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Well I finished my first last night, kinda feeling a bit numb now (is this normal?). At some point last night my woodwork project became a musical instrument. I'm really pleased with how it turned out, far better than I imagined it would when I started. It's not perfect, but then I don't supose many first guitars are. Well, the details:

Built as per Cumpiano, with the addition of a cutaway that was described in Benedetto's book - adapted for a flat top. The top is AA sitka that has started to look a little streaky since it was finished (not that I mind). Back and sides are EIR, the binding is New Guinea Rosewood. Neck is Brazilian Mahogany. It sounds marvelous, but I may be a little biased.

Very Nice.!!!

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Paul, who you trying to kid? That is an incredible looking guitar. I really like your inlay at the 12th fret and the binding looks great. Can't wait to see your second. Don A38467.0419328704

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Don Atwood
Arlington, VA

Wow, I can't believe this is your first! It is beautiful! Beautiful Rosette for a first time, and a venetian cutaway too? You must be a glutton for punishment. Great job on the miters too. I don't think mine will look this good after the 10th!
Tracy

Wow!! excellent workmanship and very tasteful.
Congrats. Can't wait to see the next 2 or 3
Keith

Good craftsmanship Paul! How about a shot of the headstock too.

Is the neck finish satin?

Paul, it looks great! Wish my first had looked as good. Then maybe number 16 would look better than it does.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Thanks for the compliments everyone.

Terry, yes it's a matt finish, ragged on. I don't know how many finishes I tested for the neck before I found one I was happy with. The one I went for is a locally made polyurethane. I simply wrapped a rag around my gloved finger, dipped it in the can and rubbed it on the neck, lost count at about 12 coats and kept going for a few more after that. Just enough to fill the pores, then lightly sanded with P400 grit and then OOOO steelwool. Feels nice and fast. The headstock isn't the worlds most original, but it was one I liked. Here's the pic:

Wow!! Blows my first guitar away. What kind of finish is on the body?

WOW! Mitred purflings, bound neck, bound headstock, shell rosette, cutaway...for a 1st guitar! This is just fantastic. Congratulations and I can't wait to see your next efforts.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Extremely nice work!
I almost feel embarrased about the work I do now...almost

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Joe Breault
Merrimack, NH
Perpetual novice

Excelent! Very nicely done! So - it may be your first guitar but WHAT ELSE HAVE YOU BUILT! Your workmenship is fantastic! Nice joints at the butt - rosette looks great! Miters are perfect! Yah like Don said Who you trying to kid! Sandbagger!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Aw shucks , thanks guys.

Colby, the finish is FP, and was a huge learning curve for me. I don't think I'll FP another one. I was once an industrial spray painter, so I'd rather use the skills I already have, and spend more time building.

Lance, yes, you're right, I've built a bunch of other stuff, four poster bed, wooden kayak, cathedral style window (the wife wanted one, and I wasn't going to pay the five grand asking price). And before I went back to school, I was a fitter machinist (after the spray painting gig), so I'm used to working with my hands to pretty close tolerances. I've had more fun building this than any other project though.

Paul,

Let me add my "Wow!" to the list. Excellent work. I'll be interested to see what you build using your native wood.

BruceH

Very elegant, tasteful. I'll bet that cathedral window is also incredible.
By the way, I found FP very therapeutic. I enjoy it,but also am not experienced at spraying.

Very nicely done Paul! Excellent workmanship! That's a pretty ambitious binding scheme for a first effort. Tasteful choice of woods & great cutaway - also rather ambitious for your first guitar. You obviously brought it all together well. Congratulations! What's next?

Skip

Thanks skip, The next one will probably be a parlor size. something to kick back with in an armchair in front of the TV.

I've got some plans for a parlor guitar from Steve Senseney over at mimf, for a no name guitar from around 1900 that he bought off ebay. I'm not entirely happy with the shape, so I'll redraw it. Actually, I think I'll change a bunch of things. Not sure what wood I'll use, depends what I find at the lumber yard next time I'm there, but it'll be an Australian timber of some decription.

Cheers,

Paul

Congratulations!! Excellent work. There is nothing that will stay with you like the memory of your first guitar. The french polish looks very good, it is worth the work and the right to say you did it.

Beautiful guitar! I seem to be building a rosewood cigarbox with all the mistakes I've made, I'm jealous! If you want to read a tragedy, go to www.6stringsocial.com.

Your guitar, however is OUTSTANDING!

Great job Paul. Very nice miters, rosette and cutaway.

Great work Paul!

I think I will have to get Benedetto's book and look up how he does a cutaway.

By the way, how did you bend the sides? Did you build a bender or go freehand?

Josh

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Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
http://www.canadianluthiersupply.com
https://www.facebook.com/canadianluthiersupply?ref=hl
House Guitars - Custom Built Acoustic Instruments.
http://www.houseguitars.com

I love it! Gorgeous, tasteful and truly inspiring for this hacker! I only wish that I could hear it. Can't wait to see your next. Congratulations.

Brendan

Paul,

Very, very nice. Share with us when you start the parlor. I would be interested to see your build process, as I want to build a parlor soon also.

Jeff

[QUOTE=Josh H]

By the way, how did you bend the sides? Did you build a bender or go freehand?

[/QUOTE]

Thank's Josh, Yeah I built a bender. I saw a web page where someone was building one, they had a blurry photo of the plans, couldn't see the measurements, but I knew how big my guitar was going to be. Once I could see how it went together and how it worked, it was easy enough. I'm just using 3 x 100W light bulbs and augmenting that with a heat gun when I need more heat. I'd go with a blanket, but I can't find any over here, and we're on 240V mains power so I can't use one of yours.

The sides were easy to bend, but I went through a lot of bookmatched binding strips that kept breaking at the cut away, until spied the hot air gun across the workshop.

Jeff, It might be a little while before I start the next. My wife reminded me last night that I'd promised to build a cabinet for the bathroom. The one she wants is (naturally) a big complicated one that retails for about $10k, which is a stupid amount of money for a piece of bathroom furniture.