Official Luthiers Forum!

With the start of this thread, I'm officially throwing my hat into the ring for the 2013 New Builder Challenge. This will indeed be my first guitar build, and I can't think of a cooler way to document, enjoy, and learn from it than this challenge! My "official" build plans are still slightly up in the air, but I do know that it will be loosely based on a Martin OM body shape & bracing pattern. The top will be German Spruce w/ Adirondack bracing, along with Panama RW (d. tuc.) back and sides I obtained a couple years ago. I also think that I'm going to build a right handed guitar, even though I play left handed. I believe I'll gain more by multiple right handed player's feedback of the build, than I would if I built a lefty for myself. This may change, but it's the way I'm leaning right now. Good luck to all of the other challenge builders, especially the other "virgins" building a guitar for the very first time while in front of an audience no less! As for the rest of you safely watching this from the stands, please enjoy the impending trainwrecks... , I mean build threads for this very cool and unique build challenge as the drama unfolds over the next several months!

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Brad

Good luck brad! Have you considered making it with a reversible bridge so that you could play it but then just swapping the saddle to make it a righty?? I know Harv leach has his "unibridge" which is like this. I'm thinking of including something like it on my build. I picture having a extra wide saddle slot that is straight and you just have a saddle intonated to righty and one to lefty. Does that even make sense hahaha.

Thanks Zeke. Good luck to you as well! I have thought about a reversible bridge, but not for my first build. I had one of Harv's guitars last year during the road show that had his reversible bridge design. Very cool idea, and good execution on it. I'm interested to play around with the bracing layouts of my first few guitars to see what kind of difference there is when the bottom two braces are flipped on a lefty.

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Brad

Here's a quick pic of most of the materials I'll be using for my build. Panama RW back/sides, paired with MadRose headplate & bindings, and BRW fretboard & bridge. I joined the top last night, and will post a pic shortly once I've cleaned it up a bit.

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Brad

The joined top after being cleaned up a bit w/ a scraper & drum sander. I'm now working on the PRW back, and hope to have it ready for glue up this evening. If all goes as planned, I'll thickness the top and back tomorrow evening, and work on getting the sides bent this weekend. I don't currently have a mold made once the sides are bent, so I may be building one this weekend as well if my plan to "build in the air" doesn't end up working out like I'd hoped. There's only one way to find out!!!

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Brad

I decided to reheat the glue joint on the top and take another stab at getting a better glue line. The joined top seamed to be solid, but I wasn't happy with the visual line of the joint. I've reworked it, and will be glueing the top and back this evening. New pics to follow...

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Brad

I only have one question... Did it gel???

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Brad

I believe the gel was successful! I went ahead and cut the rough shape of the top out. I also thickness sanded it down to .105" for now. I'll finish cleaning up the joined back tonight, and I hope to get started on the rosette & side bending this weekend.

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Brad

I have a few new tools on the way that should help with my build, and the speed I can get it completed. I'm excited to get my hands on them, but I wish I had them in hand now!

Craftsman 10" Band Saw (Couldn't pass it up for $119.99 on their website today!) I've already ordered a few Lenox Dimaster blades to help bring it up to par



Dewalt Router with micro adjust plunge base





5" Craftsman Professional Vibrafree ROS with cyclonic dust collection system

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Brad

Very cool brad! I've heard some good things about those new dewalt routers. Ive been very tempted to get one myself. I like how versatile they appear, the convenience of a laminate trimmer with the benefits of a plunge router.

Let the saw dust begin!!

Alex

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"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker

I've been busy with work, my son, and my pregnant wife, but I've squeezed a little time in here and there. Here's a pic of the joined back, and another with a marquetry strip laying down the center to get an idea of how it will look. I "plan" on routing the backstrip channel and bending the sides this weekend.

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Brad

Nice work. Has your router arrived yet? I am thinking about buying the same one.. I was originally planning on buying a Makita laminate trimmer, but for an extra 40-50 quid, I'm leaning toward the Dewalt. Any opinions on it thus far?

Will

Will, I just received the router in the mail today, but I haven't had a chance to use it yet. Looking at all of the reviews available, and talking with a few folks around here, you can't go wrong with this Dewalt/plunger combo. It seems to be the best of both worlds for guitar building etc...

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Brad

Just put a couple thin coats of very light blonde shellac on the top, and oh what a difference a bit of shellac can make! Hello medulary rays!!!

Coat is still wet in this pic, and not nearly as dark as the lighting makes it look.



Here's another pic of the top that is more representative of the true color after shellac sealer

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Brad

As long as I'm posting pics, here's a quick pic of my tonewood stash currently. I do have a few more sets on the way though A really nice & dark Wenge, some figured H. Mahogany, and a couple nice Adi tops. I really need to build some larger shelves to make room for more wood. I'll just add it to the list...

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Brad

[/quote]

Will, I just received the router in the mail today, but I haven't had a chance to use it yet. Looking at all of the reviews available, and talking with a few folks around here, you can't go wrong with this Dewalt/plunger combo. It seems to be the best of both worlds for guitar building etc...[/quote]


Yeah that's what I was thinking, it does seem to have good reviews. I think you've just convinced me. Looks like the way to go. Just need to save the money now! Good luck with the build. Enjoy your new toys!
Cheers mate,
Will

Well, it appears I won't be making this month's deadline, but I did finish installing my first rosette ever. I'm still waiting for the glue to dry before I clean things up a bit, but I think it came out ok for my first shot at it.

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Brad

I like that rosette! Where'd you get the purflings?

Thanks Beth! I think I bought them from a guy on EBay a year or two ago. I'll see if I can find him again for you. Below is a quick pic of the rosette cleaned up a bit. I still need to fill in a few spots and recut the sound hole once I reinforce it.

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Brad

Red Spruce/ Panama Rosewood OM

Decided to switch to a Red Spruce top on this one. I'm getting ready to glue up and start carving the braces. Heating up the glue pot as I write this...

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Brad

This was my first crack at bending sides. Went off without a hitch:)

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Brad

Nice! Good to see you still at it!