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Here is my latest 16 inch archtop guitar.
24 3/4" scale
Euro-maple back and sides
Adirondack spruce top X-braced
Ebony fingerboard and tailpiece
Ivoroid binding
Waverly tuners
Bone nut
Benedetto floating pickup
UV cure polyester
Based upon the early Loar L5's

This is the first attempt at a UV cure finish, and I am certain it is the most fun of all of the finishes I've applied. It takes some time to get everything working just right but when you have it set up, your results are quite nice. Thanks to all of you who have contributed to the threads on polyester finishing, as well as those of you who had the patience to talk with me on the phone and answer my questions.

Michael Collins
http://www.collinsguitar.com

The quality of work displayed on this board continually amazes me!

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http://www.PeakeGuitars.com

Wow, Michael, that is stunning! What can I say, it says it all by itself.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Michael,
that's absolutely beautiful. And a piece of adi spruce that size must not have been easy to come by. I'm sure it sounds as wonderful as it looks. What's it sound like through the pickup?
Craig S.

Michael, beautiful work and lovely finish. Very elegant. Love it!

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Dave
Milton, ON

The guitar sounds pretty warm, although it cuts really well. I've only tried the pickup through a crummy amp, but it sounds very warm and jazzy with a lot of punch. Now the guitar is off to New Mexico this afternoon to a friend/customer.

By the way I want to thank Bob Garrish from Saint Lutherie for the beautiful inlay work. I did the design in cad and Bob did the rest with an amazingly fast turn around. I made a slight mistake by having him inlay the headplate logo in black fiber, which looked much like a topographic map when I attempted to sand it. I ended up spraying black lacquer over the headplate and removing the nc on the pearl. The 12th fret inlay of course is in the ebony, and there are absolutely no gaps. Stunning work Bob!!!

Here is a close up of the 12th fret inlay.

Beautiful Bob! Elegant and classy. I would like to talk with you about the UV. I'm inevitably heading that direction.

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jw ( o)===:::

Beautiful work, Michael!
It has an old vibe about it, like a Loar, which seems in keeping with an archtop. I like the modern stuff, and hope to do some myself someday, but you've nailed the older aesthetic to a fine degree.

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Wow, what a gorgeous guitar Michael!!

Might I ask where you got such great looking wood from?

Also, what kind of pick up is that?

Cheers,
Dave F.

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Cambrian Guitars

"There goes Mister Tic-Tac out the back with some bric-brac from the knick-knack rack"

Gorgeous! AT's are so classy then when they're done right it comes out double nice! Nice pixs too!

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

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

Nice work. Did you use dye on the maple?

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Michael, beautifully executed and finished. You certainly captured the vintage vibe with that one. Welcome to the OLF. Selfishly it’s great to see another Archtop builder – especially one so close to home! I occassionaly get up your way golfing in the warmer months -- I'd love to get together for a beverage if you are so inclined.

I’ve looked at some of the Macs you have on your website – hopefully you’ll be sharing more pics of some of those here as well.

Incredible!!!!

Amazing craftsmanship Michael. Simplicity in form, meticulous execution in detail

Gorgeous, Michael. That's where I wanna go, now that the mandolins are finished. Beautiful stuff!

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Rick Jones
Rochester Hills, MI
http://home.comcast.net/~rajones19

That is incredable. Very nice guitar.

John

Wonderful guitar, Michael! Would you mind telling us what brand of polyester you use?

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Ken Franklin
clumsy yet persistent
https://www.kenfranklinukulele.com

Beautiful guitar and impecable craftsmanship too!

Well done my friend!

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Reguards,

Ken H

Obviously a well-crafted fine guitar. I don't know anything about archtops but I really like the appearance--clean with elegant curves, looks like it would be very challenging to build.

The polyester is manufactured by Chemcraft, I believe it is called opticure. The back and sides are indeed colored, first with Potassium Dichromate, and next followed by a gel stain which worked quite nicely. The next step was two coats of the isolante (after the gel stain had dried for about a week thanks to another project in the works).

The pickup is a Benedetto floating pickup, I believe it is made by Seymore Duncan.

Michael, I believe the Benedetto pick-ups are made by Seymour Duncan. They used to be made by Kent Armstrong. The Armstrong's are cheaper in cost and sound better IMHO.

Beauty! Lucky guy who ends up with that. It would be nice to know a little more about that dye/stain combo you used. How did you come up with it? It's really got a nice warm tone to it.

Thanks,
Danny

BEAUTIFUL

understated & elegant, and the wood just glows.

great job!!

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