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Here we finally go. The unveiling of #1. The whole reason I started setting up shop in the first place and the first thing I've ever built with wood that didn't require nails or screws . Seriously, until I started this my hands had never held a plane or wood chisel. Even though I put my name on the headstock, think of this as the guitar y'all built. Never could have done it without you guys!

Here's the scoop: Honduran mahogany, SITKA, BLUEGRASS DREAD! There, I said it and I'm not taking it back ! Built from scratch from the Stew Mac herringbone plan with a few deviations. Namely no popscicle brace (replaced with Proulx style neck bracing), a couple of minor liberties taken with bracing, drop-in through saddle (also stolen - I mean, borrowed - from Mario. Thanks! Oh, wait...hey Mario, can I borrow your saddle design? ) now glued in after the bridge crack fiasco. I'll replace this soon. Bone nut and saddle, slotted and ramped MadRose belly bridge (and fingerboard), small maple bridge plate, oak bindings, nitro finish, HHG used throughout. Figgered if I was gonna learn this stuff, I may as well start out right then I won't have to relearn later!

Some more firsts for me:
1. First inlay
2. First bound fretboard (bound w/cutoff strips from the fretboard, unbound look but those ugly fret ends are covered up)
3. First mitered purfling

The good news is I made all my mistakes on this one, so the next one will have to be perfect!

I'll try to get better pictures later. I ran the batteries out in my camera trying to get some good ones under the size limit and have to let 'em recharge.

Oh, and how's it sound? Some seriously strong bass going on here. Loud and rumbly, but crystal clear. The trebles are already coming around pretty nicely, too, and becoming much more balanced the longer I play it. I can't wait to get some break-in time on this baby! She'll get her public unveiling Friday at a local bluegrass jam.

This has been a blast! Wish I could say I'm starting on #2, but we're buying another house, so guess what I'll be doing the next few weeks. First thing when I get settled is to start on a shop. #2 is gonna be a rosewood OM (I think)as a gift for a friend in GA I used to play in a band with doing a lot of local music ministries. He doesn't know about it yet.

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Wes McMillian
Santo, TX
http://www.wesmcmillian.com

Beautiful guitar. Nice work. Wouldn't be able to tell its your first at all.
-j.

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“If God dwells inside us like some people say, I sure hope He likes enchiladas, because that's what He's getting”
-jack handy

Very impressive! Congratulations and welcome to the club!

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

Hi Wes,

Wow, beautiful guitar! The mitering of the purfling (? un sure of the correct term) is very impressive.

The oak binding compliments the mahogany very well; very insightful choice.


I like the headstock inlay also.

Keep up the good work.

Pete

WOW WES ! I can see that you had one of the finest coaches on Dreads, she really is to die for, you sure gotta be proud of that baby! One question it seems nobody dares to ask, how did you feel when you strung her up for the first time, strummed your first notes and heard the first notes?

No need to answer that one as we could understand what a personnal and magical moment it was! I'm very hapy for your success, it is the reward of patience, wisdom and humbleness. Good on ya cowboy!

Serge

Superb first effort! Very nice. How was she bent? Did you have a booth for the Nitro? The finish looks awesome...

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

Very nice. Let us know how the debutant's ball goes.

Excellant job! I really like it...Everything

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Fantastic job! Very clean execution for a first, and you tried some really difficult things like mitered purflings, inlay, and hide glue. Can't wait to see your next project
Tracy

Excellent! I really like that volute!
Now I truly understand your dilema with the bridge.

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Give me 50 cents worth of regular.
Check my oil too, if you don`t mind,,,

Awesome Job Wes...I only hope my first is worthy of the same room as yours!!

Shane

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Canada

Without exception that is a great first guitar, certainly worthy of the time and effort required to replace the cracked madrose bridge with BRW as Mario suggest.

Well done

Congratulations on a great looking guitar. My standard question, "How's it sound?"

Great inlays too. You did your homework and made the guitar a complete success. Good JOB.   

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

Very nice indeed Wes! Ive never seen Oak bindings, they look great!

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Support the OLF! Bookmark our STEWMAC link Today!
Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Thanks for the kind words, guys. This has been an experience, to say the least.

BTW, the ever popular white oak bindings also came from a pic of one of Mario's I saw once. I loved the look. (Gee, I'm starting to feel guilty...what do I owe you, Mario?

Alain, I built a bending form for this one. Basic MDF covered in stainless, heat blanket and stainless shim stock cut for slats. I broke the first set of sides (which actually looked much better than these) and had to replace 'em. I confess, I didn't spray in a booth. I sprayed in my garage with a pedestal fan at the door drawing a draft. Don't yell at me, y'all! I felt comfortable with the concentrations (and wore a respirator), but I do intend to set up a dedicated spray room in my next shop. In fact, someone has offered to give me an old house to be moved which would be perfect - rooms already divided for rough work, clean/setup area, finishing room... Could me moved and set up cheaper than building one by far and already be wired, doors, windows, plumbing if I want it. I also built my owns jigs, forms, molds, binding jig, etc.

The entire thing was sprayed with a Preval. Actually worked pretty doggone good! The finish actually looked much better before I scratched it up doing the setup. Another thing I'll have - a dedicated, padded setup area. I did have a problem sanding through and had to reshoot a couple of areas. Even after the last finishing, there are still some area that need to be touched up. I'm almost afraid to touch it, seems like it gets worse every time! I'm still very pleased with the outcome.

Kinda the same thing with the purfling. The miters, if I do say so myself in my super-humble opinion, were about as perfect as they could be. But, lesson learned (take note on this), make sure at least the ends to be mitered are close to level BEFORE you try to miter. Mine were proud and when I took them down level, some gaps showed up.

The "pseudo" - volute. Well, it is what it is. Once I started carving, that's what I wound up with. If fact, I got carried away carving the wings too far up the headstock and the tuner backs overhung the carved area. The tuners, you can see (OK, I know everbody will scrooollll back up now ) are actually shifted forward toward the end of the headstock to get a flat surface to attach.

Again, this thing's sounding better every time I play it! I love that bass rumble in your chest. And the trebles are getting louder and cleaner every day! And LOUD! That was the first thing my wife said - "It's a lot louder than your other one". She always knows the right thing to say!

Did I mention I love dreads! Sorry, guys, hope you'll still accept me!

I love dreads, I love dreads, I love dreads... That should be my new user name.

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Wes McMillian
Santo, TX
http://www.wesmcmillian.com

Love your guitar. It is very stylish from the inlayed headstock to the beautiful end graft. You did one heck of a job.

Oh, and I really like the diamond on the back of the neck. It is much nicer in my opionion than the standard Martin fare....

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

NICE WORK!

a few more pics. My batteries got recharged and the camera cooled off so I could hold it again without gloves, so here goes...

A little bearclaw action, also showing the drop in/through saddle.


Back and endgraft showing my flubbed miter. It looked really good before I levelled it...promise!


Closeup of headstock. The flame actually had a lot more red before I sanded it. It looked really cool with a line up the middle and the right half kinda red.


12th fret inlay


One thing I failed to mention was the Tru-oil neck. First time using this stuff, I really like it!

And here you can see the bound fingerboard along with the still way-too-high action. As soon as I get up from here I'm going to take the saddle down quite a bit. Nut action and neck relief are almost perfect now.


OK, I'll stop for now. Thanks for being patient with me. I mean, my kids are grown and I don't have grandkids yet, so I've got to have something to show off!

Now just to get some wallet sized pics, that's the ticket! "Awww, and here's her first chord!"

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Wes McMillian
Santo, TX
http://www.wesmcmillian.com

Great job!! Love the headstock inlay! Keep up with the great work!
GB

Peter

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

Beautiful job, Wes. I knew the neck was tru-oil as soon as I saw it, looks just like mine. I love it, too.

I also like the drain hole in the bottom so you can play in the rain. I've only seen that on top of the line guitars.    

I also love dreads! But, when I finish the two I'm working on now, I'm gonna make an OM for my brother.

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

Wes you are both a brave and skilled fellow for attempting and so successfully appointing that guitar so well.

As for borrowing a few ideas from Mario -- hey if you are going to borrow -- borrow from the best!

[QUOTE=westex93] I love dreads... That should be my new user name.[/QUOTE]
DreadLove! Really nice work, Wes. Now, Ron thinks that the end-graft hole is for drainage, but, of course, in truth it's a stealth sound-port--so the banjo player can hear you!