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Pictures of my FIRST (almost done)
http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10102&t=5630		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  Alain Desforges [ Tue Mar 14, 2006 4:13 am ]
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Although I didn't want to post pictures until it was completed (so as to not jinx myself), I've decided to share my progress with you all here at the forum since I know you all like pictures. I'm in the final sanding stages now and she's about ready for the paint booth (not that the pictures show this).

So she's made out of curly cherrywood (from Steve at Colonial) with EIR binding/trim. The top is bearclaw Sitka from Alaska Specialty woods. The fb and bridge are Mad Rose. The rosette is Koa.

I free-handed her on a work board and she was bent by hand over a hot pipe. I sure wish I could of had the benefit of everyone's wisdom here on the forum. I could of saved myself some major headaches.

Note: I just put a little wash coat of Super Blond shellac on some of the pics to 'pop' the grain.









Note: I hadn't planed on using the 'rope' purfling but a slip of the router while doing the channels sort of forced me to fill in a gap. I'm not overly fond of it, but that's the way the cookie crumbled, I guess. Thanks for looking.Alain Desforges38790.5348611111
Author:  CarltonM [ Tue Mar 14, 2006 4:22 am ]
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Alain,

I think I'm not alone here in saying that I like seeing work-in-progress. "Shiney and showroom-fresh" guitars are great, but we want to see how they got that way; so thanks for the look! BTW, I think the purfling is lookin' pretty cool!
Author:  Michael Dale Payne [ Tue Mar 14, 2006 4:22 am ]
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Love that purfling
Author:  Cocephus [ Tue Mar 14, 2006 4:32 am ]
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Gotta love that cherry! I`m in agreement with Carlton about seing work in progress. That also helps the builder get a little critique and suggestions before things get too far along.
Slip of the router? Nah, you planned the purfling like that didn`t ya?
Author:  Wayne Clark [ Tue Mar 14, 2006 4:34 am ]
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Nice work and nice wood.

What are you doing on the headstock?
Author:  Alain Desforges [ Tue Mar 14, 2006 4:54 am ]
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Thanks guys for your comments. I guess I'm gaining an appreciation for the purfling. I just hadn't planed it that way and every time I look at it, I'm just reminded of the error that caused the modification. I guess I should be happy it(router) didn't slip any further!

Wayne, the headstock has a EIR veneer with a simple b/w/b purfling around it (I finished that off last night, actually). I was going to leave it bare, but found it too plain looking.Alain Desforges38790.5386458333
Author:  peterm [ Tue Mar 14, 2006 4:55 am ]
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Great job for a first!!

If thats a first I wonder how number 2 and up would look like!

Keep it up
Author:  Alain Desforges [ Tue Mar 14, 2006 4:59 am ]
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Here's a peak at number two's rosette. Koa on Adi.

Author:  Serge Poirier [ Tue Mar 14, 2006 5:08 am ]
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Hey Bud, i know i've seen her up close already and gave you my appreciation back then but let me tell ya this, you can be really proud of what you have done so far, you have a natural talent for the craft and i sure can't wait to play it after you gave her her first chords! She's just awesome!

Wa to go, keep it up Alain!
Author:  Alain Desforges [ Tue Mar 14, 2006 5:19 am ]
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Hesh, with all those curves, she's a lady for sure... I like to call her Aphrodite...

Here's the only pic I have of the bridge at the moment but I'll get some close-ups tonight.

Serge, thanks for you kind words buddy.

Author:  Bobc [ Tue Mar 14, 2006 5:27 am ]
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Alain that looks fantastic my friend. What a gorgeous piece of cherry. Your going to love the sound of this one.
Author:  Wes McMillian [ Tue Mar 14, 2006 5:28 am ]
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Not fond of the rope purfling? I love it! Many of the best ideas throughout history came out of mistakes.

Beautiful wood and execution. I may do a wood rosette on #2.

Looks like a keeper to me! Just wait til that feeling you get when you hit that first chord! If you're not hooked already you will be then!
Author:  Bruce Dickey [ Tue Mar 14, 2006 5:47 am ]
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Excellent work, pretty woods.

The bridge design is very original looking and interesting.

Thanks for sharing it.
Author:  Dave Rector [ Tue Mar 14, 2006 5:52 am ]
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Alain, she looks pretty sweet to me! I think the rope binding looks great. Love that bridge too!

Wish my 10th looked that good, build more please.
Author:  Dave Anderson [ Tue Mar 14, 2006 6:03 am ]
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Very nice work Alain! That bridge kind of looks like a bird   in a way sort of you know? I like it a lot! I like the cherrywood too. The purfling is cool and great job on the cutaway.
Author:  Steve Kinnaird [ Tue Mar 14, 2006 6:47 am ]
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Alain, I too like the rope purfling.
In fact, I like it so well, I'd be tempted to rout out the existing rosette and install a rope rosette to match the purfling.   

Steve
Author:  RussellR [ Tue Mar 14, 2006 7:28 am ]
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Alain

You have done a really beautiful Job there, Love the wood choices, very nice rosette and the purfling sits nicely to me.

Inspired choice of Bridge and Fingerboard Material, I Love Madrose, for its look, feel and acoustic properties, thats going to be a very fine guitar.
Author:  Daniel M [ Tue Mar 14, 2006 7:36 am ]
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I am constantly amazed at the quality of work done by "first timers". I built 10 instruments before I got brave enough for cutaways & mitred purflings.
Beautiful work Alain!
Author:  Anthony Z [ Tue Mar 14, 2006 9:11 am ]
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C'est tres bien mon ami! That purfling looks awesome -- hmmm hmmm!
Author:  old man [ Tue Mar 14, 2006 9:49 am ]
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Way to go, Alain. I love it. I'm a cherry man myself. One down, two and three in progress, also from Steve at Colonial.    Beautiful guitar!

Ron
Author:  WalterK [ Tue Mar 14, 2006 10:31 am ]
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NICE WORKMANSHIP ALAIN.
KEEP US POSTED UNTIL COMPLETED.
THANKS.
WALTER
Author:  Andy Zimmerman [ Tue Mar 14, 2006 10:36 am ]
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Beautiful
It is just amazing the quality of first guitars!!!
BTW where did you get the rope purfling
Andy
Author:  Alain Desforges [ Tue Mar 14, 2006 11:54 am ]
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Thanks everyone for your kind words of encouragement. It sure means a lot to me coming from all you builders, people who know how hard and demanding it is to put one of these things together.

Hesh, that small soundhole is a new desing I'm working on to eliminte feed-back in live high volume situations.

Dave, a few guitar fanatic friends of mine have likened the bridge to a bird in flight! I can only hope she sounds like an angel!

Steve, don't tempt me. I've thought about routing out that rosette and doing something else. If I could be sure to register dead-centre, I probably would...

Bob, I've never even heard a cherrywood guitar so I have abosolutely no idea how it will sound (or how one of my guitars will sound, for that matter!) I hear great things about it, though.

Andy, that purfling comes from LMI (BI13) under marquetry purfling. However, I did order some (PF16), what they call their 4 color purfling. The 16 is almost twice the price but looks ten times better, in my opinion. I can post some pics of the two for comparison (or I can e-mail you the pic) if you're interested. It was all luck because on the LMI site, there are no pictures (just a b/w diagram) of these purflings. Shane has some wiked 'coral snake' purfling as well...

   Thanks again folks. Off to the shop I go!
Author:  BlueSpirit [ Tue Mar 14, 2006 12:36 pm ]
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Very nice work, Alain. The rosette is especially beautiful.
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