Hello all, my name is Brad Tucker, and I have been lurking here for almost a year now. 

I guess I should introduce myself first.  I am a full time flight paramedic in Georgia, and I began building guitars as a hobby about a year ago.  My father used to build mandolins, and he has had customers like Wayne Benson, Doyle Lawson, and others in the world of bluegrass.  We both decided to build ourselves 2 guitars about a year ago, and I just haven't stopped!  I am currently on #'s 12 and 13, all steel string.  One thing I have learned is that no 2 are alike.  One might go together like a dream, and the next one may be a nightmare. I assume that I am not the only one with gremlins in my shop! 

I have really gleaned quite a bit of great information here,  and I just would like to say thank you to all you guys who post your experiences, both good and bad.  Goodness knows how many lurkers you guys have helped without knowing it ( Z-pozy comes to mind for me).  Several of you guys appear to truly be artists.  As for myself, maybe a craftsman, but no artist!

Anyway, I just thought I would pop in and tell you guys "howdy".  Well, that last coat of nitro should be dry enough now for another coat, so back to the shop!! (I think you would even have to add retarder to polyurethane here in GA )

Man, dial up....This is pretty much what I have been doing.  The one on the right is the first one I made.  We call it "Old Yeller" because the "gold" I was shooting for didn't exactly come out like I wanted.  The one in the middle is a clear top, no toner.  The picture doesn't show it off well, but all tops are ARS and that one has "curl" to the grain...well quartered wood.  The one on the left is my first sunburst herringbone.  All so far all have been EIR sides and back.  I am spraying a mahogany herringbone today.  That thing has been a real pain, because alcohol based wood dye + ivoroid binding = I need to find a better way! 

As you can see, I have yet to put too much originality in them, hence the difference between artist and craftsman.  I think the fanciest one I have done (and I can't find the pics) was a gold top herringbone bound one with abalone snowflake inlay in the FB and bridge.  I know you can't tell much by the pics, but I am always open to constructive criticism.

I may catch up with Hesh....unless he starts spending less time cleanin' up his shop!

Bruce, I'll see if I can get a mando pic.  He's got #4 with him now, out on the ol' bluegrass festival circuit, just left today for Hoboken GA, I think. One day I'm going to get him back into mandos at least long enough to show me his secrets

Glad to see some dread guys here...I haven't seen many classical guitars on the bluegrass stages. Don, if you like dreads here's a pic you are gonna like: 

Me holding  '41 and '44 HD-28's...I was as nervous as a cat in a rocking chair factory holding those things!

[QUOTE=Bruce Dickey]Brad, Were there any rattlesnake rattles in those 28's?

Seems like everyone I pick up around here has 'em.

Yeah, Colin would of course make a D18 mahogany... If he could.      And top it with Euro spruce... [/QUOTE]

Funny you mention that....I didn't notice, but my father has one he made about 20 years ago, and it has one.  If I come across them again, I'll check.