Official Luthiers Forum!

Thanks to Joe Breault for coming up with a name for this one when I posted progress shots a few months ago (Arnt’s choice of – Blonde Bombshell was a very close second). Both suggestions were a huge improvement in me previously referring to it as Pain in the Rump.   This one is soon heading out the door to its new home and owner and thought I would share some pictures before I say good bye (though I did negotiate visitation rights).

Specs on this one:
•     25-inch scale;
•     1.75” nut
•     Back/Sides - Master grade Big Leaf Maple;
•     Top - Master grade Engelmann spuce top;
•     Curly eastern Maple Neck (Bob Cefalu – thanks for getting the wood to me so quick after I ruined the first neck);
•       Maple bound "f" holes;
•     Binding/Purfling – DIY Curly eastern maple with black/white/black veneer on the body;
•     Ebony tailpiece – huge thanks to Tom Ribbecke for so graciously allowing me to use his design and providing construction tips;
•     Headstock backstrapping – Birdseye Maple veneer;
•     Inlay – Black MOP, Abalone, Pink MOP, White MOP, Gold MOP, Bronze MOP and Red Recon stone – many thanks to Judy Threet for her gracious input on the inlay layout;
•     Mohawk Nitrocellulose lacquer – sprayed by Tony Karol -- thanks my good friend for doing such a great job) Wet sanded and buffed by yours truly; and
•     Tuners – Grover (yeah yeah I know Gotoh’s are the way to go)

Big thanks to Tony Karol for shooting the nitro and guidance in doing the set-up work. Tony’s work made wet sanding a breeze. Hesh thanks for doing what you could with my inadequate photography equipment/skills and photobucketting them. Lastly many thanks to Nelson Palen – one great guy who was always there with a ready answer no matter how dumb the question and for sharing inspirational pictures of his quality builds.

No animals were harmed in the construction of this guitar.

Thanks for looking!

     

Anthony,

That looks fabulous. Maple is such a gorgeous tactile wood. Bet it sounds great too.

Well done

_________________
Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

Anthony-
Great-looking work! Very nice.

Did you do anything in the way of stain to make the grain of the curly maple stand out so nicely? It's really good looking.

John

Geesh Z those look great!

[quote]No animals were harmed in the construction of this guitar. [/quote]

Ah! No hide glue!

_________________
Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

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

Beautiful guitar Anthony. Bet it sounds great too.

_________________
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

Tres elegante et ravissante!!!!! Bravo Bro!!!!

A truly beautiful instrument Anthony . Man, ,,I'm impressed !   

_________________
CRAIG LAWRENCE of AUSTRALIA
_____________________________________________

Anthony! What a beauty! That wouldn't happen to be the one you had at Bobs this past summer would it?

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

Fine job, Anthony!! That's a dandy.

Ron

_________________
OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

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

Stunning Anthony!!!

Yep, Lance...that's the one we fondled at Ft. Erie....I can still see my fingreprints all over it.

Anthony...your customer is one lucky guy! This guitar combines unique artistry with incredible craftsmanship...I want one!

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

Anthony,
Fantastic!!
I really like your tailpiece design.
I am curious how you constructed it.
Brad

That is gorgeous Anthony.  Love the tailpiece, much sweeter than a chunk of iron back there.  Not to mention all the curly.

What a fine and gorgeous piece of work, Anthony!

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

Sweet!

_________________
Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Awsome, Anthony!

Maple bound f-holes, boy that sounds like fun - NOT! You really pulled it off nicely, those mitres are very presice, so my hat is off. So many nice things about this one; the heastock (back and front), the inlays, the materials, the finish... Congrats on a great achievement!

_________________
Rian Gitar og Mandolin

That is one killer archtop. Really Sweet!

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

Thanks bud you just renewed my addiction ahhhhh. Must have more archtop porn.

Some seriously beautiful work there.

_________________
"It's a Tone Faerie thing"
"Da goal is to sharpen ur wit as well as ye Sgian Dubh"
"Sippin Loch Dhu @Black lake" ,Kirby O...

That just stunning, bravo. I hope mine looks half as good.
   How did you get such tight bends on the f-hole binding without it breaking?

_________________
Matt Jacobs

"Don't tase me bro"

That's awesome. I really like the maple binding treatments and the
birdseye on the back of the headstock.

Anthony, wonderful guitar!
Arnt and Matt summed up my thoughts well.
That maple-bound F hole couldn't have been easy.
But you made it look easy!

Steve

_________________
From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Fantastic!!!

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

A-Maz-Ing Anthony!!!
Your work is super clean wow what a nice archtop.
Keep on with the awesome job friend!
Cheers
Charliewood

Nice..........VERY NICE

_________________
Say what you do, Do what you say.

Great job Anthony! Beautiful guitar on all levels.

_________________
Instagram: @jfrenchluthier
Web: https://www.jfrenchguitars.com/