Official Luthiers Forum!

Well after nearly a year working on and off I've finally got my first strung up.

She is nice and loud! and no strange sounds!

Its a bit bass heavy but from what I've read tops tend to open up to the treble side any way.

The action is still a bit high for me but set to "traditional" classical height, in either case i'll wait a couple weeks for every thing to settle in before i make any more action adjustments.

Overall I'm really happy with the outcome for my first.

Back and sides were East Indian Rosewood top is European spruce, Neck is Mahogany, pretty standard stuff.

I do still want to do some work with the finish to get it a bit more polished but for the most part its going to get beat up a bit any way (as ill be using it all the time)

Any way i just wanted to say thanks really quick to every one who responded to my posts every time i had a question and to my Friend from work John and Waddy for all the help they gave me throughout the year. It's really appreciated!

Looks great Nathan!
Isn't it nice when you string it up,
and it doesn't explode!?
Congratulations!
I really like the way classical guitar bass strings sound.
Do you play much classical?
I ask, because string brands make a BIG dif there.
No, I don't play classical, but have a good ear.
Soundclips?
Alan

Yaaaay!
Well done, Nate! Welcome to the club of people who have experienced the joy of that first day stringing it up and seeing how the tone develops as the wood settles enough to tune it

The finish looks quite shiny enough if you ask me. But give it a couple weeks, mine really dulled down and sank into the pores as it got fully dried out... although a few places are still fully filled and shiny. I'll probably just leave it. The first one ain't supposed to be perfect, and it's still waterproof at least. I suppose I could try giving the back a quick glazing next time I have the FP setup going though.

Now rest and play and be happy And before you know it you'll be chomping at the bit to get the next one started... unless you have already. Gonna do more classicals, or is it time to try one of these?

Congrats! Looks great, you did good. Enjoy it as the sound improves over the next couple of months. Clinton

Looks great, Nate. Looks like you got by most of the rough spots. The sound will change a lot. Don't expect to really know what it sounds like for a couple of weeks. You may find that the bass opens up more too. Most players like big bass, though, as long as the trebles are in there with them.

_________________
Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

nice one congratulations
now you can finally answer that nagging question that everybody asks
so... Did you build a guitar yet?

hope to see more of your work
tomas

Very nice job on #1. Pretty nice finish job on it too.

_________________
Jason Moe
LaCrosse WI 54601

Looks awesome!

Or the biggest burning question, "Can I really build a guitar?"
Yes, you can!

Wonderful first effort!

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

Wow, you did a great job Nate! Very nice guitar.

_________________
Formerly known as Adaboy.......

Good going Nate! It looks great. It's a great feeling isn't it?

Cheers,
Danny

MIghty fine first effort!



This attitude will serve you well.

Pat

_________________
formerly known around here as burbank
_________________

http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Very nice What is next?

Fred

_________________
Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866

Probably a violin actually. I never upgraded my 3/4s and stopped playing as a result, would love to pick it up again. Plus it would be a decent (and cheap) way to start on some of the skills that could go into an archtop build and since i don't really have a lot of space or power tools i think it would make a nice hand tool build (which is pretty much what this guitar was, with the exception of a router, laminate trimmer and my one friends drill press every now and again.)

Oh! and btw, over the past two days the sound has really changed! (for the better) it basically went from something that sounded like a muffled toy guitar to actual guitar, i wasn't quite prepared for how drastic a change it would be.

The 1st month is a great time with a new guitar as it finds its voice. Good luck on the violin.

Fred

_________________
Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866

Way to go. Just to commit to build and complete...is a great accomplishment. Stringing it up is the the awards ceremony.
Congrats

Pretty guitar.

Kent

_________________
Wood Creations by Kent A. Bailey
EXCELLENCE IN SCULPTURE, CARVING, LUTHIER, ARCHITECTURAL MILLWORK AND DESIGN

http://www.kabart.com

Great job, Nate!