Official Luthiers Forum!

Below are (what I hope are) links to the results of my first attempt to build a guitar.  Built mostly from the Kinkade book with help from lurking here and MIMF.  I don't play so I took it to the local high end guitar store to buy a case.  The bluegrass picker who played it there said it is a cannon.  I'm stoked.  Stitka top, IRW back/sides.

    

Links appear broken so here is another way.
http://www.google.com/base/a/1501917/D14636906316011373810
http://www.google.com/base/a/1501917/D15719351386989947633
http://www.google.com/base/a/1501917/D586942975226860583
http://www.google.com/base/a/1501917/D9507223607434908186

Let me know if you can not get to pic's and I'll try another host.

I want to build to get away from %&*@#$ COMPUTERS!

First one, eh! You are making all of us look bad!

Wonderful work all round. Is the heel cap dovetailed into the binding, because if it is, that is a really neat trick!

What is the finish, if I may ask?

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

Steve,   The heal cap is inset into the binding because I had a big gap in the binding joint so tried to patch it.  As far as making people look bad notice the lack of closeups.  The finish is Steware Mac Colortone water based lacquer sprayed with an HVLP gun then rubbed out with Mequiars Mirror Glaze and about two buckets of elbow grease.

Great job for a first effort. And the fact that it sounds good is an added bonus. Keep up the great work!
Tracy

_________________
Tracy
http://www.luthiersuppliers.com

Nice, DR! Congratulations on your first review--I'd be stoked, too!

Very nice 1st!

_________________
Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Fantastic first guitar. You should be proud!!!!!

_________________
Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

Thanks all!!  I am proud, and that I receive praise from all of you is very meaningfull.  Yes, Hesh I have started a second.  When I bought the wood for the first I ordered two sets so I could keep working in case I broke something.  I only broke the sides (will not run tonewood through the planer anymore) so I have almost a complete set on hand.  Will be the same style but may not do the abalone rosette.  I'm thinking of doing a laminated neck.  Mahogony, IRW, Maple IRW mahogony seeing as I have some extra 1/8" rosewood from the side that did not break.  We'll see how it goes.


Now if I can get my fat head through the door I'll go upstairs and get something to eat.

Dito DR very nice effort. I remember my first kit and I was simply hoping it would look like a guitar(something I still hope for by the way) and maybe sound OK. Never even crossed my mind to try an abalone rosette or that I could have done something so nice first time out. Again very nice effort.

Larry

_________________
Thank You and Best To All

Looks great DR!

I can't wait to be in your shoes! (Well, not literally in your shoes, but I can't wait to finish mine too).

I'm right there with you on buying enough of everything for 2 guitars in case something went wrong. I ended up ruining a top when I forgot to clamp it down while using the rosette cutter. You live and learn though.

Again, very nice first build. You should be proud!

_________________
Thanks,
Blain

http://www.ullrichguitar.com

"89.67% of all statistics are made up on the spot."

Very nice first Dale,ooks stunning and gorgeous!

i especially noticed your wooden pickguard, how thick did you make it please? 2 plates thick? what thicknesses for each piece? TIA

Serge

Very nice Dale!

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

Serge, It is three sheets of veneer at about 1/32" each.  Walnut burl, maple and walnut burl.  I face glued them then beveled the edge to show the maple band.  Shot top with a couple coats of lacquer while shooting the guitar.  Came out nice, let's see how it holds up.

Thank you very much Dale, i really gotta try that on my no 3, looks really nice!

Excellent work my friend

_________________
Christopher C. Cordle
North Muskegon, MI

http://www.yardsaleunderwear.com
http://www.facebook.com/christopher.cordle

Really nice.Bruce Dickey39113.4935648148

_________________
http://www.dickeyguitars.com

I tried pulling in the picture links for display. I think the photos are somehow just too large. Nice guitar though. Congratulations.

_________________
http://www.dickeyguitars.com

Wowah weewah
Really nice guitar dude.

I only wish that my first is going to turn out half as good as your!



Can you tell us the bad points though. I.e. where things went wrong and how badly they appeared at the time etc..

Well done.

barry.

Barry;  I can go on for a long time about what went wrong and what I would like to see better.  I'll start putting a list together and put it in a new post.  I doubt I will be able to get it out today so keep an eye out for the next couple days.