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Hey Guys,

Here are a couple of in-progress pics of number three. I was really surprised how this wood changed from dull grays to nice browns with a wash coat of shellac.

Pretty combination. I like how the dark bindings contrast with the variagated striping of the back and sides.

Should come out very nice!!!

Send photos of progress

Nice wood . Is that koa? I`ve got some but I`ve never done anything with it. That wii be a nice looking instrument!

Almost looks like pecan??

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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."

Is it Myrtlewood?

I especially like the end graft. Lovely job!

Shane

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Canada

Bruce..very nice job. And I agree with Shane, that end graft is very tastefully done. What wood will you use for the neck ? Walnut maybe ??? Can't wait to see the finished product.

Palo Escrito?

It sure looks like Zebrano (Zebrawood) to me. And it looks great!

Dennis

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Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

my guess is Palo Escrito as well.. nice job

Nice!

Doesn't look nearly 'rich' and variegated enough for Zebrano to me, though; Zebrano I've got has more darker/golden shades and streaks running through it, even unfinished.

im betting its PauFerro - nice job by the way!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Thanks for the compliments, guys. It's South American Laurel. It's a great wood to work with. Bends like butter and very resistant to chipping or splitting. It's light and resonant and reminds me a lot of eastern walnut.

Unfortunately, this one is going to wind up being rather plain looking. I 'm building it to be a work horse. It's mission is to be the guitar that I leave laying around the house so that I can grab it, play as the mood strikes, and not worry about beating it up. As such, I'm just going to leave the pores open and wipe it down with 5 or 6 coats of Tru-Oil. Then again, I may try french polishing it...

I'm also experimenting with an adjustable neck, so I don't want to have too much time invested if (when?) the thing folds up

Jeff - I'm going to use a Honduran mahogany neck. If it's not dark enough, maybe I'll stain it.

Owwwwwwwwwwwweeeee....Yes French polish it that Larual will come alive even more. It's a good bit of work but a good protective finish is what is is screaming for

Bruce,

How about the specs on this beauty?

Box size, scale, etc...

thanks,

JC

Real nice Bruce,
No matter what wood it is.
Got to love that bright tan.

Wade

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Wade
Nashua, NH
http://www.wadefx.com

JC- Specs are:
Lower bout 13"
Upper bout 9 5/8"
Waist 7 1/4
Length 19"
Depth at neck 3 5/8
Depth at tail 4 1/4
Scale 24 27/32   
12 fret neck

Michael - I'd really like to FP it, but I don't know if I have the time to claw my way up the learning curve right now. Reckon you could swing by and give me a few lessons? Southern Ohio is real pretty in the fall

Bruce--if it's a beater, then finish it in polyurethane. Heck, just pour on some of that liquid decoupage goo that is also used on bartops and restaurant tables.   


P.S. Where does one get South American Laurel?
It's pretty.
Steve Kinnaird38596.8975578704

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Steve- Thanks for the tip about the bartop finish. Do you apply it with a roller? I just wish they made truck bed liner in clear.

Anyway, I got the SA Laurel from Grant Goltz. He posts over on the luthierforum.com. If you want, I can dig up his email for you.   

[QUOTE=BruceH] Steve- Thanks for the tip about the bartop finish. Do you apply it with a roller? I just wish they made truck bed liner in clear.

[/QUOTE]

I think you just dip the guitar in a vat of the stuff. It's best if you block up the soundhole first.

Very striking guitar and nice choice on the binding.

John

Shame on you guys! "Pore it on, Dip it " That`s a nice piece of work! It deserves a good finish! Even a plain Jane needs a little lipstick!

Bruce. Buy some Zinnzer's Seal Coat 100% wax free sanding sealer. It is a wax free shellac and alcohol pre-mix. Paint on 3 coats a day using a foam brush. After each coat allow to harden to the touch. get a old white t-shirt and some DA and make spriting pads out of it. Wipe in a top to bottom firm motion, wet enough not to stick but not so wet that the DA will squeeze out of the pad. Always from one direction. this will level the film. Do 3 coats a day for 3 days. Allow to harden for a week. final level with more spriting sessions adding a a drop or two of virgin olive oil to the pad. Do this step till reaching the gloss you want. This is a very simple nearly French polish method and will get you use to working with the shellac. You can't mess up a French polish or wax free shellac based finish because it can always and at any point be reworked or corrected.

[QUOTE=Dale M] Shame on you guys! "Pore it on, Dip it " That`s a nice piece of work! It deserves a good finish! Even a plain Jane needs a little lipstick![/QUOTE]

Lipstick! What a great idea! And, as a bonus, you could change the color as often as the mood struck you!

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Michael - Thanks for the instructions. You've talked me into it.   

I've got dewaxed flakes and DA. What would be the value of using the Zinnzer over what I have and mixing my own?

none just the convenionce if you have the flakes even better.