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Another baby leaves the nest
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Author:  Dave White [ Sun Dec 18, 2005 8:05 am ]
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I thought I'd share some pictures of a my latest "baby" that was delivered today. Not in the league of many of the fine guitars posted here but I am pleased with it.

I posted some time back on my "Slim Jim" guitar that was designed by the guitar muse Serendipity, and ended up about an inch narrower in depth at the lower bout than I originally intended. The guitar is actually deepest at the waist at 3 7/8" and drops to 3 5/8" at both the neck and heel block. I was very excited with the tap tone of this one and it has come out of the blocks with the best sound of any that I have made so far . It has the balance and projection I was expecting with some really fat trebles and a nice mids/bass, but as I suspected, the narrower body gives it some extra "punch" which sits really nicely wit Clapton type bluesey numbers.

The guitar was made for Jim Boner, the son of a good friend of mine and already a mean guitar player.

This is the guitar in their kitchen:







Here's Jim taking it through some "Kitchen Blues":



And here's the guitar next to the 13 fret join "Butterfly" guitar I made for his dad in March (Euro spruce/African Blackwood):



Some vital statistix of Slim Jim:

Top European spruce, back and sides Cuban mahogany, curly Koa binding with bits of snakewood here and there. Macassar ebony pinless bridge.

Laminated neck of mahogany/brazilian rw/ sycamore, braz, mahogany with a London plane heel and ebony front and back veneer.

Scale length 655mm (25.75")
Lower bout 16 1/8"
Waist 9"
Upper bout 11 3/4"

Venetian cutaway and side soundport

French polish with thin Tru-oil coats on top, Tru-oil neck.

The sound port works really well with the narrower depth body and I will definitely be exploring this design further.
Author:  RussellR [ Sun Dec 18, 2005 8:10 am ]
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She's a beauty Dave.

I'm sure it is the league, I have heard and seen your guitars .

How does it sound in comparison to the Cuban one you made for Mark ?

Author:  BlueSpirit [ Sun Dec 18, 2005 9:22 am ]
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My those are some pretty guitars. I reaaly like the sound port. I'm not familiar at all with how this is done. When do you cut the port. Before or after the bend?
She sure is a beauty.
Author:  BruceH [ Sun Dec 18, 2005 9:40 am ]
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Nice work, Dave! That Cuban is really pretty. Never built with it, but I've got a Cuban dred in the mold now.
Author:  Mark Swanson [ Sun Dec 18, 2005 10:14 am ]
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That looks good dave! it's funny, you make a Slim Jim and I make a Fat Boy!
Author:  WalterK [ Sun Dec 18, 2005 10:56 am ]
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Hi Dave...
Beautiful workmanship Brother.
I like the shape of the 2nd guitar.
Outstanding combination of contrasting woods.

Congrat's!!!!
Keep em coming!!!
Best of Luck!!

Walter
Author:  Shane Neifer [ Sun Dec 18, 2005 12:09 pm ]
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Nice Pair Dave! Those are major league guitars without a doubt!

Shane
Author:  Steve Kinnaird [ Sun Dec 18, 2005 3:20 pm ]
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I'm with Bruce, that Cuban is lovely.
Nice work, thanks for posting.

Steve
Author:  Shawn [ Sun Dec 18, 2005 3:41 pm ]
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I can hear Clapton unplugged playing the blues from here...Looks great...well done
Author:  Colin S [ Sun Dec 18, 2005 9:49 pm ]
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Superb as usual Dave, lovely Cuban, I like the idea of the different wood for the heel, I've been talking to Russell about that, mmm. Tru-oil necks are definitely the way to go.

You are a truly inspiring builder.

Colin
Author:  Dave White [ Mon Dec 19, 2005 8:10 am ]
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Thanks for the kind comments.

Russell: there is a lot of similarity but as I say this one sound more puncy, focused and a little more compressed. I started by making small guitars then moved out to bigger ones but this design seems a nice compromise. I might use it to make a cedar/maple using the sets I showed you when you visited.

Doug: Tim McKnight is becoming a great expert on these an lots of other OLF'ers use them. I cut them at the end when the box is finished - partly as my bending machine doesn't give me laser precision of the sides, and I let the shapes evolve a little as I build, but mainly because I use the sides for my laminate trimmer roller to follow for the bindings and the shape around the port could turn ot "interesting". Others put the port in pre-bend and do any binding then as well.

Mark- over here there is a DJ/pop star calle "Fatboy Slim"

Bruce- You'll just love the Cuban. You can almost feel it "salsa" as you build. Works like a dream, looks great and sounds wonderful!!

Colin: definitely try the Tru-oil necks. I love them. Mind you on the Blackwood guitar in the picture, Pat and Jim had played the **** out of that guitar (which I prefer to see rather than them staying pristine) and you could tell the 3-5 fret playing dominance from the back of the neck!! Still was smooth to play and the great thing is you can re-sand and recoat with more Tru-oil very easily.
Author:  Colin S [ Mon Dec 19, 2005 9:00 pm ]
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[QUOTE=Dave White]

Colin: definitely try the Tru-oil necks. I love them. Mind you on the Blackwood guitar in the picture, Pat and Jim had played the **** out of that guitar (which I prefer to see rather than them staying pristine) and you could tell the 3-5 fret playing dominance from the back of the neck!! Still was smooth to play and the great thing is you can re-sand and recoat with more Tru-oil very easily.[/QUOTE]

Dave, the Tru oil and sealer is on my shelf as we speak, thanks for the tip on this one. I've used it on gun stocks for years and my brain never clicked into using it for necks! I like a guitar to develop a patina of use, not dings and scratches that just shows misuse, but I like the grimy rosewood fingerboard and the worn finish on the neck. They are musical instruments whose only real purpose is to be played they should wear their history with pride.

Colin
Author:  John Kinnaird [ Mon Dec 19, 2005 10:52 pm ]
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Good looking guitar Dave. I am interested in that tru-oil finiish myself.

BTW, I think that table is pretty sharp too?

John
Author:  Tim McKnight [ Tue Dec 20, 2005 12:22 am ]
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Great job Dave! I like the end graft with two different woods. How did you like the sound port? Kinda like a mini monitor in stereo, eh?

I've got my first Cuban in the works now and I am anxious to hear what all of the hoopla is all about ;)Tim McKnight38706.350162037
Author:  Dave White [ Tue Dec 20, 2005 1:14 am ]
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Tim,

This is the 3rd sideport I've done and it has done the same on all 3 - a baritone, a 12 fretter and now this one. It is like a monitor but to my ear I'm hearing more of the bass and mids. To some people it is an instant effect, and to others it sort of creeps up on you and they only notice when you close the port up again. I'm a definite fan.

Let me know how the Cuban turns out. I think you will like it.
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