Official Luthiers Forum!

Ok great fellas, this is where i'm at now:

After reducing the braces of the top, i took a second look at those of the back and decided to reduce them as well!



trimmed the excess on the top...



I was not really careful for the rotation around the box and experimented a bit of tear out at the lower bout, on each side, fortunately, i'll still be able to hide this with the purfling and binding. Stew Mac's way of routing around the box came to mind after the fact!



cut the notches to receive the back braces



and glueing the back on with HHG, i think i'm getting good at this but i'll admit that you gotta have great preparation on the box itself, the go bar rods and a steady hand to spread the glue properly to not make too much of a mess. For this, i made my glue a bit thicker than usual so it would not fall or rather drip easily down the sides, a wet rag near by and i was set...



Well folks, good news is No 3 is officially closed!!!!

WOO HOO HOO!!!!!

Here it is...



and fresh out of the mold!











Before leaving the shop tonight...





Thanks for watching

Serge

Serge, definitely a winner in the works. That combo of the cedar top - great rosette, ash sides/back with the ebony centre strip - is uniquely great beautiful.

That's the OLF-SJ n'est pas? Did you make the body deeper than the standard plan? Something tells me this one is gonna sound great and will have a solid bottom end.

        That's a big goo-goo in the top! Were you conventional cutting? I forgot are you doing a endgraft that matches the binding?

_________________
Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

I'm a SO digging that ash on the back and sides.....

Slow down Serge, how on earth are the rest of us going to keep up? Looking good my man, looking good.

Get yourself a gramil knife Serge (LMI's is good) it can save a lot of heartache, on WRC and redwood particularly, use it before you rout both for flush cutting and when cutting the binding/purfling channel to eliminate the tearout. As you say though, you should be able to cover that with binding and purfling.

I love the contrast of the Dark top with the lighter B&S. Dave White did an absolutely stunning Maple/WRC guitar, which is one that I absolutely covet. (Give it to me Dave, you know you want to!)

Dave's Samhain.

Colin

_________________
I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Looking good Serge. Man you've become a real speed demon.

_________________
Beautiful and unusual tone woods at a reasonable price.
http://www.rctonewoods.com/RCT_Store
The Zootman
1109 Military Rd.
Kenmore, NY 14217
(716) 874-1498

Coming along very nicely there Serge

I like the Ash Cedar combo as well, should look great once your done, will you be finishing with FP this time?

As Anthony mentioned, in the images, the body does look deep, especially the upper bout. Is the taper of the sides standard OLF SJ? If not, what dimensions did you decide to taper them to?

Anyhow, she looks great and should be a real powerhouse buddy, keep up the good work.

Cheers

Kim

Wow,Serge She's lookin' good.I too love that ash/cedar combo! I did the same thing on my 2nd guitar.routed in the wrong direction and chipped out a chunk.Luckily,I found the piece and glued it right back in. Colin is right on about using a Gramil from LMI. They help eliminate tear out. How are you going to finish this one Serge ??    

_________________
Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Wow! That looks awesome my friend. I really like the bracing on the back. Very very cool...

That should be quite the canon, my friend! I can't wait to try her out... so.... (you know it's coming...) String her up ALREADY!!!!

Superb progress again Sergio.... Keep up the fantastic work! (but slow down a bit... you're making me look like a slacker! )
Alain Desforges39047.3721296296

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

Hey Serge -

Did you finish your mando already, or is it set aside in favor of the guitar
at the moment?

Jay

Way to go Serge....nice work!

_________________
Brad
Avon, OH

Thanks Group of fine friends!

Anthony, i just followed Michael Payne's plan, it says 3 13/16" at the upper bout, 4 and something at the lower one, could be the angle of the camera but i will recheck my measurements for sure!

Billy, yeah, i should have slowed down right there! Yes, i'll be using ebony for the end graft as well

Sam, if you're interested by the ash, BobC still has some and at a very decent price, it bends like caramel butter and taps reaaaaly nice too!

Thanks coach Colin, i will attempt to borrow my bud Al's gramil before routing WRC for purf/bindings, definitely more easy to tear out than spruce. I'll try to slow down but ya know how it is when everything goes smooth and you're getting there , i just went with the flow and good energy and to top it all up, i had great tutelage! Oh and thanks for showing me Dave's great looking guitar, it helps a great deal to visualize the nice contrast when the guitar is completed!

Thanks Bob, i really love working this wood and will certainly order some more in the future!

Thanks Kim, i will probably finish it a la Dudenbostel, FP over varnish. The upper bout is 3 13/16" plus the top and back plates thicknessses it does look deep though from the pics angle!

Thanks Dave, will follow your advice too, not sure if i will wait for Alain's paint booth although i'd love it, i'll try the Dudenbostel way first and if it doesn't work, i'll show up at Alain's with my tools and help him build that booth!

Thanks Hesh!

Alain, have you been working overtime lately? i think i'm breathing down ya neck old pal! Thanks dude!

Jay, the mandos were set aside because this is a gift to my uncle and the learning curve in mandolin building is still huge for me but i plan on returning to the mandos during the curing stages of this build or when something is glueing so i remain busy.

Thanks Brad!

I just can't keep up with all the progress pics.

Your smokin' dude, but this is where it slows down to get everything just right.

Looking good Bud

_________________
My Facebook Guitar Page

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

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Really nice Serge! It's really getting there nicely...

_________________
"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."

Thanks Rod, it's just a figment of your imagination, i'm not that fast, really! yeah, good thing it slows down from here because this Bear is gettin' out of breath!

Thanks Don!

[QUOTE=Serge Poirier] ...and if it doesn't work, i'll show up at Alain's with my tools and help him build that booth!

[/QUOTE]

Right on!!! All the pepsi you can drink my friend!!! And some pizza too... Alain Desforges39047.6659027778

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

Hi Serge,
What kind of wood are you using?? Sycamore?? Maybe it's mahogaqny??
I'm building one now!! Small body 12 fret small body.
Keep us posted brother regards,
walter

Serge,

Focusing my psychotic powers and gazing into my crystal ball (which also is drilled for bowling), I see an auburn-topped beauty coming into your life in the near future, who will sing to you in a beautiful voice. But, alas, she will be stolen away by a close relative.

C.Macksam--readings done at a reasonable price. Call, 1-900-1PSYCHO.

Thanks Al, we might take our time with this so a box of CCF is in order!

Hi Walter, thanks! I'm using White Ash from our own BobC that i won at the auction last year, great sounding and lovely to look at, just good words i have for it! Hey good luck with your build and i'm glad to hear you're doin' much better! Oh and Walter, post a few pics of your progress as well bro, it sure helps for the mojo when the group encourages you! Stay well my friend!

How much for the consultation Carlton? I laughed MHO----> and it's not my humble opinion no! Thanks my good friend, a great way to end the week end and prepare for a long week of human sacrifice and slavery! Cheers bro!

Thanks group!

Wow, Serge, you are a speed demon. Looks great. Good job of matching the grain on the lower bout (where the end graft goes).

Ron

BTW, Serge, got one of mine finished and in the case and need about two more days on #3 then I'll post the pair together.

Ron

_________________
OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

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

Thanks Ron!

Hey, that is cool, you have completed both of them and you call me a speed demon? I'm about to call you Young man here!

Looking forward to see them both on here bro, if they look anything like your first, we'll be delighted! Cheers

Serge