Official Luthiers Forum!

As I stated in a previous thread on tap tone...I'm sending some picks of build #1.

Please let me know what you think...and critics are welcome...

Stats:
Dreadnought (14 fret)
Sticka Top
Sapele Back and Sides
IRW--Bridge, Fret Board, Head plate (front & back), Heal Cap, and End Gaft.
Binding--B/w/B + IRW (same on top and side)
Rosette--B/w/B + Abalone + B/w/B
Tuners and Pins to be determined later (TBD)

Build #2 is in the planing stages (Thanks Bob C for the oversized Ebony Bridge Blanks...yeah...a big bridge...but...its a replica guitar). ---More to come on that when the chips start to fly.

Thanks,
JP




Inlay Bench



Inlay Fitting



Inlay Completed



Completed Rim



Completed Rim & Back



Rim & Back Fitting



X-Bracing in Go Deck---I made my own Dish Molds...Still have MDF in my lungs...yummy.



Scalloping Started



Scalloping Nearly Completed---I may tune this top some more...but...I am getting a pretty solid tone when tapping.

Thanks again for the look....

Very nice, neat work, JP. You'll want to put a wood cap over your X-brace junction. I'm sure others will have more to say on that.

JP, everything looks great, you seem to be working really neatly, i really like your rosette, it's something that i'll have to try and your neck block is also really cool, great combo of woods, what kind of finish do you intend to use for this one?

As Carlton said, if you want that x-brace to hold well, you might want to consider a wood cap on it but since i'm still a rookie, i'll let the pros advise you better

Great job JP, keep it up!

Serge

looks like your doing a fine job. Keep it up
!

_________________
John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

Yep, fine job!

_________________
Give me 50 cents worth of regular.
Check my oil too, if you don`t mind,,,

Man that is some clean work, and sure doesn't look like a first guitar. Beautiful.

I'm awfully jealous of the rosette...that'll be the next major thing I try. Beautiful. I'm a first timer myself, so I'd appreciate hearing a few words about the neck block, too. Thanks.

_________________
Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

Excellant work JP
Beautiful inlay! What do you plan on using for your finish?

_________________
Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

JP,

Very nice build. The rosette looks really nice, and you do clean work. It should sound great.

Nice mold, did you make it?

Jeff

JP,

Wow, I really like that rosette! Did you use CA glue and "flood" it; or did you use titebond, etc?

Keep up the good work,

Pete

Thanks for all the kind words...I have been taking my sweet time with this project and determined that building #1 is more about planing, jig/mold building, and calming the nerves rather than the actual guitar building. (I reference the nerves because, I am "dreading" the binding process.

I will be taking several posts advice and capping the x-brace (not sure with what...so if you have pics or can post some ideas...that would be great)

I got a question about my mold...yes I built it...it was the 1st thing I built for this project and took me about a month (I have a 2yr old so things are solely done after bed time) Also, I built my own radius dish...way too dusty of a process to be considered fun...but...it came out pretty nice.

The rosette has a story...the top was purchased pre-done...from Martin as a factory flawed top...with a very ugly rosette (IMO). I pulled the old one out and decided to take the plunge on real shell. $35 later and about 1 week of evenings it came-out pretty nice. (I'm glad I did it!!!)---Oh yeah...the glue...is just titebond just as Martin uses (I'm originally from Nazareth, PA so I tend to fall back on "if its good for Martin then its good for me"

Finally the Finish...Not sure...how I'm going to finish her...I am a fan of the satin look...but...this sapele may have some nice stripes that would look nice under a gloss. I wouldn't mind tinting the sapelle either, since the Indian Rose Wood might be too contrasty...I'll post pics of the overall look later.

Thanks again for all the words of encouragement...and as always...keep posting your suggestions and projects for all to learn from.

JP

There ya go JP, you can make it of the same wood as your back and sides and it adds color in there as well!

Serge

looks great JP. I wish my first was that clean

John

Great start.
Looks nice.
You have a lot of sides supports....was that based on a blueprint??

_________________
Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

Thanks again for the complements...

The side supports were suggested by the Martin instruction book that comes with most kits...(you can get the booklet for ~$5) In there it states something like 3-4 inches between braces.

I thought is seemed excessive, so I kinda compromised using more in areas of tighter bends and less in the areas of the larger bends. Since this Sapele is really grainy...I didn't want to chance a split. (Although I did have to repair 1 small split and 1 small tear...I'd be hard pressed to find either repair now...Good learning experiance...I'm just glad that the repair came out as good as it did)

Thanks again,
JP