Official Luthiers Forum!

Greetings, I'd like to introduce you all to "Recovery".
I named her this as it seemed everytime I turned around I was creating
myself more work and a new situation to work myself out of.
As is said, we learn more from our failures than our successes, and this
guitar certainly put up several challenges for me along the way.

Overall I am really pleased, especially in the construction, fit and tone of
the instrument.

The biggest thing that really gave me fits was the finish work.
In my opinion, the finish work on this one leaves a little to be desired.
I may have found me a finish sprayer here locally to help resolve these
issues in the future.

I hope to have some better pics done in the studio at work later this
week.

Just for fun I thought I'd post some pics of my first two builds side by
side.



Again, I'd like to thank everyone here for the advice and words of
encouragement. To Hesh, for the bridge which I ended up using as a
pattern to make my own. And lastly, to our many great sponsors.

Chris

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Christopher C. Cordle
North Muskegon, MI

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

Looks very nice.
I like the smooth bridge design
How about some info and specs on the guitar!!!!!!

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

Yee Haw!!! It was a struggle, but it looks mighty fine from here!

Looks great Chris, all the struggle will soon be forgotten, lets hope that the lessons are not. Well done, your perseverance has certainly been highly rewarded.

Cheers

Kim

Looks really good! They both are really fantastic looking guitars... what are the backs and tops? Looks like maybe claro walnut? I'm still new to this so I can't usually guess correctly. Great pics though! When is number 3 starting??

_________________
Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils - Louis Hector Berlioz

Chansen / C hansen / C. Hansen / Christian Hansen - not a handle.

Christian

[QUOTE=verhoevenc] How bout a little more info or her? Model type (for
us that are still learning the names for the multitude of shapes), scale,
woods used, etc. etc.
Looks great. There's some cool stuff going on with the grain of that top.
Chris[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the suggestion.
Ok, here's some info:

Body shape : Auditorium
Lower Bout 16"
Depth at tail 4.63"
Depth at neckblock 3.75"
Topwood: Redwood
Back & Sides Claro Walnut
Binding: Curly Maple
Fretboard: Ebony (Watkins CNC)
Bridge: Ebony (Hesh designed)
Neck: Mahog/Maple/Walnut (Watkins CNC)
Tuners: Grover 18:1

I should also give a BIG special thanks to my friend Ron Senf.
Ron studied setup and fretwork under Brian Galloup and was kind enough
to teach me all he knows. I am most pleased with the action, the fretwork
and playability of this guitar.
Also, for being a "green" guitar, it really sounds very good and well
balanced.

_________________
Christopher C. Cordle
North Muskegon, MI

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

[QUOTE=Chansen] When is number 3 starting??
[/QUOTE]

As soon as I make a decision on what to build with next!

I have some ribboned mahogany to build an all mahogany model
I have some sitka, a couple more redwood tops,
a set of Pau Ferro and a set of Bubbinga and one set of maple.

_________________
Christopher C. Cordle
North Muskegon, MI

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

Good job Chris! Bring one by sometime and let me play it! Now jump into the next one.
When you use the Pau Ferro, make sure that you take lots of precautions with the dust, many of us have very strong and nasty reactions to it. Don't get that dust anywhere near me!

_________________
Mark Swanson
Swanson Guitars
http://www.MarkSwansonMusic.com

Chris, they're both beautiful.
Very well done!

Steve

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

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Ah yes, the dreaded sophomore curse!!!

They both look fantastic! That fingerboard on no.1 is particularely tasty!!!

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

I sure like that Claro walnut! Very well done Chris.
Hopefully your #3 will go a little smoother for you. . Very nice shape too.   

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Woa, Chris,

Really fine #2!

Nothing like sweatin' bullets to enhance the learning experience, eh? Maybe #3 will be a breeze.

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

Chris, they are beautiful. I can only hope.

This seems to a theme around here. You struggle through
The first one because, well, its your first one. You finish and the world is good. Good until you start number 2. You been there before, so you are no stranger to what is coming down the pike, but some how #2 makes #1 look like a piece of cake.

For those of you who have wrestled with your own "Recovery", was it because you were over confident or did you bite off more than before, both or gremlins in the shop?

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Aoibeann

Lillian, the gremlins never did leave my shop.
Permanent residents, it seems.
And, they're inventive little things: they show up in new and odd ways that are never quite expected.

Steve

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

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

NICE !!!!!
Glad you got the finish problem worked out .
How much you selling these babies for ?

Mike Collins

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Mike Collins

[QUOTE=Mike Collins] NICE !!!!!
Glad you got the finish problem worked out .
How much you selling these babies for ?

Mike Collins[/QUOTE]

Hi Mike,

I wouldn't necessarily say I got the finish problem "worked out"!
I think it looks decent but definitely not up to par with most of the
builders here, nor up to the standards I have set for myself.
But hey, it's only #2 and I WILL get better.

As for selling them...well I've not really attempted to market them.
I have had interested locals inquire and right now, until I get a bit better I
am telling folks that it's the sum of the parts and materials doubled.
So right around $1,000-$1,200 for now.

_________________
Christopher C. Cordle
North Muskegon, MI

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

[QUOTE=Mark Swanson] Good job Chris! Bring one by sometime and let
me play it! Now jump into the next one.
When you use the Pau Ferro, make sure that you take lots of precautions
with the dust, many of us have very strong and nasty reactions to it. Don't
get that dust anywhere near me! [/QUOTE]

Mark,

I would love to come by again sometime soon and have you critique my
work. It's ok...I can handle it!
It'd be fun to hit some open mic's again, that was a good time.

Thanks for the heads up on the pau ferro.

_________________
Christopher C. Cordle
North Muskegon, MI

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

Well done Chris....I like the studio shots in the other thread as well.

So how did you manage to spirit one Hesh's Stealth Bridges? He told me to ____________, when I asked for one

I too had a bout of the sophmore blues with my second acoustic....I wasn't as kind as you in naming it Recovery I think the name of mine would violate the OLF code of conduct

[QUOTE=Anthony Z]So how did you manage to spirit one Hesh's Stealth
Bridges? [/QUOTE]

Anthony, perhaps it was a Michigan brotherhood kinda' thing?

I actually ended up keeping his to use as my master copy and have made
a few of my own until John Watkins starts manufacturing these.

_________________
Christopher C. Cordle
North Muskegon, MI

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