makes good bridge, and fretboard.

Al

Thanks Al, i look fw to build ME one of these one day so your advice will be followed my friend, thanks!

SergeSerge Poirier38852.0172916667

Thanks guys

Tony - see, proof positive that a waterbased finish can work fine; that's Target USL (StewMac Colortone) over shellac sealer. Still, going to try KTM next, because it's not *quite* as hard as I'd like it to be...

I used that stuff on four guitars - always looked bluish on the darker woods, and if you ever rubbed thru, its strip it all off and start over. Too much work compared to nitro for me, and it doesnt look the same side by side. But looks like you had it down on that one.

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Never saw the blue tint, and while I'd do nitro if I could (it does look a little better, and it's more pleasant to rub out, somewhat), I'll settle for waterbased stuff until I can set up a semi-decent spray booth.

I've got half a mind to go annoy the auto repair place down in the village my folks live in in Italy. Tiny village, but huge repair/respray center, up to code and everything, and I'm fairly sure we know someone who's family of someone who lives there. Now, to see if I could get in there and use it for a small fee...hmm...

Mattia: I don't know if anyone would complain where you live, but I spray nitro outside all the time. I just prep everything, and step outside the shop door to spray. I do get an occasional bug, but they sand out with no problem.

Al

Al: right now, I live in an urban environment. In a city, fourth floor. I can just about get away with spraying out the window at the end of the hall, and I've done one Nitro guitar with some protection and a fan, but the stench permeates the building, so it's entirely unfeasible. Might be a bit better at the new house, which has the garden opening onto a courtyard that nobody seems to use, ever, so...

Mattia: I understand. I live in small town USA, but I spent 30 years in a city. Life is more laid back here.

Al