Official Luthiers Forum!

Thanks Colin for the inspiration!

Based off of a Martin 1-18 plan, parlor size, bolt on neck.

Cuban mahogany back and sides, englemann top, rosewood binding, and zig zag back strip, koa rosette. It will have a mahogany neck that I found on ebay that should be here soon. This is my 1st mahogany guitar.

I am finishing it with Tried and True varnish oil. And, I really like what I see so far. For those of us who can not afford to pay for every guitar to be professionally finished, or have an area where we can deal with dangerous finishes, this is a great alternative. No toxic fumes, hand applied, and a semi-gloss finish after several coats, and some elbow grease. I have a few more coats to go, so it will have a better luster than what is shown.

Jeff

Looks beautiful Jeff, do you have to sand, pore fill, sand, can you elaborate a bit more on this finishing schedule please? it sounds interesting!

TIA

Very nice!


Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

Really nice, Jeff. The colors work well together, methinks. What scale length?

I love those old Martin shapes.

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Serge,

I sanded to 220, put down 3 coats of the Tried and True Danish oil, lightly sanding with 0000 steel wool between coats, and have also added 2 coats of the Tried and True Varnish oil, also sanding with the 0000 steel wool lightly.    

I did not pore fill on this guitar as I had never used this finishing product. Open pores do not bother me, and seem to be fairly small on this Cuban mahogany, or at least small enough to not be detracting.

I don't think there would be any problem using the Robbie O'Brien end grain sawdust and shellac method of pore filling, and then using the varnish. Not sure if zpoxy finishing resin would work or not. I just want to test those before I tried it on a completed guitar.

The directions on the can say that the more you rub out the finish with each coat, the more luster and gloss you     will get. So I am going to go with a few more coats, and then rub the heck out of it to see what kind of gloss I can get.

Jeff

She's a keeper!

Keep posting those pix!!!

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http://www.presnallguitars.com

Jeff, looks really good, your gonna love it when it starts to sing! The wood combinations really work it will be a great little blues guitar. Lets see it when the neck is on. I can guarantee that it won't be your last mahogany, WRC or redwood on the next OK.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Very nice guitar Jeff, the top looks LOADED with silk! What is it?
I have 6 sets of that Cuban and im chompin at the bit to use one!

Nice work!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

[QUOTE=LanceK] Very nice guitar Jeff, the top looks LOADED with silk! What is it?
I have 6 sets of that Cuban and im chompin at the bit to use one!

Nice work! [/QUOTE]

emphasis mine:

[quote]Cuban mahogany back and sides, englemann top, rosewood binding,[/quote]

;)

Mattia

That's beautiful, Jeff. The simplicity works with that little shape.

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Very Nice Jeff

I really like the finish, and I just love the Mahogany. I have a Cuban Guitar to make next month and am really looking forward to it.

Wow, now that's my kind of guitar - beautiful shape, beautiful wood, low key finish and great execution.

                        Paul

Nice work!

I'm building one of these next too. Mahogany/Adi

Jeff,

Goog job...nice and clean! I agree with Colin...you will see why mahogany makes a great sounding guitar and it wont be your last. Mahogany/Redwood would be a killer combo.

on another note...

One of the things that I REALLY like about OLF is that it is a gathering place for builders of all types, levels of experience, and from any country.

I remember when you first jumped on OLF, I remember the questions, the first guitar, and now see how far you have come! I know of very few other places where people can get started on something they have never done before and with the help and encouragement of others (including a great bunch of sponsors of all kinds as well) can get up to speed as quickly as here on OLF.

This is to encourage you as you are getting more confident and building better each time but also to encourage all of the other lurkers, new members or those that need a boost, there is no place like OLF!

Lance and Brock are to be much admired and respected for this community meetingplace they have put up with as few rules (and avatars ...coudn't resist) as possible to keep order. This is a unique place that is only as strong and powerful as the people who are members...Great times, with great stories and experiences to share

Jeff...I bet you didnt think before finding OLF that a crusty Brit academic (with affection Colin) thousands of miles away could influence what kind of wood from which you would build your #4 guitar! So...what is your next guitar going to be?

Tried and True oil finishes are made in Trumansburg, NY, about 20 miles from my house. It's a very small family-run business. I've been to the shop, bought quite a few gallons of their finishes, and used them all over my house and shop. I have not used them on guitars, but I might at some point. They are polymerized linseed oil - the "Danish Oil" is nothing but, and the "Varnish Oil" has natural resins added (pine resins, I believe) to make it somewhat harder. There are no solvents, driers, or anything.

The advantages of this stuff are many, one of the main ones being that it is completely non-toxic. You could put it on your pancakes (indeed, the Danish Oil is about the consistency of maple syrup, and the Varnish Oil is like honey), and it's GOOD for your skin.

They are penetrating oils, but the Varnish Oil won't penetrate much because it's so thick - for this reason, I might suggest skipping the Danish Oil on a guitar and just starting with the Varnish Oil. If you start with the Danish Oil, I'd wipe it off really quick.

The biggest disadvantages are very slow curing and never getting very hard - even the Varnish Oil. Because they are so slow curing and cure by oxidation, it is very important to apply extremely thin coats. You wipe it on thin (can be a challenge with the honey-thick Varnish Oil) and then thoroughly wipe it off, to the point where the wood feels dry - again, it takes some elbow grease with the Varnish Oil. You're putting on whisper thin coats. Then, the longer you let it cure between coats - AT LEAST 48 hours, a week or more is better - the more each coat cures before you put more over it, and the harder it will end up being. Not putting on too many coats total is another way to improve the hardness. No matter what you do, it will be a relatively soft finish, but if it gets scratched or worn through anywhere, it is laughably easy to repair.

It really makes wood glow and brings out figure, and I imagine it would feel great on a neck. I would think it would be a rare customer, though, who would appreciate its qualities enough to tolerate the lack of durability, in spite of the fact that it repairs so easily. But for those who make guitars only for themselves and like the look and feel of an oil finish, it could be a great choice.   

On the plus side, with regard to durability, it will do better than lacquer in some regards - won't turn into gummy gunk on a neck in reaction to sweat, and won't crack and craze. It does pretty well with water resistance, too.    Todd Rose38876.8987615741

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/

I'm here a bit late also but i want to thank you Jeff for the explanations and Todd for elaborating further on the subject, yes, this finish is really interesting and will look more into it!

Serge

[QUOTE=Shawn] Jeff,


on another note...

One of the things that I REALLY like about OLF is that it is a gathering place for builders of all types, levels of experience, and from any country.

I remember when you first jumped on OLF, I remember the questions, the first guitar, and now see how far you have come! I know of very few other places where people can get started on something they have never done before and with the help and encouragement of others (including a great bunch of sponsors of all kinds as well) can get up to speed as quickly as here on OLF.

This is to encourage you as you are getting more confident and building better each time but also to encourage all of the other lurkers, new members or those that need a boost, there is no place like OLF![/QUOTE]

Shawn,

You have a good memory my friend! I remember asking Lance about a dozen times if it would be ok for a complete and total newbie to join the forum. I think I was hoping he would say no. I didn't know purfling from end blocks.   The level of quality was so high, it was darned hard to muster up enough courage to post a picture. But, I got nothing but encouragement, and that made a world of difference. And, the OLF has not changed, it still welcomes all skill levels and abilities. Some of us learn and develop luthier skills quickly, and some of us (me) more slowly (may #'s 1, 2, 2A, and 2B rest in peace ) . So I appreciate the nice comments.

[QUOTE=Shawn]Jeff...I bet you didnt think before finding OLF that a crusty Brit academic (with affection Colin) thousands of miles away could influence what kind of wood from which you would build your #4 guitar! So...what is your next guitar going to be?[/QUOTE]    

No, I never thought I would have the good fortune of knowing so many great people, who happen to be great luthiers, like Colin.

My next project is pictured below, a classical, EIR, englemann, with a bolt on neck (which should get me promptly tossed on a burning pile of tentelones for not using the Spanish heel/foot!)

Thanks again.

Jeff

Some very famous Classical builders are starting to use bolt-on necks...true it is not true Spanish construction but it works. Thomas Humphrey gets 10K per guitar and he uses bolt-on necks as does William Cumpiano...coincidentally both of them started by working for Michael Gurian in New York City. Tom did mostly batches of classicals while Cumpiano did mostly steel string.

I do not personally use a bolt on neck although for a steel string it is a very compelling joint, especially if a tenon is also used.

I use a spanish foot but instead of slotting the neck block as is traditional, I have switched to the tapered wedges that Romanillos developed. The result is the same type of Spanish foot but with the ability to easily repair the neck at some point in the future. It makes alot of sense and because alot of classical builders have attended Romanillos' workshop, they have adopted it into their own construction. I believe that Joshua French also uses that type of neck joint.

The classical looks good...dont be afraid to brace lightly and go thinner with the top then you would for a steel string.

Good LuckShawn38877.036400463

[QUOTE=Shawn] crusty Brit academic [/QUOTE]

I resemble that remark!

Your right about the OLF Shawn, for new builders it's an unimaginable resource of information, a Univerity of luthery. It has everyone from the starry eyed first year student, trying to find his way around, to the crusty old professor, asleep in the corner, who occasionally passes on his sage wisdom. For the experienced of varying degres it's a phenominal conduit of opinion and fresh ideas.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Hi Jeff, very nice guitar(s), I'm a big fan of mahogany myself.

I'm also very fond of this place. I met some of the people here about a year ago at ASIA, before I was a member, and everybody I met was super friendly. I wish I could afford going to more of gatherings like that, because it gets pretty lonely being a guitar maker in these parts; on the OLF I feel like I'm part of the world too. It is an amzing and beautiful thing.

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

Arnt,

If you want to organize a Luthiers event near Trondheim, I will be there ...we can gets Lars to come also

I did not know that you were at ASIA...I would have liked to meet you there.

Takk,
ShawnShawn38878.9991666667

Jeff, I can't wait to hear how it sounds with the oil finish. This looks alot like the finishes that I believe Dave and Russel use and the more I see them, the more I like them.

Its actually not a bad idea Shawn. Some of the sciences have an international symposium somewhere every 3 to 5 years, why not luthiers? Norway would be a good start.

Arnt, sorry I missed meeting you at ASIA as well.Don A38879.1313194444

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Don Atwood
Arlington, VA

We'll have to put up a big sign or something at the next symposium! I would have gone GAL this year, but with the new baby and all that is impossible. See you all at the next ASIA gathering!

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin