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Some things just feel really, really good.

Going to back to school had more of an impact on my building than I
thought. I have four hours between student teaching and an evening full
of classes, but I rarely feel up to working on my acoustic before there's
not enough time. But today I had nothing to outline. No papers to start.
No library to spend the morning in. And it led to a notching the sides for
the back and laying them on top...which felt really really good. This thing
might turn out afterall.

James, its looking great!!

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

It certainly looks good from here, nice lines.

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Michael Lloyd

“I was born to ignorance, yes, and lesser poverties ...
I was born to privilege that I did not see ... I didn’t know it, but my way was paved” – John Gorka

Alright James! Lookin' good brother!

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

Yeah, I'd feel good about that too, James.
Noticed different species on upper and lower linings.
I've done that as well, but would welcome your thoughts on this.

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Thanks guys!

Steve, I wish I had an intelligent reason. I have spruce and mahogany
linings. I thought spruce would do well against the spruce top, and
mahogany would do well against the mahogany. Why have you done it?

Hesh, my top and back/sides both came from Bob as well. I'm REALLY
looking forward to hearing the outcome! I have a great neck from John
ready and waiting    

Something about mahogany. Nice work, it just looks like it will sound great.

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Thank You and Best To All

Outstanding work James! Clean!

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

Thanks, Larry! Thanks, Billy! I was about to point out some things I wish
were a bit cleaner, but realized it totally misses the point of the
compliment

I'm going to notch the rim for the soundboard today.

James-
I think it's pretty amazing that you are going to school full-time and also finding any time to work on the guitar.
It looks good- lots of little steps and it will get done- ya gotta believe!!
John

[QUOTE=James Orr] Thanks, Larry! Thanks, Billy! I was about to point out some things I wish
were a bit cleaner, but realized it totally misses the point of the
compliment

I'm going to notch the rim for the soundboard today. [/QUOTE]

Your going to love that combination of woods!

One tip I'd give for the future that I find really helpful, do the notches for the top before putting the back on. That way you have access to the inside of the box. It took me ten guitars to work this out and life has been a lot easier since!

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Looking great and neat James, feels good when we get enough time to concentrate on the tasks at hand!

Keep up the good work!

Nice James. I hope mine looks that good in a few weeks. I noticed you used wider braces for the lower bought rather than tall braces. I plan on doing the same. I like the way they look. thanks for the pics.

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nay

My blogs
Hand Made Gutar
Woodworker++

[QUOTE=James Orr]

Steve, I wish I had an intelligent reason. I have spruce and mahogany linings. I thought spruce would do well against the spruce top, and mahogany would do well against the mahogany. Why have you done it?

[/QUOTE]

James, the times I've mixed species were probably due to a comment made by Richard Hoover of Santa Cruz guitars. He stated that he thought the use of Basswood would be of benefit around the top. His reason was that Basswood was the closest thing he could find to a tonally inert wood. In other words, he was hoping to decouple the top from the sides. Didn't want any of the top's vibration dissipating into and through the sides.
Of course, that's not an exact quote, but I do think it's close to his reason. So I tried that for a few.
It's easy to use mahogany (or whatever) for the back, and Basswood for the top. Does it work? I dunno. Too many other variables, and my building skills seem to be in a constant state of flux. So I'm unable to pinpoint any identifiable result from this one change.

I have used Basswood for maple-bodied guitars just because I liked the light-on-light look.
Lately it's all been Spanish Cedar just because I like the smell.

Sorry for all these words that say so very little.

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

James, sorry I'm late! That looks fantastic my friend! I really love that shape... nice sensual lines. Your worksmanship looks top drawer as well!!!

I'm really looking forward to the finished product, so, string her up already!!!

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

James, very nice looking work you've done! I think you'll love the mahogany/italian combination.

BTW, do you intend to put a back reinforcement strip in there?

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Hey guys

Thanks a bunch, still! I don't plan on putting a back strip, though I may
order one from LMI tomorrow if I decide to change my mind. What would
you recommend?

My enthusiasm was turned on again as soon as I realized how close I am.
I'm notching the the rim for the top right now. The pic just has the rim
layed over the back, but it isn't glued. My goal is to get it glued on by the
time the evening is over. If I go with a back strip, I'll use hide glue and
lay the strips inbetween the braces by hand.

Alain, it's pretty close to a Traugott R shape, but not an exact knock off.
The lines that go to the waste from the lower bout are a bit less curvy,
though just by an 1/8" per side at the apex of the curve.

I'm really happy with the wood combo. I really like euro tops, and John
Mayes recommended the Italian to me. The mahogany and spruce are
both from BobC. I like the tone of euro quite a bit. It's a lot like adi in my
opinion, but just with some of the sharpness shaved off the initial string
attack.

Thanks again!

Looking good James!

Nice and clean work. Also really like the body shape.
Is that your own design?

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Christopher C. Cordle
North Muskegon, MI

http://www.yardsaleunderwear.com
http://www.facebook.com/christopher.cordle

Beautiful James! I love that Mahogany.

Blake

Looks great James

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Say what you do, Do what you say.

Thanks guys!

I glued the back on yesterday and hope to glue the top on this evening.

I wish it were totally my own shape. It's so similar to a Traugott R that I
can't even really say I modified it with too much integrity. There's an 1/8"
difference in the curves that go from the lower bout to the waste, and the
butt is flat.

Looks very nice James, there certainly is something about Mahogany, classic.

Cheers

Kim

Right on James! Just exactly who is this 'Traugott' you're talking about?

... I'm kidding of course! Did you have access to a true live Traugott to make tracings?

I'm looking forward to see this baby come together!

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...