Official Luthiers Forum!

Just want to say thanks to all for providing knowledge and inspiration over the past months of my 'lurking around' on this forum. I've just finished staining and sealing a wonderful kit of a 0-16NY replica from John at Blues Creek Guitars.

As a first-timer, many of the processes have been intimidating from the sense of 'Jeez, if I slip with this, I'll really screw up a lot of work!' Well, as with most new things, its the first step that is the most difficult, the rest is just putting one foot in front of the other. This is a really great site that haas helped keep my feet pointed in a mostly right direction (wobbling has been of my own accord! )

It's afar cry from perfect, but here is a shot of the box with stain (Minwax red mahogany) and seal (1# cut shellac).




--Jim

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Jim Howell
Charlotte, NC

Looks good to me Jim. It seems that as soon as you think you're beyond that feeling of 'Jeez, if I slip with this, I'll really screw up a lot of work!' is when you do. Luthery keeps you humble that's for shure.
Congrats on a job well done!

Looks terrific Jim, bet you can't wait to sting her up. Is the neck done yet??

Cheers

Kim

Great job so far Jim. I can only hope that my first looks as good.

Regards,
Pete

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Peter

Jim,

Great looking guitar! I really like your choice of body style, I love those small guitars. I am learning that perfect is not possible, you just hide the mistakes, so welcome aboard.   

Keep us posted, I think it is going to be a great guitar.

Jeff

Looking good Jim! Keep the pics coming!

Oh, BTW, welcome to the OLF!

-Mark

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Pullman, WA

The more I know, the more I know I don't know.

trippguitars.com
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Looks fantastic so far.
I'm looking forward to seeing more of it...

I'm starting to really takie a shining to small bodies guitars. I fell in love with the size 5 at the ASIA Symposium, and of course there was Vivian Ecker's amazing OO that got me itching to build one of those.

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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."

Jim that is looking great. Is that tortis binding and end graft? cool

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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

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Thank you all for your kind words. The bindings are tortis as is the end graft and heel cap. It will deviate from the Martin by having a 1 3/4" nut, pyramid bridge and 'diamond and square' abalone fret markers. The fretboard is inlayed and I'm working on the neck set this coming week.

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Jim Howell
Charlotte, NC

Very nicely done! Keep up the great work.

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"Building guitars looks hard, but it's actually much harder than it looks." Tom Buck

That is GREAT!!

Looks pretty perfect from here!!

I know the feeling one has when you spend good money on tonewoods...you want to treat them with kid gloves...

Nice work, Jim! Stay patient--you'll be glad you did.

Looks great indeed!

Lets see the whole thing!

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

looks good so far! Can't wait to see the finished product.

Very well done Jim. I'll echo the binding comment. Those look nice and tight! Looking forward to seeing more pics!

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

Hi Jim!

Welcome to OLF

This IS the right place to get all your questions answered.

I'm excited about what you have completed to date! Please keep us posted and make sure to include pics

Nice start Jim! Keep up the good work!

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Joe Breault
Merrimack, NH
Perpetual novice

Great job Jim , it really looks neat from what i see, you seem to be doing well on the learning curve so keep it up my Man and send more pics of your progress as ya go please!

Yes, stay patient, it really pays on the long run! Serge Poirier38929.5114814815

Great job, Jim! Sure, it ain't perfect. Where's the fun in that? If we could all crank out perfect guitars, we'd probably get bored real quick.

I love the Tortis bindings with mahogany and spruce coming through. I made the mistake of not "backing" my bindings over dark EIR with light wood. Next time!

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com