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Sure! Man, it’s fun looking back at these. The combo was a Matchless Lightning clone, and the head was my first Dumble clone.






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Memory lane for me and thanks James I remember the flamed koa one from over ten years ago now was it? Looks killer and unique as can be. Love the chicken heads too. Very cool you are inspiring me to go get back on number 4 here the Princeton Reverb I have half done....

Latest project is an 0-28 from 1926. The top was once replaced with plywood. There is a long stable crack that I may just let alone. The top is priceless. Not only did the use plywood but the paint stirring stick for a brace made this a priceless heirloom.
Top is made but the innards of this are actually not to bad. Some amateur repairs but stable.

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Wow, John! Looking forward to seeing the end result.

Finishing up a Hauser-type classical, going round and round with tuners. Our local classical authority checks out every one I build and he liked it, so I'm pleased.

On another note (pun not intended), I started to rehab a 40s era Gerstner machinist chest. Not looking to make it look new, just refreshing the finish, hardware and felt drawer lining. Got the handle re-covered today, my first leather project. It was kind of fun.

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

used one of these in my machinist days. They are treasured items in that business

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Hi John,
I'm sure you will do a fantastic restoration on that old Martin. I look forward to seeing the finished result. The one positive thing I find about the amateur repairs done with crude methods and inappropriate materials is that they kept the instrument together until someone who could do a proper job could get their hands on it.

Hi Pat,
Nice job on the handle. My Gerstner box handle needs a similar recovering - do you have any pointers to offer?

There's a youtuber named Mr. Tolly who does a thorough job of documenting his process. I made a wood model of the handle (the shape of the actual handle is wrapped paper around small round stock and is fragile) and wet formed 3 oz cowhide over that, then transferred the leather to the actual handle for gluing, sewing and dyeing. It's a hassle to remove the rivets that attach the handle to the lid--they're strong and accessed under the felt. Alternative is to buy a new handle from Gerstner, but they're a different shape. There are few guys who do them for $75 - $100 and probably worth it.

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

For me, too. It’s fun to see them and think about things I’d execute a bit differently now and where I’ve grown as a maker in general.

Get back on that Princeton! I actually went back and forth quite a bit over tackling this guy or a Princeton. I’d love to put another Lightning together in the future, too.


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This one will get a neck reset and a new bridge.

I am thinking 5 guitars at once wasn't such a great idea...

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-Marcus
http://www.bailieguitars.com
Instagram | YouTube

Yeah but they look great, nice work Marcus and also nice to see productive folks too.

Took a one year break from building this 65 Princeton Reverb 15 watt amp and just resumed it a few days ago.

Last year I built and completed 3 amps that I use a lot these days when friends come over and we jam. No one has to bring a thing including guitars. I've systematically been getting rid of all the store bought amps here in favor of these point-to-point, hand wired beasts that sounds killer.

Nice to be back at it and I like being busy. I'm soon to be 67.... and now I work as a Luthier part time and last month I repaired 51 guitars not counting all the stuff I fixed for friends.

I've got the mother board populated and wires twisted and now it's time to take some time and double and triple check everything. That will take me some hours and then I solder the two boards.

A 1959 18 watt tweed clone that I built is my favorite amp these days and the one I use every day. It's also the same model that Neil Young used to record the entire Rust Never Sleeps album. Remember albums...

Off to work this morning there are 3 - 5 waiting for me with one Tele owner having a gig tomorrow night... no pressure...

Dang it! You guys are making me want to build another amp!

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My very first apprentice, my nephew, who flew all the way in from Colorado to spend ten days building a Flamenco guitar. It's pushing it but I think we'll get it done.

Thanks for the AMPSpiration HESH. Since I plan on building my first 2 electrics when I finish 3 current acoustics, AND am a ham radio guy with some electronics and soldering experience, I may have to add an amp project. Looks like fun.

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Brian R, Wood Mechanic
N8ZED

Nonsense, Marcus. Many busy repair shops juggle multiple jobs at once. While the glue dries on one, you are touching up the finish on a second, all while quoting a job to a client, answering the phone, and writing checks to UPS. I've done it.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Great investment in the future! So glad a smartphone isn't glued to his hand.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

I give him a break here and there so he can text his girlfriend

He's a good kid.

The first time I worked on this guitar was in 1979. I refretted it then and made a new bone nut. Since then it's been refretted again and leveled a number of times. I've replaced the bridge a couple times (the owner's hands are very acidic), and the tailpiece once. He wanted to buy a new pickguard 10 years ago, but I talked him out of it because it's "potato chip" authentic. He's played in clubs, bars, and churches - recording sessions, too. I don't charge Carl to work on it anymore because it's like seeing an old friend when it's on my bench. Plays like buttah, sounds like an angel.

https://i.imgur.com/T1Lpi4x.jpg

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Nice looking stuff! I'm a year behind you--turning 66 in September. I've built amps for years, and also have a couple of not yet finished ones that I need to get back to. I still love tube amps and aways will, but lately I've been playing either my Jaguar or my Tennessean through a Katana head driving a JBL D130. My hearing isn't what it used to be so that might be part of it, but my laziness factor is higher than ever, and the Katana works for me. Of course, I still have a nice stable of good tube amps close at hand...

Guess I'll probably be looking for a good vintage Ovation next. Sheesh!

Dave

Oh no not an Ov*tion!

This guitar has great mojo you can spot from across the room. Cool story too Chris getting to follow some of these instruments and their stewards through their working lives can be a lot of fun.

Thanks, Hesh. Believe it or not, it was featured on a hit album that made it onto the Billboard Hot 100 Soul Chart in the late 1980's.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Side project Sunday, I cut shell and a pocket in a headplate for another builder. The pick shaped thing was a test cut in koa and something spalted in order to get the toolpaths right. Will make a nice trinket for “hubcap”, whoever they are!




Brad


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Something a little different for me. Mission brief to return an oud to functionality. I don’t use HHG a lot, but it seems like the right thing for this job, as only minimal pressure can be applied without collapsing the top…


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Putting a butterscotch blond finish on a swamp ash Tele body. Making this for a friend that has very large fingertips so the neck is 1.9" wide at the nut. Will also be winding the pickups on my Taig lathe. The middle rout will get a Strat pickup which makes this a "Nashville" style tele. The 5-way switch and a push/pull pot will give 7 different pickup combinations.