Official Luthiers Forum!

I have a couple of things to point out.

I like the inlay but I think it's a bit to big for just being the lower portion of the fretboard. IMO, an inlay like that should run the full length of the fretboard.

I love bound fretboards, but I think the binding on your board looks a bit wider than I would go. Also I would bind the tail end of the fretboard to match the sides, makes for a cleaner look IMO.

Enough's been said about the bridge, too curvy for me (and my bridges are curvy as you can see from my avatar).

One other thing that stood out to me was the rosette. The inside wood is narrower than the outside. Personally, I like to have the same width of wood on either side of the pearl inlay on the rosette. Helps keep that symmetrical look.

This is a nice looking guitar and I'm sure it will sell in the store. Oh and I think 20% is a very very good commission (for you that is) most stores charge considerably higher than that I believe.

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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Have you considered a sunburst? Or how about a black top or not using any CA on the guitar or, or, or........

My point is that you will over time develop your own look and style, let's not forget the signature tone too since that is even more important in my book. And when you do develop your own style for your guitars it will all fall into place my friend.

It may be less bling or more bling - who knows but it will be yours and to me that makes it A-OK.

What I hope to do is encourage people here and this does not mean that I am not being honest - far from it.

Ever hear the story of the old bull and the young bull standing on the top of a hill looking down into a valley full of heifers? Well you won't hear the rest of it here from me......

Anyway at the end of the day we all take what we read and receive here as we will and then we go off and do what ever we wish. That's what I do but I am never ungrateful for the information and opinions here - it's all good.

There are a number of alpha builders here that if they had not earned the respect and fame that they have if they had bounced their ideas off us as an unknown builder I doubt that they would be completely well received. But they did it their way, players liked what they saw and heard, and these folks made a name for themselves AND earned this good fortune too.

I like to believe that we will never really know who might be one of the best future builders so I try to encourage everyone to just build and build and build and find their own way.

Sorry for being long winded - this subject, being encouraging to people, is important to me.

Ok Hesh, I got your point here...we definitely don't want to squash someone's sense of style, and the worst thing we can do is discourage them in the building process. I'm hoping that Mat was genuinely sincere about wanting different points of view on the aesthetics on the guitar. I'm assuming there was a reason why he asked, and perhaps it was that he was unsure of it himself. Maybe something wasn't setting right with him on it, and he was looking to see if others could put into words what he was feeling.

So Mat....how do YOU feel about it? In the end, that's what really matters. Our opinions, whether they are pro or con about the design elements of this instrument are merely opinions. They aren't necessarily right or wrong. So tell us....what are you thinking? Are we helping you, or are we hurting? Let us know! We all want to see everyone else here succeed.

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

Don my friend I didn't mean to imply that anyone else should put a governor on their honest opinions. I am sure that Mat appreciates the pro and con input. Besides that is what he asked for.

My only point is that we all will find our own way in time and my own personal preference when it comes to Internet forums and opinions about someone's work is to be positive or not post. Again everyone, including me, should say what ever they wish and what ever they wish to stand by.

Peace bro.

Yeah...exactly what I thought you meant. It's all good!

I think I worry sometimes about being too blunt and honest with my opinions. Really, we're all here to learn and to share, and we could easily let our egos get in the way of being helpful in a humble way. I just took the opportunity of using your comment as a reminder of what I deem important in my own conduct....thanks Hesh!

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

Every sales guy will tell you, " a good looking guitar always sounds better to the average buyer". I have to say it is a very nice looking instrument.

See, if I payed any kind of compliment without criticizing at least something, people wouldn't believe it for a minute and think it was all sarcasm.

Mat - I haven't read all the posts, but do keep this in mind. Criticisms are obviously going to vary quite a bit, and if you get a large enough pool you may be able to find a fair average reaction - which really doesn't matter much at all, because you're not selling your instruments to Mr. and Ms. average.

If you find a style that you feel may fit a particular taste or niche market that is under-served, that can be much more valuable than aiming for the saturated mainstream market. Thing is, it's hard to tell whether something will really take, or has a "hook" to it until it hits the market. It can also be difficult to view your design from the perspective of an initial reaction when you've been staring at it for so long. No shortage of fresh and honest eyes here though.

I find appeal in a certain style of continuity, flow, harmony of design that your bridge seemed to harshly break apart for me. There may be plenty of others who find an abrupt break very appealing though, or perhaps not see it as such to begin with. There are plenty of of smooth looking instruments around, perhaps a sharper edge may attract some rebels. The trick is to create the distinguishing aesthetic combination that just works. Opinions are great to have available but in the end it's your canvas, your show.

My $.02 is still that I like the fretboard end and inlay, pretty much everything I've seen, but just don't like the bridge (don't feel bad - I don't like Hesh's either ). I don't even know if it's the points themselves that rub me wrong, maybe just even the shapes of the curves connecting them. For me, moving just a half inch down a french curve when connecting two points can make a night and day difference in how a shape feels to me. There's just something I would move though.

It sounds like you're not entirely sure as to how well it all fits yet either, so I would keep the design alive for a while. Don't consider your shapes and lines as final - play around with it a bit. Get some paper scraps and cover parts up bit by bit - see what it really takes away or adds. Scan it in to photoshop and stretch things around. There are plenty of creative ways to view your design to evaluate design aspects. I think when you get what you want, you'll know. At least for a while, till you decide to change it again.

Then again, I think dreadnoughts look (and sound) like a shapeless blob that I can't understand how anyone could find appealing. Given how well they seem to sell, my opinion may not be the best way to judge the market.

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Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.

Say it ain't SO !!!!
Hey...some of us love the dread...

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

So Mat....how do YOU feel about it? In the end, that's what really matters. Our opinions, whether they are pro or con about the design elements of this instrument are merely opinions. They aren't necessarily right or wrong. So tell us....what are you thinking? Are we helping you, or are we hurting? Let us know! We all want to see everyone else here succeed.
[/quote]

To everyone who has posted a reply to my very genuine question: You are all definitely 'HELPING'.
I am still very new to this forum but it has now become my bible. I read it every day and I am completely overwelmed by the amount of generosity and honesty you guys show to give your expertise and experience to others who seek help.

I am a trained 'Fine Artist' (painter) and completely understand that subjective opinions cannot be 'right or wrong' but each one very valid in it's own right. The greatest artists did, and still do, study their old masters in order to become better artists. As a 'new' guitar builder I am wanting to study you great luthiers - seek your advice and opinions, learn from your expertise and experience and eventually become a half - decent luthier myself.

I will take everything that has been said on board and take what I want from it. I will not disregard the things I might disagree with but rather store them away for future reference when they may be needed.

I totally respect everybody's 'honest' opinions. That is what I asked for and wanted. It is only by giving honest reply's that I can learn something from them. It's only a fretboard but there's something very beautiful in caring enough to make it a good fretboard and that is why other people's opinions are important. To build a guitar might be quite easy. To build a good guitar is bloody difficult ( I know because i haven't managed it yet) and to build a very good guitar - well some of us can only dream. What I am certain of is that I will build a much better guitar by being a member of this forum!!

By the way Hesh, your desire to be positive towards all of us 'newbies' is greatly appreciated and quite inspirational. You are always there to support and welcome us and make us feel good. That being said, constructive criticism is always good even if it does hurt at first.

Thanks guys

So how do you get one of those nice blue boxes when you're quoting someone else??

On the lower right side of the person's post is a "Quote" button. Just hit it instead of the "New Reply" button on the lower left.

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."