Official Luthiers Forum!

Just curious why a few of the OLFers send out their guitars for finishing.  Isn't this part of the process of building, or is this simply  sharing of resources?   Maybe commissioned guitars are sent to a professional for expert finishing? 

Inquiring minds wanna know....

Laurie 

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Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.

I can't spray solvent finishes in the house. And even if I could I live in the type of community that would have a FIT if they knew what I was venting out of my shop.

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

Some of us hate finishing
Personally I don't have any spray equipment and I am just
working on my FP technique. Since I have customers buying my guitars, I want the finish to be top notch.
So....I send them to Tony

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

I use to finish my guitars when my shop was in my garage. To have a better controlled environment, I moved into the basement of my home, actually a 12 by 20 room next to our downstairs family room. So there is no way I can spray in the house. Someday I hope to build a shop in the back part of our property where I will be able to do it again. Until then, Tony is the man!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

    Finishing, as much as I love doing it, is a lot of work. Especially, if done sporatically. Most guys would probably like to work with wood rather than solvents and compressors.

    To do a commission guitar, one wants a reliable product, and a professial is set up to do it, quick, and well, and comparativly cheap, considering times value!

    What I've seen of these "White Room" threads has convinced me of the wisdom in using guys like Tony!

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

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

Price and quality of Tony's work outstanding. If you figure labor at $10 per hour and materials if you do it, Tony is a bargain plus think of the time it frees up.

Tony GOOD! Larry BAD!

That 'bout sums it up!

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http://www.presnallguitars.com

I finished my first hundred or so guitars myself. I've used Tony now for
three years. Tony is still better than I ever was. He has been spraying
guitars for like 11 years. While I understand the draw of guys wanting to do
it all themselves, I prefer to get the best job possible for my
customers...Tony is the route to get to that destination for me.

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

Putting an acceptable finish on a guitar is a lot of work and not something I really enjoy. I especially dislike the fact that I have to spend so much of my precious time on it; I find most other aspects of the building process more interesting. Some builders say that finishing is half the job and I agree if you count the time it takes to do it; too bad it is the boring part. I sure wish I found someone over here that could do it well, I would outsource the job in a heart beat. From what I have seen of Tony’s prices he is not charging enough.

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

I am one of those do it all yourself guys...and also a dang fool, but i would`nt have it any other way.

I take pride in my finish work, and work to improve it with every guitar.

besides i like the buzz...

Matt

I'm with Matt here.I do like doing as much as possible myself and enjoy finishing.     
Buzz??

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

[QUOTE=Matt Gage] I am one of those do it all yourself guys...and also a dang fool, but i would`nt have it any other way.

I take pride in my finish work, and work to improve it with every guitar.

besides i like the buzz...

Matt[/QUOTE]

Matt, I still get buzz...from my FRETS!

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http://www.presnallguitars.com

Larry... are you sniffing your frets again?   

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

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

I don't really enjoy finishing guitars but have always done it myself and I have a somewhat unique method of finishing some of my guitars so I'll have to continue that. If there were a finisher near enough that I could just drop the work off, I would probably be doing that. Until then I guess I'll just keep doing it myself.

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

I'm in the camp who likes doing as much of the work on a guitar as possible. I have done all of my own spraying with nitro as well as 2 different waterborne finishes. Lately I'm trying to master FP. I actually enjoy the methodical wet sanding process and still marvel as each succeeding grit takes the surface toward a 3-dimensional mirror shine. I couldn't care less how long it takes for me to construct a guitar...I enjoy the journey as much as the destination.

I still do my own necks and feel that such activities provide me with a sense of satisfaction that I would miss were I to purchase and assemble components or send out the guitar for finishing. Then again...all of my guitars have been gifts with a few left over for my personal use.

This is my preference and is in no way intended to disparage those who have differing philosophies.

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

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Sorry!

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars